Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager

 
 

Date

July 24, 2006

 

Agenda Item No.       41

Roll Call No.              06-

Communication No.  06-464

Submitted by:  Jeb E. Brewer, P.E.

                                   City Engineer

 

AGENDA HEADING:

 

Approving Traffic Safety Fund Applications to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

 

The Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) has an annual program to provide funds for Traffic Safety Fund improvements.  The deadline for this year’s applications is August 15, 2006.  Staff has reviewed various locations and has developed four projects for submittal: 

 

1.     Army Post Road widening from South Union to SW 9th Street;

2.     Hickman Road restriping between 30th Street and Merle Hay Road, including traffic signals at 48th Street and Hickman Road;

3.     42nd Street at Kingman Boulevard  traffic signal/street widening improvements;

4.     Hubbell Avenue and Easton Boulevard intersection traffic signal upgrading. 

 

Staff recommends approval and authorization to submit the applications to IDOT for Traffic Safety Funds for these four projects.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

1.   Army Post Road Widening from South Union to SW 9th Street

 

Traffic Safety Funds Requested                   $   500,000

Total Project Cost                                      $1,000,000

 

The local funding match is planned in the 2006-2007 CIP Page Street - 5, Army Post Widening – SE 5th to SW 9th in FY 2008-09 and 2009-10.

 

2.   Hickman Road Restriping between 30th Street and Merle Hay Road, including traffic signals at 48th Street and Hickman Road

 

Traffic Safety Funds Requested                   $240,000

Total Project Cost                                      $280,000

 

The local funding match is planned in the 2006-2007 CIP Page Traffic Control-5, City-Wide Signals, Channelization, and School Crossing Protection Program in FY2008-09 and 2009-10.

 

3.   42nd Street at Kingman Boulevard traffic signal/street widening improvements

 

Traffic Safety Funds Requested                   $310,000

Total Project Cost                                      $350,000

 

The local funding match is planned in the 2006-2007 CIP Page Traffic Control-5, City-Wide Signals, Channelization, and School Crossing Protection Program in FY2008-09 and 2009-10.

 

4.   Hubbell Avenue and Easton Boulevard intersection traffic signal upgrading

 

Traffic Safety Funds Requested                   $140,000

Total Project Cost                                      $160,000

 

The local funding match is planned in the 2006-2007 CIP Page Traffic Control-5, City-Wide Signals, Channelization, and School Crossing Protection Program in FY2008-09 and 2009-10.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

 

IDOT implemented an annual program beginning in 1988 to provide for traffic safety improvements.  These improvements may include roadway construction projects to correct high-accident locations, upgrading of obsolete traffic control devices to comply with the requirements of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or traffic studies to determine how to correct a safety problem.

 

Since the program began, Des Moines has been successful in receiving approval of 55 projects and over $11 million, including several major intersection improvements, traffic signal upgrades, and other safety projects.  Applications are currently being accepted until August 15, 2006, for the next programming cycle.  Staff has reviewed the accident history at various locations, and recommends that the following projects be submitted for the next funding cycle.

 

1.   Army Post Road widening from South Union to SW 9th Street

 

This project would involve widening Army Post Road to a five-lane facility in order to provide a center two-way left-turn lane.  The project cost is estimated at $1,000,000.  Traffic Safety Funds in the amount of $500,000 would be requested.

 

2.   Hickman Road restriping between 30th Street and Merle Hay Road, including traffic signals at 48th Street and Hickman Road

 

This project would install durable pavement markings on Hickman Road to provide for a five-lane roadway within the existing pavement width.  New traffic signals would be installed at the intersection of 48th Street and Hickman Road.  The estimated construction cost is $240,000, which would be requested from Traffic Safety Funds.

 

3.   42nd Street at Kingman Boulevard traffic signal/street widening improvements

 

This project would provide new traffic signals at 42nd Street and Kingman Boulevard.  Minor widening would be done on 42nd Street in the vicinity of Kingman Boulevard in order to allow for north-south left-turn lanes.  The estimated construction cost is $310,000, which would be requested from Traffic Safety Funds.

 

 

 

4.   Hubbell Avenue and Easton Boulevard intersection traffic signal upgrading

 

This project would upgrade the existing traffic signals at Hubbell Avenue and Easton Boulevard.  The estimated construction cost is $140,000, which would be requested from Traffic Safety Funds.

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S): 

 

Date:  November 21, 2005

 

Roll Call Number:  05-2758

 

Action:  Approval of Hickman Road Traffic Study and implementation of items contained in the report and timetable. 

 

 

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S):  TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

 

Date:  July 11, 2006 

 

Roll Call Number:  NA

 

Action:  Approval of staff’s recommendation to submit the four applications to the Iowa Department of Transportation for consideration in their Traffic Safety Improvement Program.

 

 

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS: 

 

Approval of project agreements with the Iowa Department of Transportation.