Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager
 
 

Date

October 22, 2007

 

Agenda Item No.       27

Roll Call No.              07-

Communication No.  07-629

Submitted by:  Jeb E. Brewer, P.E.

                                   City Engineer

 

AGENDA HEADING:

 

Authorizing submittal of STP and STP-TE Fund FY 2012 applications to the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

 

The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is soliciting project applications for Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds and for Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds for the 2012 Fiscal Year.  It is recommended that the City submit applications for several projects, as listed below:

 

1.                  (STP) Major Construction Category:  East Indianola Avenue Widening – SE 14th Street to Army Post Road.

 

2.                  (STP) Major Construction Category:  Park Avenue Widening – Monarch Cement RR Tracks to SW 63rd Street

 

3.                  (STP) Major Construction Category:  Southeast Connector Improvement – SE 6th Street to SE 14th Street.

 

4.                  (STP) Minor Construction Category:  9th Street and University Avenue Intersection Improvement

 

5.                  (STP) Preservation Category:  6th Avenue Bridge over the Des Moines River

 

6.                  (STP) Preservation Category:  Evergreen Drive Bridge over the Easter Lake Spillway.

 

7.                   (STP-TE) Bicycle/Pedestrian Trails:  Ewing Park – Easter Lake Park Trail Connection.

 

8.                  (STP-TE)  Scenic/Environmental:  Beaverdale Village Streetscape Project.

 

9.                  (STP-TE)  Scenic/Environmental:  Ingersoll Avenue Streetscape Project.

 

10.              (STP-TE)  Scenic/Environmental:  Drake Area Streetscape Project

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 Local matching funds for the following projects are included in the 2007-08/2012-13 CIP and will be included in future CIPs if the applications are successful.

 

1.                  East Indianola Avenue Widening – SE 14th Street to Army Post Road

 

Surface Transportation Program Funds Requested                    $  2,000,000

Total Project Cost                                                                    $16,000,000

 

2.                  Park Avenue Widening – Monarch Cement RR Tracks to SW 63rd Street

 

Surface Transportation Program Funds Requested                    $1,500,000

Total Project Cost                                                                    $4,500,000

 

3.                  Southeast Connector Improvement – SE 6th Street to SE 14th Street.

 

Surface Transportation Program Funds Requested                    $  1,000,000

Total Project Cost                                                                    $25,500,000

 

4.                  9th Street and University Avenue Intersection Improvement

 

Surface Transportation Program Funds Requested                    $400,000                    

Total Project Cost                                                                    $650,000

 

5.                  6th Avenue Bridge over the Des Moines River

 

Surface Transportation Program Funds Requested                    $300,000

Total Project Cost                                                                    $600,000

 

6.                  Evergreen Drive Bridge over the Easter Lake Spillway

 

Surface Transportation Program Funds Requested                    $200,000

Total Project Cost                                                                    $365,000

 

7.                  Ewing Park – Easter Lake Park Trail Connection

 

Surface Transportation Program Funds Requested                    $   500,000

Total Project Cost                                                                    $1,000,000

 

Local matching funds for the following projects are not included in the 2007-08/2012-13 CIP but will be included in future CIPs if the applications are successful.

 

8.                  Beaverdale Village Streetscape Project

 

Surface Transportation Program Funds Requested                    $   280,000

Total Project Cost                                                                    $1,400,000

 

9.                  Ingersoll Avenue Streetscape Project

 

Surface Transportation Program Funds Requested                    $   280,000

Total Project Cost                                                                    $1,400,000

 

10.              Drake Area Streetscape Project

 

Surface Transportation Program Funds Requested                    $   350,000

Total Project Cost                                                                    $1,750,000

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

 

The MPO is soliciting project applications for Federal STP and STP‑TE funds for FY 2012.  The applications must be submitted to the MPO by October 26, 2007.  Funding is divided into two major categories, as further identified below:

 

STP PROJECT APPLICATIONS

 

STP project applications are requested for FY 2012, with approximately $4.5 million available for the metro region.  The MPO has previously established four categories of STP projects:  Major Construction, Minor Construction, Preservation, and Alternative Transportation.  Staff has reviewed a number of potential projects and recommends the following projects be submitted for STP funding:

 

Major Construction Category:

 

1.         East Indianola Avenue Widening – SE 14th Street to Army Post Road

 

This funding request involves the third year of a multi-year funding proposal.  The project consists of widening and paving East Indianola Avenue from SE 14th Street south to Army Post Road.  A four-lane divided roadway is being planned for most of this corridor, with bike lanes in the roadway and a separate multipurpose trail along the west side of the roadway, along with other amenities to provide a “Complete Streets” type of facility.  The estimated total project cost is $16 million.  Last year the City submitted requests for the first two years of a three-year “multi-year” funding.  This year the City plans to submit a request for $2.0 million of FY2012 funding. 

 

2.         Park Avenue Widening – Monarch Cement Plant RR Tracks to SW 63rd Street

 

This project consists of widening Park Avenue from the Monarch Cement Railroad tracks east of SW 56th Street west to SW 63rd Street.  A four-lane divided roadway is proposed.  The estimated project cost is $4.5 million.  The City plans to submit an application for the first year of a two-year “multi-year” request, which would be for $1.5 million of FY2012 funds.

