1 Improving Safety on the Avenue of the Saints in Black Hawk County, IA 218 C57 US Hwy 218 Corridor in Black Hawk County John Miller, Black Hawk Co. Supervisor Chair, Metropolitan Planning Org.

2 Cedar Valley Coalition Black Hawk County, Iowa March 2007 Safety Improvements Needed on the Avenue of the Saints in Black Hawk County on the Avenue of the Saints in Black Hawk County

3  Map with volumes surrounding metro Metropolitan Area Boundary 218 C57 3

4 C- 57 JANESVILLE CEDAR FALLS US Hwy 218 & County C57 WATERLOO High speed Dangerous intersections 32 crashes Congestion Few gaps Increasing volumes Poor crossings for farm equipment concerns the concerns Avenue of the Saints

5 the challenges 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 32 crashes at Hwy 218 / C57 Highest Crash Frequency Rural Expressway Intersection in Iowa

6 Traffic Volume Hwy 218 Corridor Designed Opened Today Future Increasing Became Avenue of the Saints LocalArterial

7 11,200 10,200 8,100 4,600 11,800 3,800 Traffic Volume on Primary Highways in Black Hawk County 2005 US Hwy 20 Interstate Design US Hwy 20 Interstate Design Interstate I-380 Avenue of the Saints Interstate Design US Hwy 63 US Hwy ,000 US Hwy 218 Avenue of the Saints Expressway Design At-grade crossings IA Hwy 21 1,940 7

8 Congestion 9-car queue waiting to enter Hwy 218 at C-57

9 Intersection 32 crashes

Iowa’s Top 5% High Crash Intersections* *Data compiled by Iowa Dept. of Transportation Office of Traffic and Safety *Rural Expressway Intersection Crashes Five-year Crash Frequency Five-year Severity Values COUNTYLOCATIONFatal Majo r Injury Minor Injury Fataliti es Major Injurie s Minor Injurie s Other Scott U.S. 61 & Co Rd Y-48 (1 mile west of Davenport) Muscatine U.S. 61 & Hershey Ave. (Muscatine) Floyd U.S. 18 & Co Rd T-24 (1.5 miles west of Rudd) Black Hawk U.S. 218 & Co Rd C-57 / Cedar-Wapsi Rd Wash’ ton U.S. 218 & Co Rd G-36 (3 miles north of Ainsworth) Linn U.S. 151/Dubuque Rd & Co Rd X-20 (Springville) Jasper U.S. 65/IOWA 330 & U.S. 65/IOWA Henry U.S. 34 & 260th St (west access to New London) Wash’ ton U.S. 218 & 305th St (Crawfordsville) Henry U.S. 34 & Co Rd X-30 (east access to New London) Fatal and Major Injury Fatal Major Injury Minor Injury Other Total Fatal and Major Injury Fatal Major Injury Minor Injury Other 10

11 Other challenges  Railroad adjacent and parallel to roadway  Funding support needed for construction FY Five-year Plan to be submitted July 2007 *Need Congressional award to support IDOT scheduling

12 Finding solutions  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 Total $750,000  Recommendation  Proceed with interchange designs for the intersections with C-57 and C-50 the intersections with C-57 and C-50

13 Current progress  Archaeological review 80% complete  Historical review 80% complete  Environmental In process  Survey will be done Fall 2007

14 Current progress Positive response by Canadian National-Illinois Central Railroad for  Moving railroad alignment away from highway Closing 3 at-grade RR crossings Closing 3 at-grade RR crossings

15 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 Total $13,100,000

16 Crossings to be Closed New Alignment Phase 1 Modifying Railroad

17 Intersections to be Closed Access affected Phase 2 Modifying Crossings

18 Intersections to be Closed Interchange Phase 3 Constructing an Interchange

19 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 Total $13,100,000

20 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

21 Transportation Needs throughout Black Hawk County highlighted for IDOT Commissioners Hwy 218 – C57 Intersection

22 Why are we here ? WE NEED Why are we here ? WE NEED$13,000,000 to provide a Safer Corridor and Reduce crashes by 80%

23 Questions ? Contact: John Miller, BH Co. Supervisor Questions ? Contact: John Miller, BH Co. Supervisor Richard King, BH County Engineer