A group from the Warren County Economic Development Corporation presented transportation priorities for the county on 6/12/12

1. Warren County Economic
Development Corp.
“The Southern Gateway to the Greater Des Moines
Metropolitan Region”
Iowa DOT Commission Meeting | June 12, 2012

2. Warren
County, Iowa

3. WARREN COUNTY IS GROWTH
Fourth fastest growing county in the state with a population
growth of almost 15% from 2000 – 2011. (40,671 to 46,732)
W.C. Median Household Income ranks 2nd in the state and is 20.5%
higher than the national average. W.C. MHI grew 24.5% from
2000-2010 ($51,000 to $64,371)
Job Growth over the next 10 years is estimated at 33.18%
(2% higher than national estimated growth)
Unemployment rate in Warren County is 4.9% (slightly lower than the
state rate at 5.1%, and 3% lower than the national rate of 8.1%)

4. WARREN COUNTY IS GROWTH
(CONT.)
Students enrolled in Warren County Schools have a graduation
rate of 96.24% (9.24%higher than the state average and 26.24%
higher than the national average)
Simpson College has approx. 1,400 full time students & 600
participating in Evening & Weekend Graduate Program
The top 20 companies in W.C. had $690,000,000 in sales last year
(an estimated 38% increase in ten years)

5. Projects
 US Hwy 92 (Indianola R-57 to
I-35)
 US Hwy 65/69 Corridor
Traffic Study
 US Hwy 5/65 Interstate Re-
Designation
 Southwest Connector &
Arterial

6. US Hwy 92
(Indianola R-57 to I-35)

7. US Hwy-92 Enhancement
• Approximately $10M has been approved for construction & right-of-way
acquisition for U.S. Highway 92 (4 miles)
• Funding for this portion is committed through FY 2013 & is listed within the Iowa
DOT’s five-year construction program
• Construction documents are being completed now and work is
scheduled to begin in the spring of 2014.

8. Next Stage for US Highway 92
Next
Stage
complete
enhancement
from Indianola
R-57 to
Interstate 35
US Highway 92 Reconstruction

9. US Hwy 65/69
Corridor Traffic Study

10. US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic
Study
Indianola desires to correct disparate elevation levels
along Highway 65/69 within the corporate limits.
• Traffic volume & accidents continue to increase as growth occurs.
• Commuter traffic that drives to & from Des Moines along this route
• Recent developments will increase traffic (Theisen’s, Mercy Medical
Clinic, Iowa Health clinic, assistant/independent living center, YMCA
(2013)in addition to two existing car dealerships)

11. Study
Corridor
 South of Hillcrest
 North Corp Limits
 ½ mile North
of Hayes St.
US Hwy 65/69
Corridor Traffic Study

12. Existing
Conditions
 Roadway
 4 lane divided, “rural” facility
 50’-62’ wide median varies
 Access points– established locations
 4-5 feet of vertical difference exists between the northbound
& southbound profile at three major access points
 45mph at South end, 55mph North of Hillcrest
US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

13. Traffic
Growth
 History
 1984 to 2008 approx. 3% per year
 Trip Generation Potential
 Summercrest (if 100% developed)
 12,000 total trips per day added
 900 trips AM peak hr / 1,200 trips PM peak hr added
 Northwest Development (if 25% developed)
 3,900 trips AM peak hr / 560 trips PM peak hr added
US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

14. Forecast Traffic US 65/69
 Daily Traffic (Two way total)
 2008 Existing = 19,000 vehicles per day
 2020 Proposed = 29,000 vehicles per day
 Peak Hour (Two way total)
 2008 Existing = 1,900 vehicles per hour
 2020 Proposed = 2,900 vehicles per hour
 50% potential Increase
US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

15. Future Roadway Cross
Section Needs
 Basic Lane
 Two lanes each direction plus auxiliary turn lanes
 Long term possible three lanes each direction
 Narrower Median Width
 Reduce to 30’ wide
 Accommodate single or dual lefts
 Turn Lanes
 Positive offset left turn lanes
 Right turn declaration lanes
US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

16. Request
The total cost to correct the elevation levels may reach
$10.3 million. The City of Indianola would request that
this project be a local, state and federal partnership to
reduce the city’s cost liability
US Hwy 65/69 Corridor Traffic Study

17. US Hwy 5/65
Interstate Re-
Designation
(Purple Heart Highway)

18. Hwy 5/65 Interstate Re-Designation
(Purple Heart Highway)
• The Iowa DOT is completing
a Safety Assessment (SA)
and Operational Assessment
(OA) at a cost in excess of
$90,000.
• The Iowa DOT’s initial
estimates also indicate that
new signage could cost as
much as $1,000,000.
• Additionally, due to
increased speeds, the DOT
estimates that there will be
costs associated with
upgrading the highway from
a 4-lane divided highway to
interstate highway.

19. Hwy 5/65 Interstate Re-Designation
(Purple Heart Highway)
The Purple Heart Highway Collaborative is a group of community
and county representatives working together to promote economic
development along the highway and create awareness for the loop
of opportunity.
Altoona Warren County
Carlisle Warren County
Des Moines Economic
Norwalk Development
Pleasant Hill Corporation
West Des Moines East Polk Regional
Development

20. Hwy 5/65 Interstate Re-Designation
(Purple Heart Highway)
Cost Breakdown for DOT Study
• Final reports to be completed summer of 2012.
• Estimated Total: Less than $100,000
• DOT Share - $50,000
• Local Share - $42,000
Purple Heart Highway Facts
• The first section of the PHH opened in 1995, the final section opened
in 2002.
• Four-lane, 25-mile highway
• 2008 Traffic Counts are 20,000-26,000 vehicles per day
• Expected to reach 30,700 by 2020
Landscaping
• Worked with the DOT in summer/fall 2011 to research options
• Determined most efficient and cost-effective scenarios
• Result: DOT – design, let and invest in landscape along PHH
• Purple plants and/or shrubs to enhance branding
• Currently underway – Spring 2012

21. Hwy 5/65 Interstate Re-Designation
(Purple Heart Highway)
Request:
Once the study is completed, federal highway
dollars will be needed to complete signage and
upgrading.
* The Des Moines MPO will be sharing the findings of the
study with the DOT Commission soon *

22. Southwest Connector
& Arterial

23. Southwest Connector & Arterial
Secured $539K
from the Federal
Highway
Administration
to finish an
environmental
impact
statement &
start preliminary
engineering

24. Southwest Connector & Other
Regional Projects

25. Cumming Interchange

26. Cumming Interchange
 $13 million approved, which
includes:
 New wider and longer
bridge & approach
pavement
 Grading & paving new
interstate ramps
 Side road construction
 Complements plans for
Southwest Connector and

27. Warren County Trail
System

28. Central
Iowa
Trail
System

29. Warren
County
Trail
System

30. Questions?
Warren County
Economic Development
Corporation
111 North Buxton | Indianola, Iowa 50125
(515) 961-1067 | www.wcedc.com