Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager
 
 

Date

July 23, 2007

 

Agenda Item No.       9

Roll Call No.              07-

Communication No.  07-446

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, 2007.  Staff has reviewed various locations and developed four projects for submittal:  Merle Hay Road and Urbandale Avenue intersection improvements: Southeast 14th Street and Indianola Avenue intersection improvements; East 33rd and Easton Boulevard intersection improvements; and Tuttle Avenue at Southwest 8th / Southwest 9th Streets – traffic signal installations.  Staff recommends approval and authorization to submit the applications to the IDOT for Traffic Safety Funds for these four projects.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

1.         Merle Hay Road and Urbandale Avenue Intersection Improvements

 

Traffic Safety Funds Requested             $   500,000

Other Federal/State Funds                    $1,200,000

City Funds                                            $   300,000

Total Project Cost                                $2,000,000

 

2.         SE 14th and Indianola Intersection Improvements

 

Traffic Safety Funds Requested             $   500,000

Other Federal/State Funds                    $   550,000

City Funds                                            $   150,000

Total Project Cost                                $1,200,000

 

3.         East 33rd and Easton Boulevard Intersection Improvements

 

Traffic Safety Funds Requested             $   400,000

City Funds                                            $   150,000

Total Project Cost                                $   550,000

 

4.         Tuttle Avenue at Southwest 8th / Southwest 9th Streets--Traffic Signal Installations.

 

Traffic Safety Funds Requested             $   300,000

City Funds                                            $              0

Total Project Cost                                $   300,000

Funding Source:

Depending on receipt of IDOT Traffic Safety Fund grants, City matching funding would be programmed in future CIP budgets.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

 

The IDOT implemented an annual program beginning in 1988 to provide for traffic safety improvements.  These improvements may include roadway construction projects to correct high-crash 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 58 projects and over $12 million, including several major intersection improvements, traffic signal upgrades, and other safety projects.  Applications are currently being accepted until August 15, 2007, 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.                  Merle Hay and Urbandale Intersection Improvements--This project would consist of intersection widening to add north-south left-turn lanes and center medians.  New traffic signals would be installed.  This project is proposed to be funded from multiple sources, including IDOT funds, federal safety funds, and congestion mitigation funding.  The total project cost is $2.0 million, of which $500,000 would be requested from Traffic Safety funding.

 

2.                  SE 14th and Indianola Intersection Improvements--This project would consist of intersection widening on the south and east approaches.  The south approach would be widened to provide a second northbound left-turn lane.  The east approach would be widened to provide a left-turn lane and a right-turn lane.  New traffic signals would be installed.  This project is proposed to be funded from both Traffic Safety funds and congestion mitigation funding.  The total project cost is $1,200,000, of which $500,000 would be requested from Traffic Safety funding.

 

3.                  East 33rd and Easton Intersection Improvements--This project would consist of widening the east and west approaches of the intersection to provide left-turn lanes.  East 33rd Street would be re-striped to also provide left-turn lanes approaching Easton Boulevard.  New traffic signals would be installed.  The total project cost is $550,000, of which $400,000 would be requested from Traffic Safety funding.

 

4.                  Tuttle Avenue at SW 8th/SW 9th Streets--Traffic Signal Installations--This project would consist  of installing traffic signals at these two adjacent intersections.  The total project cost is $300,000, all of which would be requested from Traffic Safety funding.   

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S):  NONE

 

 

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S):  TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

 

Date:  June 19, 2007 

 

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 IDOT.