Improving Safety

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Improving Safety on the Avenue of the Saints in
Black Hawk County, IA 218 C57
US Hwy 218 Corridor in Black Hawk
County www.co.black-hawk.ia.us
John Miller, Black Hawk Co. Supervisor Chair,
Metropolitan Planning Org.
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Safety Improvements Needed on the Avenue
of the Saints in Black Hawk County
Cedar Valley Coalition Black Hawk County,
Iowa March 2007
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Metropolitan Area Boundary

• Map with volumes surrounding metro

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218 C57
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US Hwy 218 County C57
the concerns
JANESVILLE

• High speed
• Dangerous intersections
• 32 crashes
• Congestion
• Few gaps
• Increasing volumes
• Poor crossings for
• farm equipment

C- 57
Avenue of the Saints
CEDAR FALLS
WATERLOO
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Facing the challenges

• 1988 Designed as Level II (at-grade
  intersections)
• 1995 Opened with 10,000 vpd
• 1996 Became Avenue of the Saints
• 2006 Traffic increased by 70 to 17,000 vpd
• Many injuries fatalities
• 32 crashes at Hwy 218 / C57
• Highest Crash Frequency Rural Expressway
  Intersection in Iowa

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Traffic VolumeHwy 218 Corridor
Increasing
Became Avenue of the Saints
Local Arterial
Designed Opened Today
Future
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Traffic Volume on Primary Highways in Black Hawk
County 2005
17,000

• US Hwy 218
• Avenue of the Saints
• Expressway Design
• At-grade crossings

8,100
US Hwy 63

11,800
10,200
US Hwy 20 Interstate Design
US Hwy 20 Interstate Design
3,800
11,200
US Hwy 218
Interstate I-380 Avenue of the Saints Interstate
Design
4,600
1,940
US Hwy 63
IA Hwy 21
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Congestion9-car queue waiting to enter Hwy 218
at C-57
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Intersection
32 crashes
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Iowas Top 5 High Crash Intersections 2001-05
Fatal and Major Injury Fatal Major
Injury Minor Injury Other
Fatal and Major Injury Fatal Major
Injury Minor Injury Other
Total

• Data compiled by Iowa Dept. of Transportation
  Office of Traffic and Safety

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Other challenges

• Railroad adjacent and parallel to roadway
• Funding support needed for construction
• FY 2008-2012 Five-year Plan to be submitted
  July 2007
• Need Congressional award to support IDOT
  scheduling

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Finding solutions

• 2005 - Corridor Study supported by
• Black Hawk County 50,000
• Bremer County 50,000
• Iowa Dept. of Transportation 150,000
• Region 7 Planning Agency 400,000
• BH Metropolitan Planning Org. 100,000
• Total 750,000
• 2006 - Recommendation
• Proceed with interchange designs for
• the intersections with C-57 and C-50

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Current progress

• Archaeological review 80 complete
• Historical review 80 complete
• Environmental In process
• Survey will be done Fall 2007

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Current progress

• Positive response by
• Canadian National-Illinois Central Railroad for
• Moving railroad alignment away from highway

Closing 3 at-grade RR crossings
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The proposed project

• Phase 1 Modifying railroad 1,200,000
• Phase 2 Modifying crossings 4,100,000
• Phase 3 Construct interchange 7,800,000
• Total 13,100,000

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Phase 1 Modifying Railroad
Crossings to be Closed
New Alignment
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Phase 2 Modifying Crossings
Intersections to be Closed
Access affected
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Phase 3 Constructing an Interchange
Intersections to be Closed
Interchange
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Current Project Estimates

• Phase 1 Modifying railroad 1,200,000
• Phase 2 Modifying crossings 4,100,000
• Phase 3 Construct interchange 7,800,000
• Total
  13,100,000

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INRCOG Meeting and Tour with Iowa DOT
Commissioners to discuss needs
Hudson Mayor Cedar Falls Mayor Waterloo Mayor
2 Commissioners BHC
Supervisor INRCOG Dir. Jeffrey Palmer
Jon Crews Tim Hurley Wayne
Sawtelle Barb McGregor John Miller
Sharon Juon
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Transportation Needs throughout Black Hawk
County highlighted for IDOT Commissioners
Hwy 218 C57 Intersection
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Why are we here ? WE NEED

• 13,000,000
• to provide a
• Safer Corridor
• and Reduce crashes by 80

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Questions ?ContactJohn Miller, BH Co.
Supervisor319-833-3074 jmiller_at_co.black-hawk.ia
.usRichard King, BH County Engineer319-833-3008
rking_at_co.black-hawk.ia.us www.co.black-hawk.ia
.us