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COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
City Manager’s Office
GENERAL INFORMATION
Agenda Date: 10/11/04 Communication No.: 04-507
Agenda Item Type: Resolution Roll Call No.:
Submitted by: Jeb E. Brewer, P.E., City Engineer
SUBJECT—
Approving McKinley Avenue Corridor Study.
SYNOPSIS—
The McKinley Avenue Corridor Study was developed through a public involvement process that included a Steering Committee and three public meetings. Through this process, a series of recommendations and priorities were identified that include two and three lane urban sections with curb and gutter, intersection improvements, sidewalks and storm sewer.
FISCAL IMPACT—
Overall, the Corridor Study has identified approximately $14.5 million in improvements. The Capital Improvements Program (CIP) does not currently include this level of funding.
RECOMMENDATION—
Approval
BACKGROUND—
On January 12, 2004 by Roll Call No. 04-20, City Council approved the professional services agreement with Earth Tech (Alan Krusi, CEO, 100 W. Broadway, Suite 5000, Long Beach, CA) for engineering services in conjunction with the McKinley Avenue Corridor Study.
A Steering Committee was formed at the beginning of the study and met periodically during the study. The committee included residents that live on or near McKinley Avenue, neighborhood representatives from South Park Neighborhood, Greater South Side Neighborhood, and Southwestern Hills Neighborhood, representatives from the Des Moines Public Schools, US Postal Service, South Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, Southside Revitalization Partnership and City staff from Public Works, Engineering, Parks and Recreation, Police and Fire. The committee members worked with the consultants to provide input, offer suggestions, discuss project issues and finalize recommendations.
The first public input meeting was held on February 12, 2004. At this meeting, area citizens were able to provide their thoughts and ideas about the project, voice concerns and offer recommendations. The second public meeting was held on September 9, 2004 to show design recommendations, discuss alternatives, and get additional input before finalizing the study. The final public meeting was held on September 30, 2004. This meeting included a brief presentation on the finalized recommendations and priorities.
The study looked at existing conditions, analyzed the projected traffic, obtained public input and made recommendations regarding number of lanes, intersection improvements, sidewalks and drainage between Fleur Drive and East Indianola Avenue. Through the public input process, area residents advised that they wanted to retain the residential neighborhood character and were opposed to improving the entire length of the corridor with a three or four-lane section due to width of right-of-way required and overall travel speed. The final recommendation includes a combination of two and three lane sections. There are six proposed segments that can be constructed in phases. If all phases of the study were implemented, the estimated cost in 2004 dollars is estimated at $14.5 million. The six proposed segments could be built separately ranging between $1.5 million to $2.8 million each.
The Executive Summary of the McKinley Avenue Corridor Study is attached for Council information. The final report will be on file at the City Engineer’s office.