SW Arterial Environmental AssesMEMORANDUM
April 11, 2002
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Southwest Arterial
Recently the Iowa Department of Transportation notified the City of Dubuque that the
Southwest Arterial was going to be dropped from their construction plans because of
cost considerations. Since that time, the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation
Study (DMATS), Dubuque County and the City of Dubuque have reaffirmed to the iowa
Department of Transportation that this is the area's number one surface transportation
priority. Mayor Terry Duggan met with Iowa Department of Transportation Director
Mark Wandro to negotiate a compromise to keep this project in the State budget.
These efforts have been supported by the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
and the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce.
Part of the agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for keeping the
construction of the Southwest Arterial in their budget is that IDOT will not have to
expend any money to complete the $594,000 Environmental Assessment. DMATS has
agreed to provide 80% of the cost, Dubuque County has agreed to pay 10% of the cost,
and Economic Development Director Bill Baum is recommending that the City of
Dubuque provide the remaining 10%, or $59,400.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Bill Baum, Economic Development Director
CITY OF DUBUQUE
MEMORANDUM
April 11, 2002
TO:
FROM:
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
Bill Baum, Economic Development Director
SUBJECT: Local match for the Southwest Arterial (IA32) Environmental Assessment
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum presents for City Council approval of providing for a local match for
the work necessary to complete the Environmental Assessment on IA32.
DISCUSSION
You, the Mayor and Sister Catherine Dunn met last month with Iowa Department of
Transportation (IDOT) Director Mark Wandro. You were successful in efforts to keep the
$21 million currently programmed in their five-year plan for the Southwest Arterial (IA
32). As a result, DMATS has agreed to provide Surface Transportation Program (STP)
funds for the completion of the supplemental environmental assessment (EA), and at a
later date, the environmental mitigation archeological work.
A written agreement between the City, the County and IDOT for the completion of the
EA will be provided to the City for appropriate action by the end of this month. The
estimate not-to-exceed cost of the work necessary to complete the EA is $594,000. The
work includes looking at options other than a freeway design for the arterial.
The purpose of this letter is to request City of Dubuque participation in the local match
for the completion of the EA. The local match is estimated to be $118,800, which would
be split between the County and the City. One half of the local match is $59,400. On
Monday, April 8, the County Board of Supervisors agreed to provide the County share
of the local match.
The City's share of the match would be taken from the savings realized from the 32nd
Street realignment project.
RECOMMENDATION
My recommendation is that the City Council agrees to fund one-half the local match
required to complete the Environmental Assessment.
F:\USERS\WBaum\SW Arterial - DMATS\Memo to Mike on local match,doc
Office of the Mayor
and City Council
Dubuque~ Iowa
February 18, 2002
Mr. Mark Wandro, Director
Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way
Ames. Iowa 50010
Re: IA32
Dear Mr. Wandro:
Thank you for meeting with DMATS representatives on Thursday, February 14 to
discuss the future of IA32. I know you have a busy schedule, with many other demands
on your time.
We certainly understand that IDOT is facing some difficult funding issues, and we very
much appreciate that you are willing to recommend keeping IA32 (Southwest Arterial) in
the five-year plan.
City Manager Mike Van Milligen met with IDOT District Engineer Dick Kautz the day
after our meeting to confirm the understanding that Sister Catherine Dunn, Mike and
got from our discussions with you. I would summarize that as follows:
The Iowa Department of Transportation staff and the IDOT Commission are very
supportive of the completion of IA32 and agree with the need for [he roadway. The
decision to delay the project and subsequent discussions to remove the project from the
IDOT five-year plan center on the funding difficulties facing IDOT.
You specifically inquired about the transportation priorities for the Dubuque area
transportation policy makers. We confirmed that the Dubuque Metropolitan Area
Transportation Study (DMATS), the City of Dubuque and Dubuque County consider
IA32 our number one transportation priority.
In summary, you had conversations with the IDOT Commission and you are willing to
recommend keeping IA32 in the IDOT five-year plan if the following occur:
DMATS will fund the estimated $640,000 needed to complete the Environmental
Assessment.
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
Mr. Mark Wandro, Director
February 18, 2002
Page 2
DMATS will fund the estimated $3.5 to $5.6 million needed to complete the study
needed on identified archeological sites.
