Public Open House. Welcome! Presentation at 5:15 p.m. Please sign-in at the registration table

Transcription

1 Public Open House Welcome! Presentation at 5:15 p.m. Please sign-in at the registration table

2 The Grand Avenue Extension Location and Environmental Study will determine the location of the extension of Grand Avenue from Squaw Creek Drive to South 16 th Street. The Study will also examine and document environmental features in the Study Area and conduct an Environmental Analysis following National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) guidance. Additionally, the intersections of South 5 th Street/South Duff Avenue and South 16 th Street/South Duff Avenue will be evaluated for traffic impacts related to the future traffic demand along the extension of Grand Avenue. The Study is scheduled to be conducted over a 24-month period and will consist of two main phases. The first phase will evaluate roadway locations, traffic impacts at the identified intersections, and floodway impacts. The second phase will evaluate the potential for environmental impacts.

3 Purpose The purpose of this project is to improve roadway connections between South Grand Avenue and South 16 th Street, and improve South 5 th Street from South Duff Avenue to South Grand Avenue. Needs Improve System Linkage Provide a Safe Route During Flood Events Increase Traffic Capacity

4 Corridor Planning Timeline 2000: City of Ames develops a concept alignment for Grand Avenue Extension For nearly two decades the City of Ames has identified the need to extend the Grand Avenue corridor between Lincoln Way and South 16 th Street. Since 2000, the City has studied the alignment between Squaw Creek Drive and South 16 th Street more extensively, as shown in the timeline to the left. 2003: City of Ames develops a planning level alignment Grand Avenue Extension from Lincoln Way to South 16 th Street 2010: Ames Area MPO includes an alignment between South 4th Street and South 16 th Street as a project in the 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan.

5 Four (4) alignments have been identified as potential Build Alternatives for the Grand Avenue Extension. In addition to the Build Alternatives, South 5 th Street will be extended to connect to Alternatives 1, 2, and 3. Intersection improvements are planned at South 5 th Street/South Duff Avenue and South 16 th Street/ South Duff Avenue. Alternative 1: This alternative connects South Grand Avenue at Squaw Creek Drive to South Grand Avenue north of South 16 th Street. Alternative 2: This alternative follows the former rail and existing trail corridor to connect South Grand Avenue at Squaw Creek Drive to South 16 th Street. Alternative 3: This alternative utilizes the same alignment as Alternative 2 until turning south to connect to South 16 th Street at Mulberry Boulevard. Alternative 4: This alternative provides improvements to South Duff Avenue. It does not include an extension of Grand Avenue, nor an extension of South 5 th Street.

6 A major component of achieving the project s purpose and need is to design the improvements to remain operational during flood events. In order to provide a resilient roadway several hydraulic structures have been identified for each build alternative alignment. The figure (left) provides preliminary structure, channel, and roadway grade improvements identified to maintain roadway operations for 100-year and 2010-flood events.

7 Through the Location and Environmental Study process each alternative alignment will be evaluated for potential impacts to location (private property, sight distance issues, and previous long-range planning) and environmental (stream, wetland, habitat, cultural, and park/trail) features within the Study Area. Another component of the evaluation of alternatives is public input. Feedback from the public will be used to determine which alternative is identified as the preferred alternative at the conclusion of the Location and Environmental Study.

8 In February 2014, the City of Ames completed a Flood Mitigation Study to identify mitigation alternatives to reduce the impacts of flooding associated with Squaw Creek and the South Skunk River. The Study identified Conveyance Improvements to Squaw Creek at the South Duff Avenue Bridge to be the most cost effective alternative studied. The recommendations provided in the Flood Mitigation Study will be incorporated into roadway alternative improvements to create alternatives that achieve no-rise criteria for the Study Area.

9 1) Incorporate Public Input 2) Conduct Alternative Analysis 3) Prepare Draft Location Study 4) Conduct Environmental Analysis 5) Prepare Draft Environmental Assessment

10 Contact Us Rudy Koester, PE City of Ames Project Manager City of Ames, Department of Public Works Ross Harris Consultant Project Manager HR Green, Inc Throughout the Study, materials will be posted on City of Ames website to keep the public informed on the progress of the documents. To follow the updates go to the Design Project Updates page on the City of Ames Public Works webpage. Leave a Comment Please provide feedback on the project s purpose, needs, or alternatives before leaving. Comment forms are available at the registration table.