Warren County Economic Development Corp. “The Southern Gateway to the Greater Des Moines Metropolitan Region”

Iowa DOT Commission Meeting | June 12, 2012

Warren County, Iowa

WARREN COUNTY IS GROWTHFourth fastest growing county in the state with a population

growth of almost 15% from 2000 – 2011. (40,671 to 46,732)

W.C. Median Household Income ranks 2nd in the state and is 20.5% higher than the national average. W.C. MHI grew 24.5% from 2000-2010 ($51,000 to $64,371)

Job Growth over the next 10 years is estimated at 33.18% (2% higher than national estimated growth)

Unemployment rate in Warren County is 4.9% (slightly lower than the state rate at 5.1%, and 3% lower than the national rate of 8.1%)

WARREN COUNTY IS GROWTH (CONT.)

Students enrolled in Warren County Schools have a graduation rate of 96.24% (9.24%higher than the state average and 26.24% higher than the national average)

Simpson College has approx. 1,400 full time students & 600 participating in Evening & Weekend Graduate Program

The top 20 companies in W.C. had $690,000,000 in sales last year (an estimated 38% increase in ten years)

Projects US Hwy 92 (Indianola R-57

to I-35) US Hwy 65/69 Corridor

Traffic Study US Hwy 5/65 Interstate Re-

Designation Southwest Connector &

Arterial Cumming Interchange Warren County Trail

Systems

US Hwy 92 (Indianola R-57 to I-

35)

US Hwy-92 Enhancement

• Approximately $10M has been approved for construction & right-of-way acquisition for U.S. Highway 92 (4 miles)

• Funding for this portion is committed through FY 2013 & is listed within the Iowa DOT’s five-year construction program

• Construction documents are being completed now and work is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2014.

Next Stage for US Highway 92

Next Stage

complete enhancement from Indianola

R-57 to Interstate 35

US Highway 92 Reconstruction

US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic StudyIndianola desires to correct disparate elevation levels

along Highway 65/69 within the corporate limits. 

• Traffic volume & accidents continue to increase as growth occurs. 

• Commuter traffic that drives to & from Des Moines along this route

• Recent developments will increase traffic (Theisen’s, Mercy Medical Clinic, Iowa Health clinic, assistant/independent living center, YMCA (2013)in addition to two existing car dealerships) 

US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

Study Corridor

South of Hillcrest

North Corp Limits

½ mile North of Hayes St.

US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

Existing Conditions Roadway

4 lane divided, “rural” facility

50’-62’ wide median varies

Access points– established locations

4-5 feet of vertical difference exists between the northbound & southbound profile at three major access points

45mph at South end, 55mph North of Hillcrest

US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

Traffic Growth History

1984 to 2008 approx. 3% per year

Trip Generation Potential

Summercrest (if 100% developed)

12,000 total trips per day added

900 trips AM peak hr / 1,200 trips PM peak hr added

Northwest Development (if 25% developed)

3,900 trips AM peak hr / 560 trips PM peak hr added

US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

Forecast Traffic US 65/69 Daily Traffic (Two way total)

2008 Existing = 19,000 vehicles per day

2020 Proposed = 29,000 vehicles per day

Peak Hour (Two way total)

2008 Existing = 1,900 vehicles per hour

2020 Proposed = 2,900 vehicles per hour

50% potential Increase

US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

Future Roadway Cross Section Basic Lane Needs

Two lanes each direction plus auxiliary turn lanes Long term possible three lanes each direction

Narrower Median Width Reduce to 30’ wide Accommodate single or dual lefts

Turn Lanes Positive offset left turn lanes Right turn declaration lanes

US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

Request

The total cost to correct the elevation levels may reach

$10.3 million.  The City of Indianola would request that this

project be a local, state and federal partnership to reduce

the city’s cost liability

US Hwy 5/65 Interstate Re-Designation

(Purple Heart Highway)

Hwy 5/65 Interstate Re-Designation

(Purple Heart Highway)• The Iowa DOT is completing

a Safety Assessment (SA) and Operational Assessment (OA) at a cost in excess of $90,000.

• The Iowa DOT’s initial estimates also indicate that new signage could cost as much as $1,000,000.

• Additionally, due to increased speeds, the DOT estimates that there will be costs associated with upgrading the highway from a 4-lane divided highway to interstate highway.

Hwy 5/65 Interstate Re-Designation

(Purple Heart Highway)

AltoonaCarlisle

Des MoinesNorwalk

Pleasant HillWest Des Moines

Polk County

Warren County Warren County

Economic Development Corporation

East Polk Regional Development Corporation

The Purple Heart Highway Collaborative is a group of community and county representatives working together to promote economic development along the highway and create awareness for the loop of opportunity. 

Hwy 5/65 Interstate Re-Designation

(Purple Heart Highway)Cost Breakdown for DOT Study• Final reports to be completed summer of 2012.• Estimated Total: Less than $100,000

• DOT Share - $50,000• Local Share - $42,000

Purple Heart Highway Facts• The first section of the PHH opened in 1995, the final section opened

in 2002.• Four-lane, 25-mile highway• 2008 Traffic Counts are 20,000-26,000 vehicles per day

• Expected to reach 30,700 by 2020Landscaping• Worked with the DOT in summer/fall 2011 to research options• Determined most efficient and cost-effective scenarios• Result: DOT – design, let and invest in landscape along PHH

• Purple plants and/or shrubs to enhance branding• Currently underway – Spring 2012

Hwy 5/65 Interstate Re-Designation

(Purple Heart Highway)Request:

Once the study is completed, federal highway

dollars will be needed to complete signage and

upgrading.

* The Des Moines MPO will be sharing the findings of the study with the DOT Commission soon *

Southwest Connector & Arterial

Southwest Connector & Arterial

Secured $539K from the Federal

Highway Administration

to finish an environmental

impact statement &

start preliminary engineering

Southwest Connector & Other Regional Projects

Cumming Interchange

Cumming Interchange

$13 million approved, which includes:

New wider and longer bridge & approach pavement

Grading & paving new interstate ramps

Side road construction Complements plans for

Southwest Connector and Hwy 5/65 bypass interstate re-designation projects

Warren County Trail System

Central Iowa Trail

System

WarrenCountyTrail

System

Warren CountyEconomic Development

Corporation111 North Buxton | Indianola, Iowa 50125

(515) 961-1067 | www.wcedc.com

Questions?