E. University, Aurora avenues in Des Moines to get upgrades like lane reduction, bike lane

Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register
·4 min read

Two Des Moines roads are slated for $1 million makeovers for pedestrian and accessibility improvements including crossing signals and curb ramps.

The Des Moines City Council on Monday voted to find contractors and order construction on the improvements of East University Avenue from East 14th Street to East 17th Court and Aurora Avenue between Beaver Avenue and Merle Hay Road. The projects are estimated to cost $1.3 million and $1.1 million, respectively, according to council communications memos.

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According to the memo, East University Avenue changes will include:

  • Convert the street from a four to three lanes — one lane each direction and a middle turn lane.

  • Improve sidewalk curb ramps at intersections along the corridor to meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

  • Install new school flashing lights.

  • Reconstruct the medians at the intersection of East University Avenue and East 14th Street to resolve conflicts with existing crosswalks.

  • Construct a new pedestrian crossing with a refuge island — a median where pedestrians can safely stop while crossing a multi-lane road — at East 16th Street

According to the memo, Aurora Avenue changes will include:

  • Resurface the pavement and restripe the road to include on-street bicycle lanes.

  • Add multiple raised medians and curb extensions along the corridor to calm traffic.

  • Lower the speed limit from 30 to 25 miles per hour.

  • Add on-street parking on the north side of Aurora Avenue between 51st and 55th streets.

Both University and Aurora avenues will get multiple High-intensity Activated crossWalK (HAWK) pedestrian signals, the memo states. HAWKs are button-press beacons that flash red and yellow to alert drivers that a pedestrian is trying to cross the street at an intersection. The bulk of construction is set for the summer of 2024.

Also on the agenda, the City Council voted to approve early terms of a development agreement for the new Utah-based owners of Kum & Go to establish a new regional headquarters in downtown Des Moines and OKed an updated historic preservation plan.

Here's what the council discussed on Monday:

Maverik, new Kum & Go owners, could make future home in downtown

Maverik, the new owners of Kum & Go, plan to establish a new regional headquarters across the Pappajohn Sculpture Park from the Krause Gateway Center, home of the convenience stores' former parent company, in downtown Des Moines.

City Council approved the preliminary terms of a development agreement for FJ Management Inc., which owns Maverik convenience stores, to lease space in one of the Nationwide Insurance buildings, 1100 Locust St.

The deal would require the company to acquire and retain 250 jobs in Des Moines and enter into a 10-year lease in the 40,000-square-foot office space, according to a council communications memo. And in a first for Des Moines, employees would be required to work in person for at least part of the week in exchange for financial incentives, which would total $250,000 over 10 years.

FJ Management Inc. owns 380 Maverik convenience store locations across 12 western states but is looking to expand its presence to the east, according to the city.

City adopts a new historic preservation plan

The City Council approved the city's new historic preservation plan, ReflectDSM: Honoring All Des Moines Histories.

The effort headed by the city's Planning and Urban Design department is meant to build respect for the community's identity and physical design while promoting community growth, according to the city of Des Moines' previous preservation plans. It’s also a means to educate and involve all citizens in decisions on the city's architectural and natural heritage.

The city sought feedback from the Historic Preservation Commission, neighborhood associations, students, community organizations, and residents, which included a survey that asked community members to share their thoughts on what locations, events and ideals should be preserved and celebrated.

The plan is an update to the city's last Community Preservation Plan published in 1995, which identified multiple national historic and district landmarks, including the Sherman Hill neighborhood and the Fort Des Moines Hotel, and a plan for how to preserve them.

Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: University, Aurora avenues in Des Moines to get pedestrian upgrades