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North-South Metro Parkway

Study

Polk County and the City of Des Moines, Iowa

September 14, 2009

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North End of Project Area

1930’s aerial 2008 aerial

NW 66th Avenue NW 66th Avenue

I-35/80

Oralabor Road

NW

2nd

Ave

nue

NW

26

thStr

eet

NW

26

thStr

eet

Oralabor Road

I-35/80

*yellow line shown is Alternative 4, and is noted as a map reference point

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South End of Project Area

1930’s aerial 2008 aerial

Euclid AvenueEuclid Avenue

University Avenue University Avenue

I-235

I-35/80

*yellow line shown is Alternative 4, and is noted as a map reference point

I-235

I-35/80

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Problem Statements

►The north-south arterial street network in Des Moines is not continuous Merle Hay Road and Beaver Avenue end north of I-235

2nd Ave., 6th Ave., Lower Beaver Road end south of I-235

MLK, Jr. Pkwy ends at Euclid Avenue

►Consequences of the problem include: Arterial/commuter traffic routing on local streets

►Peak hour traffic congestion

►Safety concerns for neighborhoods

A four-mile gap between I-35/80 interchanges►Increased travel time to I-35/80, notably from Des Moines

neighborhoods

►Reduced access to CBD from I-35/80

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Project Description and Purpose

►Proposed Action: A continuous north-south transportation corridor through the Des Moines metro area (between Interstate-235 and IA 415/Oralabor Road)

►Project Purpose: Safely and efficiently accommodate existing and projected local and regional traffic between I-235 and IA 415.

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Project Need

►System Linkage (continuous north-south arterial)

►Interstate Access (additional I-35/80 interchange)

Access for Projected Growth Areas Reduce Out-of-Distance Travel

►Safety (reduce crashes through traffic reduction or road improvements)

►Increase Road Capacity I-235 Capacity (2020 Analysis/Limited Build

Alternative/Inverted “Y”)

Improve M.L. King, Jr. Parkway Capacity►No Build Alternative increases traffic congestion

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Project Status

►Alternatives Screening

Initial Screening to determine if alternatives meet Purpose and Need of project (in progress)

Anticipated results to public Fall 2009

The project purpose must address the following needs:

►Need for continuous north-south arterial providing service to CBD and airport

►Need for improved I-35/80 interchange spacing

►Need for additional road capacity between I-235 and IA 415

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North End Concepts*

►IA 415 – I-35/80: Widen or build four-lane arterial street

►Add I-35/80 Interchange

►I-35/80 to Euclid Avenue:

Widen or build four-lane arterial street

Includes a Des Moines River bridge

* Based upon initial study; subject to change

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Factors to be Considered within EIS: North End

►Des Moines “Complete Streets” policy

►Provide a new crossing of the Des Moines River

►Design road to be above flood levels

►New I-35/80 Interchange

►Incident Management Improve emergency response on I-35/80 and

MLK

►Development of “Urban Reserve”

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Urban Reserve►Utilize sand and gravel

mines as part of end use plans

►Develop cohesive plan for area

►Urban reserve would provide:

►Floodplain mitigation►Potential wetland mitigation►Expanded green, natural areas►Diverse ecosystems►Complement and connect to

Des Moines River water trail and Neal Smith trail

►Increase natural areas from 2,300 ac to approximately 6,000 ac in this area

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South End Concepts*

►MLK, Jr. Parkway (Euclid Avenue – I-235):

Improve existing roadway to increase capacity

Improve intersection capacity

►Utilize existing right-of-way

►Streetscape enhancements

* Based upon current study; subject to change

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Factors to be Considered within EIS: South End

►Des Moines “Complete Streets” policy

►Expand bicycle trail network

►Transit

►Bicycles/Pedestrians

►Economic Impact/Reinvestment

►Preserve Neighborhood Character

►Minimize impacts to existing properties

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EIS Decision Process

►The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will include Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa DOT, and FHWA, with decisions made jointly among those bodies

►The EIS will consider all prudent and reasonable alternatives and study impacts

►Alternatives evaluation, including No Build

►Public Input

►We are seeking Des Moines’ approval of the MOU at this time

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MLK, Jr. Pkwy/19th Street

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MLK, Jr. Pkwy:I-235 to Raccoon River

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Fleur Drive:Near Gray’s Lake

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Questions?

I-235

Oralabor Road

I-35-/80