 

3.         Southeast Connector Improvement – SE 6th Street  to  SE 14th  Street

 

This funding request involves the third year of a multi-year funding proposal.  The project would provide for construction of a 4-6 lane, divided roadway along a new alignment in the vicinity of Raccoon Street and Scott Avenue.  Bike lanes are planned for inclusion in the roadway, and a multipurpose trail will be constructed along the south side of the roadway, along with other amenities to provide a “Complete Streets” type of facility.  The estimated project cost is $25.5 million.  Last year the City submitted funding requests for the first two years of a three-year “multi-year” funding.  This year the City plans to submit a request for $1.0 million of FY2012 funding. 

 

Minor Construction  Category:

 

4.         9th Street and University Avenue Intersection Improvement

 

This project would consist of widening University Avenue at 9th Street in order to provide east-west left-turning lanes and to enhance the safety and traffic flow of this intersection.  New traffic signals would also be installed.  The estimated project cost is $650,000.  The City is requesting $400,000 of FY 2012 funds.

 

Preservation Category:

 

5.         6th Avenue Bridge over the Des Moines River

 

This project consists of bridge repair and bridge deck overlay of this structure.   The estimated project cost is $600,000.  The City plans to request $300,000 for FY2012.

 

6.         Evergreen Drive Bridge over Easter Lake Spillway

 

This project consists of bridge repair and bridge deck overlay on this structure, which is located on Evergreen Drive west of SE 34th Street.  The estimated project cost is $365,000.  The City is requesting $200,000 of FY 2012 funds.

 

STP-TE PROJECT APPLICATIONS

 

STP-TE project applications are requested for FY 2012.  The MPO has previously established three categories of TE projects:  Scenic/Environmental, Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities, and Historic Preservation.  Total funds available are rather limited, with approximately $450,000 per year for funding of all three categories.  Engineering, Community Development, and Parks and Recreation staff have reviewed a number of potential projects, and recommend the following projects for submittal to the MPO for TE funding.

 

Bicycle/Pedestrian Trails:

 

7.         Ewing Park – Easter Lake Park Trail Connection

 

This project will involve the construction of a trail connecting Ewing Park and Easter Lake Park in the City of Des Moines.  The project is a cooperative effort of the City of Des Moines and the Polk County Conservation Board.  The trail will be 10 feet wide and constructed of asphalt.  The trail will connect the two parks, starting at the north side of Ewing Park and connecting to the beach area in Easter Lake Park, with  a pedestrian underpass at Indianola Avenue in Ewing Park and a small bridge across the west end of Easter Lake. This trail segment will also provide a connection to the planned regional trail system in the southeast part of the metro area.  The total estimated cost for this project is $1.0 million, of which the City and the Polk County Conservation Board will request $500,000 of FY 2012 TE funds. 

 

Scenic/Environmental:

 

8.         Beaverdale Village Streetscape Project

 

This project will focus on the Beaverdale Commercial District running along Beaver Avenue, bisected by the intersection of Beaver and Urbandale Avenues.  This project will consist of entrance markers denoting the commercial area, new sidewalks, curbs/gutters, new street and pedestrian lights, pedestrian amenities, and crosswalk bump-outs to provide a safer crossing for pedestrians.  This project would extend from Beaver Crest Drive on the south to Adams Avenue on the north and would encompass the intersection of Beaver and Urbandale Avenues, with improvements that turn the corner and run east and west along Urbandale for a short distance.  The estimated cost of this project is $1.4 million, with STP-TE funding requested in the amount of $280,000 for FY2012.

 

9.         Ingersoll Avenue Streetscape Project

 

The City of Des Moines has partnered with the Ingersoll Avenue community to create the Ingersoll Avenue Improvement Plan.  This document includes recommendations for streetscape, parking, and traffic improvements, as well as recommendations for redevelopment projects and policy changes for the corridor from the 17th Street intersection to the 42nd Street intersection.  The Ingersoll planning area is relatively large, so streetscape improvements must be made in phases.

 

The City is requesting $280,000 in FY2012 STP-TE funds for Phase Two to implement the pedestrian safety, traffic calming, and streetlight components of the plan and the related streetscape improvements from 31st Street to 35th Street.  The total budget for this phase of the project is estimated to be $1.4 million. 

 

10.       Drake Area Streetscape Project

 

This project will improve the linkage between Drake University and the neighborhood commercial and residential areas along University and Forest Avenues.  This project will consist of sidewalk improvements, new street and pedestrian lights, pedestrian amenities, bicycle lanes on Forest Avenue, and way-finding signage. This project would encompass University and Forest Avenues from M.L. King Parkway to 31st Street. The estimated cost of this project is $1.75 million with STP-TE FY2012 funding requested in the amount of $350,000, which is 20% of the estimated project cost.

 

Each MPO funding application (for STP or TE funds) must provide assurance that the sponsor will adequately maintain the completed project for its intended public use for a minimum of 20 years following completion.

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S):  NONE 

 

 

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S):  NONE

 

 

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS: 

 

Approval of project agreements with the Iowa Department of Transportation.