Community Projects

Infrastructure

Pleasant Hill Boulevard/Vandalia Road Intersection Improvement

Project Description: The intersection improvement project will realign the intersection of South Pleasant Hill Boulevard and Vandalia Road and will raise the roadway out of the 500-year floodplain, consolidate two uncontrolled railroad crossings into one signalized crossing, add pedestrian improvements and trail and reconstruct the on-ramp to the Highway 65 bypass. The alignment of the intersection is set to align with the future connection of the Southeast Connector, locally known as Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

Project Update: Major milestones to complete are the final paving to reopen new roadways in October, reconstruction of culvert under SE Vandalia Dr, repairs to bridge decking over Fourmile Creek, and plantings.

Estimated Cost: The estimated project cost for construction is over $10,000,000. Federal funds have been received to cost share construction in the amount of $7,900,000.

Contractor: Elder Corporation

Estimated Project Timeline: Construction began in late 2018 with an anticipated construction window of 18 months. The new roadway is projected to be open in Fall 2020 with minor work being completed through winter and project completion in Spring 2021.

Design Engineer: Scott Almeida, Kirkham Michael

City Staff Contact: Madeline Sturms, Community Development Director

Traffic Adaptive Signal Control on

E University Avenue

Project Description: Installation of Adaptive Signal Control Technology for all 13 intersections on E University Ave from Copper Creek Drive to NE 80th Street will allow for faster responses to traffic conditions. An Adaptive Signal Control adjusts the timing of traffic lights to accommodate changing traffic patterns and eases congestion versus the current time-of-day signal timing schedule. According to the Department of Transportation, the new technology will improve travel time reliability by progressively moving vehicles through green lights, reduce congestion by creating smoother flow, and prolong the effectiveness of traffic signal timing. Similar systems have been implemented with great success in other Metro cities.

Project Update: Rhythm Engineering was awarded the contract to provide the Adaptive Signal Control System. Iowa Signal will be doing some traffic signal detection improvements and fiber upgrading along the corridor. This work will improve the detection systems at all intersections and communication between traffic signals. Iowa Signal will also be installing the Rhythm Adaptive System in the signal cabinets throughout the corridor as well.

Estimated Cost: The estimated project cost for the installation of the traffic adaptive technology is $951,000. The City of Pleasant Hill has received a grant for $643,900 from the Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program and the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Contractor: Iowa Signal Inc.

Estimated Project Timeline: Construction is anticipated to begin in Fall 2020 and be completed in Spring 2021.

Design Engineer: Snyder and Associates

City Staff Contact: Russ Paul, Public Works Assistant Director

NE 70th Street Reconstruction (including 400' of Meacham Drive)

Project Description: NE 70th Street between University Avenue and NE Rising Sun Drive will undergo a complete reconstruction to bring the road design to current safety standards. The reconstruction will include an intersection (roundabout) at NE 70th Street and NE Rising Sun Drive and be designed to eventually continue further south and create a new boulevard section which connects to SE 6th Avenue at SE 68th Street near Four Mile Elementary School.

Project Update: Roadway construction has completed and the roundabout is open to the public. Final landscaping items will be completed in Spring 2020. The project will also include a public art piece in the roundabout.

Estimated Cost: $2,870,000

Contractor: Elder Corporation

Estimated Project Timeline: Final punchlist items will be completed in Spring of 2020.

Design Engineer: Eric Cannon, Snyder and Associates

City Staff Contact: Madeline Sturms, Community Development Director

NE 60th Street/Morning Star Court Reconstruction

Project Description: Project includes the widening of NE 60^th Street, relocation and reconstruction of Morning Start Court, pedestrian improvements at the intersection of University Avenue and NE 60^th Street and construction of 1,300’ of Martha L. Miller Drive from NE 60^th Street to the east. A redesigned intersection of NE 60th Street and University Avenue would improve safety and capacity through the intersection as well as add additional car stacking distance by relocating the intersection of NE 60th Street and Morning Star Court to the south.

Project Update: Design work is being finalized and the project is anticipated to bid in October 2020.

Estimated Cost: $2,700,000

Contractor: TBD

Estimated Project Timeline: The project is anticipated to be bid in October 2020. The City anticipates a contractor to begin work in Spring of 2021 with completion of the Morning Star and NE 60^th Street project in Fall of 2021 and Martha L Miller extension completed during the 2022 construction season.

Design Engineer: Eric Cannon, Snyder and Associates

City Staff Contact: Ben Champ, City Manager

Woodland Drive Construction (Connection from Pleasant Ridge Estates to SE 55th Street)

Project Description: The Pleasant Ridge Estates neighborhood located on South Shadyview Boulevard currently only has one roadway access. To provide for increased accessibility for emergency services and residents, a new roadway has been designed which would connect from the east side of the subdivision to SE 55th Street named Woodland Drive.

