The Fort Worth City Council is considering revamping a tax abatement agreement between American Airlines and the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Board for development of the airline’s corporate headquarters facility at the airport.
The subject was discussed during the council’s June 5 work session.
The original agreement was made in November 2015. In June of 2017, the council authorized an enhanced community facilities agreement (ECFA) to reimburse up to $950,000.00 of construction costs, the local required match of 20 percent.
However, now the company has now proposed to expand the project to include widened roadways and turn lanes on Trinity Boulevard and southbound U.S. Highway 360 Frontage Road to accommodate the planned additional employee traffic at a total approximate cost of $7 million.
If, as expected, the Regional Transportation Council of the North Texas Council of Governments receives a recommendation to authorize funding for the project, the city’s economic development department is recommending cancellation of the 2017 ECFA, which never was executed, and approving a new ECFA increasing the city’s participation up to $1.7 million.
“We have been very pleased with our ongoing relationship with American Airlines and the development of the headquarters facility,” Economic Development Director Robert Sturns said. “These additional road enhancements will be a benefit, not only to the new headquarters, but will assist the city in addressing traffic concerns associated with the expansion.”
The work must still be completed by Dec. 31, 2019, subject to any unforeseen approved delays or extensions.
The project is expected to come up for vote by the council at its June 12 meeting.
“I’m so excited we were able to keep American. The idea that this is happening on the east side is very important to me and those who ride or die with east Fort Worth,” said District 5 Council Member Gyna Bivens.
“It’s going to be a beautiful campus,” added Mayor Betsy Price, also noting that American should be thanked for its help with the recent professional golf tournament at Colonial Country Club.
“We all need to thank American Airlines for stepping up and helping us save the Fort Worth Invitational,” she said. “They just continue to be great corporate partners for us.”