HomeMy WebLinkAboutPreliminary AlternativesIowa City Gateway
Preliminary Alternatives Public Input – November – December 2011
Prior to the public meeting for the Environmental Assessment and comment period scheduled for the
spring/summer of 2012, the City of Iowa City added an additional opportunity for the community to see
and provide input into draft alternatives.
The Community was offered the opportunity to see draft alternatives for improvements to the Iowa City
Gateway Corridor from November 25 through December 30, 2011. Draft alternatives and an online
comment form were available at www.iowacitygateway.org.
Additionally, a drop-in center was hosted for the public to see the draft alternatives in person or talk one-
on-one with a member of the study team. That drop-in center was held from 3:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday,
December 8, 2011 at the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center, 220 South Gilbert Street in Iowa
City. Approximately 30 residents participated in the drop-in center.
The alternatives shown as a part of this program were preliminary, and presented with information that
they will likely be refined and updated over the next several months. In addition, efforts were made to
stress to residents that any impacts to property or structures along the corridor may be lessened or
eliminated as detailed design work is completed. Residents were also informed that the recommended
alternative could be a combination of the three draft alternatives.
Key notes and responses to comments:
The formal Purpose and Need for the Iowa City Gateway effort is:
Purpose of the Proposed Action: Provide a reliable multimodal transportation corridor that
reduces the impact of flooding on the local transportation system and the Iowa River corridor.
Need for the Proposed Action: (1) Maximize the reliability of Dubuque Street; (2) Maximize the
reliability of Park Road Bridge; (3) Minimize backwater created by Park Road Bridge; and (4)
Address roadway deficiencies on Dubuque Street and Park Road.
An important project goal is to minimize negative impacts to properties, historic sites, natural sites
and parklands.
The alternatives shown during this period are preliminary. During the detailed evaluation process,
they will likely be refined.
Additional, detailed information about the evaluation of alternatives, their impacts and costs will be
provided as part of the Environmental Assessment’s public meeting and formal comment process.
The findings and evaluations will be made public prior to the public meeting.
Input on locations beyond the Iowa City Gateway study area cannot be addressed in the evaluation or
recommendations for the Iowa City Gateway project.
The goal is to raise the bridge, Dubuque Street and Park Road to the 500+1 flood elevation.
However, those needs may need to be balanced against project costs.
To rea
www
Comme
Foster Ro
Ridge Ro
Alt B
Alt C
be a s
Alt C
possib
How
and D
Alt A
Propo
We pr
also a
Propo
entire
encou
west o
ad more abou
.iowacitygate
nts by Loca
oad
Al
wh
Note
Dubu
impr
ad/Taft/Dubu
A
A
A
p
- This alterna
- Do not like
steep decline o
- Once again
ble due to gra
many dollars
Dubuque Stree
A - Don't raise
osal A appear
refer Proposa
appears to inc
osal C suggest
e neighborhoo
urage traffic to
or vice versa.
ut the decision
eway.org and
ation
lt C - I'm assu
hich is good.
e: The only po
uque Street to
rovements to D
uque Street In
Alt A - Do no
Still concerne
after Dubuqu
Alt A - It is n
stub shown o
Alt B - I like
place with im
ative has the b
e that Ridge R
onto Dubuque
n, the propose
ade change, un
and city staff
et?
Taft Speedw
s to be a com
al B, if one mu
lude the least
ts that Taft Sp
od along Ridg
o use Ridge R
n-making pro
click on “Wh
uming that thi
otential impro
o ensure that
Dubuque Stre
ntersection
ot like that Ri
ed that it wou
ue Street is rai
not clear how
on the drawing
this plan best
mproved room
best connecti
Road entry/ex
e from this po
ed Ridge Road
nless Dubuqu
f time would
way. Dead end
mpromise betw
ust be chosen
t changes to o
peedway and
ge Road and W
Road even mo
cess, go to th
hat is NEPA?
is plan accom
ovements are
the intersecti
eet.
idge Road ent
uld be a steep
ised.
the connectio
g is not possib
t as it keeps th
m to make a tu
on for Ridge
it is moved ov
oint even afte
d connection
ue Street is go
be saved by n
d Taft Speedw
ween B and C
n, because it re
other streets an
Ridge Road
Whiting Aven
ore than curre
he “resources”
”
mmodates the
e at the interse
ion functions s
try/exit is mo
decline onto
on to Ridge R
ble due to the
he entry/exit
urn right onto
Road (better
ver to Taft Sp
er Dubuque St
shown in this
oing to be rais
not putting an
way.
