Benefits of this investment:

• Complete streets
• Buried Utilities
• Accessibility
• Walkability with Increased Sidewalk
• Pedestrian Crossings and Lighting
• Safer Biking Paths
• Mass Transit Amenities
• Stormwater Improvement
• Green Infrastructure
• Raised Planters and Railings
• Seasonal Plantings

Learn more:

See slides and watch a video explaining the Streetscape improvements and construction plans with the City of Des Moines from February 2022.

FAQs

Will the construction timeline be affected due to COVID-19? Are there specific safety measures the public should know about? 

1. The construction timeline is not currently anticipated to change.  Due to the outside nature of the work, most tasks can be performed while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
2. There may be some delays in delivery of materials due to issues in the supply chain, but those are not currently well known at this time.
3. There are not any specific safety measures the public should know about, other than staying out of the construction zone, which will be well marked with orange safety fence and orange cones.  They should be on the lookout for construction vehicles entering and existing the work zone at all times.

Public utilities are being updated – what does that mean?  

1. The corridor will be receiving a new larger water main that will increase capacity within this neighborhood. This also allow allows for better fire protection.
2. The overhead electric lines will be coming down in 2022 along with overhead fiber and communication lines.  These will be buried on the south side of the street and will provide a much cleaner look for the corridor.
3. Additional storm sewer is being added along the street to help reduce large quantities of runoff.  As part of the storm water management plan, the city is installing permeable pavers in the parking areas to infiltrate the storm water into the ground instead of just pushing it downstream.

How will parking change? 

1. On-street parking will be reduced or eliminated during the construction phases. This is required to keep traffic moving in both directions and provide enough room for the contractor to complete the work.
2. The design for the project will continue to have on-street parallel parking throughout the entire corridor. It will be better defined by planter bump-outs and the parking material will be permeable pavers.  Refer to the project graphics posted to the website.

Tell us about the improvements for pedestrians. Will there be more crossings for safety? What will that look like? How will Ingersoll be more accessible?

1. Improving walkability for the corridor was a main goal of this project.  The existing narrow sidewalks will be replaced with larger sidewalks flanked by planters and the elevated bike lane.  It will be very similar to the pilot project.
2. An additional mid-block crossing will be added at the Mr. Car Wash location.  This will include a new bus-stop and an overhead flashing signal for pedestrians.  The existing mid-block crossing near 23^rd street will be improved.  Both locations will include a safety median refuge for pedestrians.  All of the improvements selected will create a more welcoming place for pedestrians, bicycles, and transit riders.  These improvements are designed to calm traffic speeds and help make this a space people want to spend time walking around in.

Talk about the new ideas behind the elevated bike lanes.

1. The raised cycle track allows for the vertical separation of the bike lane from motor vehicle traffic.  It is buffered on one side by the landscaped planters, and on the other by additional planters or parallel parking.  This layout is more attractive to a wider range of bicyclists than your standard on-street bike lane.  It also formally dedicates and protects space for bicyclists to improve comfort and safety.

How does this design bring more green to the streetscape? What will plantings look like? Is it sustainable?

1. The design team specifically focused on green sustainable designs for the streetscape.  We will be managing and treating stormwater runoff with permeable pavers in all of the parallel parking zones prior to any storm sewer intakes.  This will allow for the reduction of runoff and recharging of the groundwater table.
2. The design team also added structural soil cells to all of the planter beds to allow for proper root growth of the trees and plants.  These cells contain loosely compacted rich soil for the trees to promote healthy growth without compromising the pavements above.
3. The plantings and planters will be similar to the pilot project but will have a slightly different palette of species.
4. All of these design features will allow the streetscape to be more friendly to the environment by reducing stormwater runoff, and reducing heat island by extensive plantings that can thrive.