Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager
 
           

Date

March 24, 2008

 

Agenda Item No.       8

Roll Call No.              08-

Communication No.  08-158

Submitted by:  Jeb E. Brewer, P.E.

                         City Engineer

 

 

AGENDA HEADING:

 

Approving and authorizing the execution of Iowa Department of Transportation Pre-design Agreement for Merle Hay Road (Iowa 28) Widening at Urbandale Avenue.

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

 

Approval of a pre-design agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) for Merle Hay Road (Iowa 28) Widening at Urbandale Avenue.  The project provides for the installation of left-turn lanes on Merle Hay Road at Urbandale Avenue.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

Amount:  $250,000 (Survey, design, and environmental clearance)

 

Funding Source:  Various funding being:

  • $200,000 State Traffic Safety Improvement Program Funds
  • $50,000 2008-09 CIP, Page Street-25, Merle Hay Road and Urbandale Avenue Intersection Improvements, STR235, G.O. Bonds

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

 

The proposed improvement consists of widening the north and south approaches on Merle Hay Road in order to provide left turn lanes.  The current pavement width of 49’ would be widened to 65’.  A raised median would be installed on Merle Hay Road within the vicinity of the intersection.  New traffic signals with backplates would also be installed, including north-south left turn phasing.  A 10’ clear zone would be established within the limits of the project.  This intersection ranked 55th on the state’s 2001-2005 “Statewide Intersection Candidate Listing.”  Due to its high crash experience, this location was previously reviewed in a study that was commissioned by the Iowa DOT Traffic Safety Office.

 

The Iowa Department of Transportation has proposed this pre-design agreement for Merle Hay Road (Iowa 28) widening at Urbandale Avenue.  City staff worked with the Iowa DOT to develop the details of the proposed agreement, which will authorize the City to perform the survey, design, environmental clearance, and right-of-way acquisition phases of the project.  The Iowa DOT will reimburse the City for these costs up to $200,000 from a recently approved State Traffic Safety Improvement Program project.

 

The total project cost for the widening project is estimated to be $2,000,000.  The Iowa DOT has allocated $750,000 in Federal funding for this project from the Highway Safety Improvement Program.  The City has applied for $500,000 in State Traffic Safety Improvement Program funding which was recently approved.  Additionally, the City has applied for $400,000 in Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program funding for this project.

 

As the project design proceeds, staff will continue to work with the Iowa DOT to identify the additional funding sources.  These funding sources, along with other project details, will be incorporated into a Preconstruction Agreement for this project, which will be presented, to City Council at a later date.  Construction of this project is anticipated in 2010.

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S):

 

Date:  August 6, 2007

 

Roll Call Number:  07-1486

 

Action:   Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP) Fund Applications to the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) for Merle Hay Road and Urbandale Avenue Intersection Improvements, and SE 14th Street and East Indianola Avenue Intersection Improvements.  (Council Communication No. 07-477)  Moved by Vlassis to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.

 

Date:  July 23, 2007

 

Roll Call Number:  07-1386

 

Action:   Approving Traffic Safety Fund Applications to the Iowa Department of Transportation.  (Council Communication No. 07-446)  Moved by Vlassis to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.

 

 

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

 

 

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS: 

 

Normal actions for award of the construction contract for the work.

 

 

 

 

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive.  Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting.  Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.