.
etains the cur
nd sites.
connect. This
nue and surrou
ently happens
” page of
eventual raisi
ection of Fost
safely with th
oved over to T
Dubuque fro
Road would b
e grade chang
of Ridge Roa
Dubuque.
than Alternat
peedway. Co
treet is raised
s alternative w
sed a lot (10 f
n intersection
rrent entrance
s plan is detri
unding areas.
s as a connect
ing of Foster
ter Road and
he proposed
Taft Speedway
om this point e
e made. The s
ge on Ridge R
ad in the same
tive A or C).
oncerned this
d.
would not be
feet +).
at Taft Speed
e to Ridge Ro
mental to the
. It would
ion from east
Road
y.
even
short
Road.
e
may
dway
ad. It
e
t to
Taft S
dead e
suppo
petitio
proce
City s
lot of
inters
The T
unnec
prope
Note:
separ
proce
part o
that in
coord
Terrell M
Cliff Apar
Speedway sho
end. I signed
osed to be inc
on? In my op
ss. Raising T
staff has alrea
f people don’t
ection should
Taft Speedway
cessarily cost
erty values aro
Decisions re
rate process; t
ess are at the
of the Iowa Ci
ntersection, in
dinating close
ill Park
T
M
p
t
c
H
rtments
A
w
D
ould not be ra
d a petition ab
luded in the p
pinion, it look
Taft Speedway
ady said it wil
want one. C
d be deleted.
y levee projec
taxpayers mo
ound it.
egarding the
the only porti
intersection o
ity Gateway p
ncluding appr
ely with the Ta
The city wou
Mill Park and
put a great we
traffic going w
center could b
Historical WP
As one of the
with Alternat
Dubuque Stre
aised to meet a
bout this and s
project’s publ
ks like the city
y is very expe
ll put an inter
City staff inclu
ct is a comple
oney and shou
levee on or n
ions of Taft Sp
of Taft and Du
project would
ropriate chan
aft Speedway
uld be foolish
d the Parkview
elcome center
west on I-80
be used to ste
PA Site - Do
e owners of th
tives A and C
eet from our s
a raised Dubu
so did almost
lic comments
y is censoring
ensive and sh
section at Du
uded this inter
etely unneces
uld go away.
ear Taft Spee
peedway that
ubuque. Any
d only be mad
nges to elevat
team.
to raise Taft S
w Church are
r where Parkv
than the First
eer people to d
not disturb.
he Cliff apartm
in that they d
south parking
uque Street.
300 other pe
on the websi
g citizen input
houldn’t be do
ubuque St. and
rsection in ev
sary governm
The size and
edway are bei
t are included
changes to th
de to ensure th
tion. The Iow
Speedway to
a. It should a
view Church
t Avenue Cor
downtown an
ments I believ
do not appear
g lot.
Taft Speedw
eople. The pe
ite—what hap
t in violation
one!
d Taft Speedw
very alternativ
ment boondog
d sight of it w
ing conducted
d in the Iowa
he west of tha
he safety and f
wa City Gatew
create a divid
all be one par
is and perhap
ralville exit w
nd other Iowa
ve that there m
r to continue o
way should be
etition was
ppened to this
of the NEPA
way even thou
ve. This
ggle that will
will likely harm
d through a
City Gateway
at intersection
functionality
way team is
de between T
rk. Iowa City
ps capture mo
will. The welc
a City areas.
may be a prob
our access to
a
s
A
ugh a
m
y
n as a
of
Terrell
could
ore
come
blem
Mayflowe
Alt C
off/pi
Keep
Kimball &
Park Road
Alt C
from r
Alt C
Alt C
any al
mode
C's pr
er Residence
A
A
- Do not like
cking up stud
parking south
& Dubuque
N
d Bridge
A
t
A
w
- Straight Br
road etc....
- The bridge
- The propos
lternative, wh
ling been per
roximity to th
Hall
Alt A - Appre
off/pickup at
Alt B - I like
Mayflower to
students.
B seems to be
and Mayflow
e that it keeps
dents.
h of Mayflow
No left turn.
Alt A - The n
to existing br
How do you p
Park Road?
Alt B - The p
a right angle.
I think "B" is
widening it.
ridge and road
angles too fa
sed bridge alig
hich is good f
rformed for al
he bridge east
eciate that Du
Mayflower a
that it distanc
o allow for bu
e the best alte
wer.
Dubuque Str
wer at private
new Park Roa
ridge to allow
propose to tra
proposed bridg
s the best opti
More trees sa
d by City Park
ar south.
gnment on th
for maintainin
lternatives to
end to the fra
ubuque Street
and allows for
ces Dubuque
us pick-up/dro
ernative to me
reet so close t
road (hill too
ad bridge align
w new constru
ansition from
ge alignment
on of the thre
aved along Pa
k, but no impr
is alternative
ng flood flows
see which wo
aternity turno
t is moved ov
r space betwe
Street (move
op-off and mo
e. I like the e
to Mayflower
o steep to driv
nment is strai
uction while ex
m four lanes on
is better than
ee plans. Mov
ark Road.
rovement for
is probably t
s through the
ould have the
off dooms tho
ver (west) to a
een traffic and
ed west) away
ore space betw
extra space be
r dorm and bu
ve up during w
ightforward, b
xisting bridge
n bridge to tw
n Alternative A
ving the Park
r pedestrians (
the closest to
bridge. Has
e least impact
se tenants!
allow bus drop
d students.
y from the
ween traffic a
etween the roa
uses dropping
winter)
but is it too cl
e is maintaine
wo lanes west
A as it is mor
k Road Bridge
(lack of trails
a right angle
any hydraulic
on river flow