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City of Des Moines
Transportation Gateway Project
Project Update:
January 24, 2011
Background
The City of Des Moines initiated design of improvements to S. 216th Street and 24th Avenue S in the Spring of 2009 to expand these streets to accommodate multiple modes of travel (pedestrians, bicycles, transit, automobiles, & trucks) as well as accommodate future growth as reflected in the City’s comprehensive plan and zoning. The project limits are on S. 216th Street between I-5 and 20th Avenue S. and between S. 208th Street and S. 216th Street, including roadway transitions to match existing streets. The Des Moines City Council reviewed preliminary design recommendations and feedback from the
community, approving a plan to advance into final design utilizing the “offset” alignment. The segment of S. 216th Street between I-5 and Pacific Highway will be deferred, except improvements necessary to accommodate lane transitions between Pacific Highway S. and 29th Avenue S. Illustrated below is a vicinity map highlighting the project corridors as well as dotted lines showing conceptual plans for SR509 and 24th/28th Avenue S extensions.
Public Involvement
The City published articles in its newsletter, distributed updates to the project web site (see below), sent out notices to the adjoining community, provided press releases and distributed flyers to affected properties and neighbors to solicit comments on the project. Three public open meetings were held on April 14, June 2 and October 8
2009 to initiate the design and seek public input on alternative alignment layouts and preliminary design plans. On March 24, 2010, the City sponsored another public open house on a proposal to transfer part of the old SR509 ROW south of S. 216th Street to the City for storm water retention facilities related to the project as well as other future uses such as roadway and Barnes Creek Trail extensions. (http://www.desmoineswa.gov/dept/pub_works/509ROWproject.html),
The
November 2, 2010 Open House was scheduled to give the public an opportunity
to view the details of the final design and comment on environmental studies.
Environmental work is now complete and the City is progressing into the Right of
Way acquisition phase focusing on 24th Avenue South including the S. 216th
Street intersection and S. 216th Street west of 24th Avenue South.
Alternatives
Alternatives included an alignment that was symmetrical to the
existing roadway vs. an alignment that offset from the current centerline to
minimize impacts on developed properties. After consideration of
public input from the neighborhood and feedback from the City of SeaTac, the
Port of Seattle and others, the City Council directed staff to develop final
design plans for the “Offset Alignment” shown below. As previously mentioned,
final design of the S 216th Street east of SR 99 to I-5, (except for
creating a U-turn pocket and lane transitions to 29th Avenue S) was deferred as
a future phase.
Offset Alignment (Click for
enlarged PDF)
Design Report
Engineers developed a full design report that analyzed the project and the City Council approved advancing the project into final design. The Council sponsored a study session early this year to discuss the design report and urban design elements. Much of the discussion centered on the need to contain future operations and maintenance costs.
The design report is a technical working document that guided the City while developing final construction documents. The report contains alignment information that illustrates the extent of the proposed improvements, signalization, lane configurations, landscaping as well as technical information on traffic, drainage, environmentally sensitive areas and lighting. Generally, both roadways require widening to nearly 100’, adding two lanes in each direction, center medians and/or turn lanes, bicycle lanes, landscaping, lighting and ADA accessible sidewalks and bus stops. Storm water will be collected and treated to protect water quality.
The design is “context” sensitive to the development characteristics along each segment of these roadways as illustrated on the below diagram.
Click Here for an enlargement
A graphic example of the S. 216th Street western approach to Pacific Highway S, (below) extends the retail and pedestrian oriented streetscape components of Pacific Highway S towards the transportation gateway and downtown Des Moines. A U-turn pocket is provided to maintain access to local businesses.
Click Here for an enlargement
Intersection of S. 216th Street and 24th Avenue S
Click Here for an enlargeable Urban
Design scroll map of South 216th Street
Click Here for an enlargeable Urban Design scroll map of 24th Avenue South
Differences in design concept between the two roadways are illustrated below. Lighting and landscape design elements are more consistent with future development of aviation support logistics, light manufacturing and office facilities as well as plans to extend 24th/28th Avenue S. into the City of SeaTac. The proposal includes bike lanes, planted medians as well as planters next to the sidewalk and overhead street lighting. S. 216th Street between Pacific Highway S. and 24th Avenue S. employs urban design details that are reflective of a Gateway to the City.
Click Here for an enlargement
The City’s engineers have finalized the offset alignment design with surveyed plans and profiles so one can, for example, see how curbs, driveways, sidewalks and planter strips are aligned as well as details on urban design elements. Detailed environmental and engineering studies have been completed and a Washington State Environmental Policy Act Checklist (SEPA) and Notice of SEPA Determination was issued and finalized. Next steps include finalization of the right of way and underground utility plans. An agreement to acquire a significant amount of right of way from the Port of Seattle was executed in December 2010. WSDOT has also agreed, in principal, to transfer a portion of the old SR509 right of way to the City for roadway purposes.
Schedule
In 2011, the project will focus on right of way activities on 24th Avenue South and S. 216th Street west of 24th Avenue South. The City will update and finalize right the right of way plan, prepare legal descriptions and contact individual property owners regarding the project design and right of way requirements. The attempt will be to clear title to the right of way to better position the City to advance into construction when funds become available.
Funding
The engineering work is funded, in part, with a loan from the Washington State Public Works Trust Board as well as development fees and arterial road funds as approved in the City’s Capital Improvement Program. As design
and right of way plans progress, the City is actively seeking additional funding for construction. Development will contribute a fair share to the improvements on South 216th Street and 24th Avenue South, through frontage improvements, utility undergrounding and off-site mitigation. Construction phasing is subject to available funding.
Questions?
Persons with questions or comments are urged to contact the Len Madsen, Project Manager at gatewayinfo@desmoineswa.gov.
Gateway Web Archives:
Update:
October 22, 2010
Update:
June 11, 2010
Update: November 30, 2009
Update: September 24, 2009
Update: July 28, 2009
Update: May 12, 2009
Update: April 7, 2009
Update: April 1, 2009
Update: February 6, 2009
Update: January 19, 2009