Project Update: Street lights from Mid American are the only outstanding item.

Estimated Cost: $430,000

Contractor: Sandstone Management

Estimated Project Timeline: Formally opens to traffic in spring 2020.

Design Engineer: Eric Cannon, Snyder and Associates

City Staff Contact: Madeline Sturms, Community Development Director

Park and Trail Projects
Hickory Glen Park

Project Description: The City of Pleasant Hill purchased 77 acres of ground in 2015 southwest of Four Mile Elementary School for future parkland following a recommendation from the Comprehensive Plan and Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan. In 2016, the City hired Confluence Landscape Architects to complete a comprehensive Master Plan for the Park. Following adoption of the Master Plan, a contest was held to name the park ground by a local resident.

Hickory Glen Park is designed to serve many users over many generations, and full build out is a long term process. The overall Master Plan construction is estimated to cost over $17,000,000.

Project Update: Phase 1 construction began following a ground breaking ceremony in April 2019. Major utilities have been installed along with the stormwater detention features. Paving, initial seeding and planting is anticipated to occur in spring 2020.

Estimated Cost: Phase one will cost approximately $2.8 million. Several grants totaling $305,000 have been received from Prairie Meadows Legacy Grant, Iowa DNR REAP, Wellmark Small Match Foundation, and IDALS Water Quality Initiative to assist with funding the project.

Contractor: Elder Corporation

Estimated Project Timeline: Construction is anticipated to be completed in Fall 2020.

Design Professional: Matt Carlile, Confluence Landscape Architects

City Staff Contact: Madeline Sturms, Community Development Director

Youngstown Trail

Project Description: Youngstown trail is a local trail network which provides a connection for residents to travel throughout the community and connect to over 600 miles of trails through the Central Iowa Trail network via the Gay Lea Wilson Trail. The concept of future alignment can be viewed to the right.

Project Update: Phase II of Youngstown Trail which extends from the Gay Lea Wilson Trail at Parkridge Avenue and continues east to Pleasant Hill Boulevard has completed design which includes the trail and several storm water improvements. A change order was approved for the project to further extend the trail from Pleasant Hill Boulevard to Doanes Park Road.

Estimated Cost: $777,000

Contractor: Petersen Contracting, Inc.

Estimated Project Timeline: Project has been accepted and opened to the public during summer 2020. Phase 3 of this project will be coordinated with adjacent development to make the connection between Oakwood Drive and Parkridge Avenue. Phase 3 is anticipated to be designed and constructed in 2021.

Design Professional: Eric Cannon, Snyder & Associates

City Staff Contact: Madeline Sturms, Community Development Director

Regional Projects
Southeast Connector/Martin Luther King Jr Parkway Extension

Project Description: The City of Pleasant Hill has been working with the City of Des Moines to plan, construct, and apply for funding for the Southeast Connector/Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway Extension as a transportation corridor connecting the Highway 5/65 Bypass to downtown Des Moines for over a decade.

http://www.seconnector.com/index.stm

Project Update: The City of Des Moines completed a new section of the roadway to extend to 30th Street in 2016. The intersection improvements at Pleasant Hill Boulevard and Vandalia Road are designed to accommodate the future connection of the Southeast Connector. Due to federal funding requirements, no additional federal funds can be used to construct the project until at least 2021. Planning is still underway.

Estimated Cost: The connection between 30th Street and the Pleasant Hill Intersection which spans through Des Moines and Pleasant Hill is anticipated to cost $40,000,000.

Contractor: TBD

Estimated Project Timeline: TBD

Design Professional: Scott Almeida, Kirkham Michael

City Staff Contact: Madeline Sturms, Community Development Director

Water Trails

Project Description: The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization received funding from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to develop a regional water trails plan. Now developed, the plan provides the region a road-map for enhancing citizen experiences in and along the waterways in Greater Des Moines.

Project Update: The Water Trails Engineering Study has been completed. This study examines a list of recommended projects more closely and determines feasibility and estimated costs. The study examined the Pleasant Hill Boat Ramp for potential improvements such as concrete parking lot, lighting, trail connections, and boat launch.

Estimated Cost: $1,400,000.00

Estimated Project Timeline: The regional effort has received federal funding for a series of downtown improvements to begin the water recreation efforts.

Design Professional: ISG Engineering

City Staff Contact: Ben Champ, City Manager

https://dmampo.org/water-trails/

Community Projects

Interactive Development Map

Infrastructure