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City of Des Moines
Transportation Gateway Project
Project Update:  April 1, 2009

NOTICE - Public Open House:  An open house has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 5 to 8 pm in the Des Moines Senior Activity Center, 2045 S. 216th St.  The intent of the open house, the first of two planned this spring, is to offer citizens an opportunity to review of development plans in the area, understand the related transportation issues, as well as engage in meaningful dialog to about designing the project.

The Transportation Gateway Project entails upgrading two City arterials: S. 216th St  between I-5 and 19th and 24th Avenue S. north of S. 216th St, serving transportation network needs for planned development of jobs and housing in Des Moines.  Successful growth in Des Moines for jobs and housing depends on providing transportation network to meet travel needs.

1. New development in Des Moines highlights the need for roadway upgrades – converting from rural to urban standards and provide for growth. 
2. Both 24th Avenue South and South 216th Street arterials must be widened to accommodate the growth planned for the North Central and Pacific Ridge Neighborhoods – to generate new jobs, retail and business opportunities. 
3. Approximately 1.3 miles of new urban five to six lane arterial must be constructed to welcome these four planned developments in Des Moines. 

Development Activity : 

Examples of current and future development activity planned in the vicinity of the project are illustrated below.

Three major developments are planned in Des Moines North Central and Pacific Ridge Neighborhoods – Des Moines Creek Business Park, Waterview Crossing and a big box retail development - adding 1.1 million square feet of business park, 450,000 square feet of retail center, and 1500 units of senior housing with 320 room hotel.  In addition, adjacent property in the City of SeaTac will add 250,000 square feet of warehousing to the area which will access directly the City of Des Moines road network.  These projects will add 2,200 to 3,300 jobs in the area, including 1,200 to 2,100 family-wage jobs.  The Business Park Development will add 90 acres of business park development to the tax rolls.  The three developments would generate over 35,000 daily vehicle trips – a substantial increase in traffic for the Des Moines North Central and Pacific Ridge vicinity.

Regional Transportation System : 

The next two years will also see a substantial investment in transit service and ability to move people effectively into and through Des Moines with the Sound Transit Light Rail to the Airport by 2009 and King County Metro Rapid Ride on SR 99 in 2010.  In November, 2008, voters also approved an extension of light rail from the Airport, thru the City of Des Moines, which will entail planning and design of rail facilities in the project area..  It will take all modes of transportation to meet the collective travel needs in the Des Moines Gateway neighborhood and the Gateway project will set the stage for meeting the transportation demand.

Collaborative efforts between WSDOT, the City of Des Moines and the City of Seatac are expected to result in a continuous roadway along the 24th/28th Street corridor between S. 216th St and S. 200th St. with a link to proposed extension of SR 509 to I-5.  The SR 509 and 24th/28th Avenue S. extension is important for the long term connections to the regional transportation network and ultimate development of the Des Moines Creek Business Park.

City of Des Moines Transportation Gateway Improvements:

The proposed Gateway project is absolutely critical for initial phases of the Des Moines Creek Business Park, the North City area as well as renovation of the Pacific Ridge Neighborhood area. Short term realities for the City of  Des Moines involve arterial improvements on both S. 216th Street and 24th Avenue S. to accommodate increased travel demand. Capacity improvements and upgrades to urban arterial standards include additional travel and turn lanes, signalization, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, landscaping, as well as transit stop and bicycle lane improvements where appropriate.

• S. 216th St., Segment 1,  from I-5 to 24th Avenue S. is programmed for widening to add additional turn lanes where needed. 
  
• S. 216th St, Segment 2,  from 19th Ave S. to 24th Avenue S is programmed for widening to provide a continuous center turn lane, bike lanes, curb gutter and sidewalks and other improvements.
  
• 24th Avenue S., from S. 216th St to S. 208th St., is programmed for widening from a two lane roadway to a five lane cross section with sidewalks.

The City has already vacated internal right of way, surplused deeded streets and vacated underlying plats and subdivisions in preparation for the Des Moines Creek Business Park.  A PUD application and development permits for the Des Moines Creek Business Park are expected to be received later this year. 

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.  Other funding commitments are being sought for construction.

Civil Engineering Services Request for Qualifications: The 2009 adopted CIP includes resources to begin design on upgrading S. 216th St and 24th Avenue S.  An RFQ was published seeking engineering services to improve these two critical roadways.  The City responded to consultant questions received by the inquiry deadline.  As design work progresses in the Spring of 2009, the city will be seeking input to finalize the design of prospective improvements. Persons with questions or comments are urged to contact the City of Des Moines Public Works Department at 206.870.6525 or e-mail lmadsen@desmoineswa.gov.