02. What is the history of this project over the past year?

Question

Rob Christensen · Accepted Answer

Spring 2018
- City Council Adopted Goals for Next 2 years – Implement Safety Improvements along Nile Kinnick Drive South (Highway 169) & Paving of Meadow Road
- The issue was assigned to the City Council Streets Committee for review, recommendations, etc.

Summer 2018
- June 5: Initial Public Meeting was held at the ADM High School Auditorium to get initial public feedback. Concerns prevalent from that meeting included financing of the project, high speed limits and overall safety regarding turn lanes and pedestrian/bicycle traffic.
- July 12: Meeting with Iowa DOT @ Atlantic District Office (From Adel: Council Member Rob Christensen, Mayor Peters, Kip Overton, Director of Public Works and the City’s Engineering Firm – McClure Engineering)
  - Discussed concerns from public meeting
  - Presented Traditional Turn Lane Design
  - Discussed traffic signals
  - Talked specifically about speed – requested speed study
  - Half mentioned that someone from the public at the June 5 public meeting mentioned the possibility of roundabouts. IDOT said they would be open to considering the concept.
- August 2018
  - Street Committee decided to form Citizen Focus Group to gain more insight of public desire for design, priority and financing.
    - Nominated 3 citizens each by Streets Committee Members and Mayor, plus Street Committee, Mayor, Superintendent (designee) from ADM, Rep. City Engineering Firm, City Administrator and Public Works Director (full list)
    - Of those nominated, some members never attended any meetings, some were unable to attend all meetings, but most attend all 5 meetings.
    - All meetings were held publicly and open to the public.
- September 2018
  - September 14: Received Speed Study back from IDOT: Recommended increasing speeds by 5 MPH along Highway 169 from Green Street in 30 & 45 MPH zones (ending in 35 and 50 MPH speeds).
  - September 17: First meeting of Citizen Focus Group (PowerPoint)
    - We reviewed growth trends of the city and county, big picture of city financing, city history of street improvements
    - Created goals (safety, small town feel, traffic flows) and mission statement: “The Adel Street Committee Citizen Focus Group will use a collaborative process to provide consensus recommendations to the City Council for a safer Highway 169 southern corridor, that will also include appropriate trails and sidewalks for overall connectivity and betterment of the entire community.” (Focus Group Community Sentiment and Mission Worksheet Results)
    - Set meeting dates and times for future meetings and agenda items for each meeting
    - Invited all community members in attendance to join the group at the tables as part of the discussion carried on this practice with all meetings
  - October 2018
    - October 11: Second meeting of Citizen Focus Group (PowerPoint)
      - Discussed Trails/Sidewalks/Underpass – including existing city parks & trails plan
      - Discussed Paving of Meadow Road
      - Activity regarding benefit of Trails/Sidewalks/Underpass (Activity Results)
    - October 25: Third meeting of Citizen Focus Group (PowerPoint)
      - Activity regarding benefit of Paving of Meadow Road (Activity Results)
      - Discussed safety on Highway 169 South
      - Speed, speed study, IDOT speed requirements (IDOT Speed Limit Determination Brochure)
      - Need for intersection (turn lanes of some type) improvement & improving intersection at Fareway/School
      - Discussed design concepts and options for turning lanes on Highway 169
        
        Traditional turn lanes – with & without raised medians
        
        Roundabouts
      - Activity regarding benefit of improvements on Highway 169 South (Activity Results)
  - November 2018
    - November 8: Fourth Meeting of Citizen Focus Group (PowerPoint)
      - Discussed project costs — including variations for various concepts (including upfront and long-term maintenance costs)
      - Discussed financing challenges and options
        
        Debt Service
        
        Special Assessments
        
        TIF
        
        IDOT Contributions (confirmed & potential)
        
        Developer Escrow
    - Prior to November 29 Meeting – conducted online survey of Citizen Focus Group members regarding priority, design and financing.
    - November 29: Fifth meeting of Citizen Focus Group (PowerPoint)
      - Reviewed any additional questions — design and financing
      - Reviewed results of online survey taken by group (Survey Results)
      - Individual table activities to discuss consensus on priority, design and financing
      - Entire group activity to develop consensus to present to the Adel City Council Streets Committee. (Consensus Activity Results: Highway 169 Improvements / Trails, Sidewalk & Underpass / Paving of Meadow Road)

Updated: 02/05/19