DMATS follows through on the offer to significantly cut costs on the initial
construction of the road, including the possibility of lowering design speeds,
buying and/or preserving property to build a 4-lane divided road with
interchanges, but possibly only building 2 lanes with at-grade intersections to
start.
You also made the point that further reduction in IDOT revenue projections could re-
open this discussion.
On February 15 a DMATS meeting was held (however, there was no quorum) and the
group unanimously supported this compromise. I will take this letter to DMATS, the
Dubuque City Council and the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors for their
affirmation of its contents.
Thank you for your recognition of the importance of IA32 to Northeast iowa and the
State as a whole. I look forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely yours,
Terrance M. Duggan
TMD:jh
cc: Mr. Kevin Mahoney, Director - Highway Division, IDOT
Mr. Dick Kautz, IDOT District #6 Engineer
DMATS Board of Directors
Dubuque County Board of Supervisors
Dubuque City Council
Sister Catherine Dunn, President, Clarke College
Senator Tom Harkin
Senator Charles Grassley
Congressman Jim Nussle
Senator Mike Connolly
Senator Thomas Flynn
Representative Para Jochum
Representative Pat Murphy
Representative Robert Osterhaus
Representative Paul Scherrman
Linda Lucy, Assistant to Senator Tom Harkin
Cindy Kohlmann, District Representative for Congressman Jim Nussle
Mr. Mark Wandro, Director
February 18, 2002
Page 3
Steve Horman, President, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
Rick Dickinson, Executive Director, Greater Dubuque Development Corp.
John Schmidt, Chairman of Board, Greater Dubuque Development Corp.
Mike Coyle, Chairman of the Board, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Dubuque Development Corporation Executive Board
Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Board
Kelly Deutmeyer, Executive Director, DMATS
Michael C. Van Milligen, Dubuque City Manager
Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010 515-2~9-1111
FAX: 515-239-1639
February 27, 2002
The Honorable Terrance M. Duggan
Office of the Mayor - City Hall
50 West 17 Street
Dubuque, IA 52001-4864
Dear Mayor Duggan:
Thank you for your February 18 letter regarding Iowa 32 Your summary of the current
status and future outlook of this important urban highway is both thorough.and accurate.
The Transportation Commission and I appreciate the cooperative spirit demonstrated by
Catherine Dunn, Mike Van Milligen and Dubuque County officials. District 6 Engineer
Dick Kautz is available for further discussions, and we concur with your assessment of
the past conversations.
Please let me know of any assistance I can provide.
Sincerely,
Mark F. Wandro
Director
M3'W:et
cc: Transportation Commission
Dick Kautz, District 6 Engineer
EAST CENTRAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL ASSOCIATION
DUBUQUE METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORTATION STUD~
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT PROGRAMS (WIA) (PJ) (w'rw)
EASTERN IOWA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY
ECIA REGIONAL PLANNING AFFILIATION
E.C.I.A. BUSINESS GROWTH, INC.
April 11, 2002
Mr. Mark Wandro, Director
Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way
Ames, Iowa 50010
Re: Iowa 32 (SWAsterial)
Dear Mr. Wan&o,
Thank you for meeting with Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (DMATS)
Representatives on ThursdayFebruary 14, 2002 ro discuss the future of Iowa 32. We
understand the Iowa Department of Transportation has a great many demands for
transportation funding and very much appreciate your willingness to recommend Iowa 32
remain In the five-year program.
This letter is to support the February 18, 2002 letter from the Gty of Dubuque on behalf of
the City and DMATS, signed bythe Mayor Terrance M. Duggan, also the DMATS
chairperson. To reiterate, Iowa 32 is the top surface transportation priority for the DMATS
Policy Board, the City of Dubuque, and Dubuque County for the continued development of
the City of Dubuque and Northeast Iowa's transportation systems. In accordance with our
conversation on Febmar7 14 and the subsequent letter from the City of Dubuque, the
DMATS at its March 14, 2002 regular Policy Board meeting committed funding to this
project.
The DMATS PolicyBoard has approved an amendment to the DMATS FY 2002
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to fund the Iowa 32 Supplemental
Environmental Assessment Study from U.S. 20 at Seippel Road, 6.2 miles to U.S. 61/151.
The amendment has a total estimated cost of $594,000, with $475,200 DMATS FFY 2002
STP funding. The amendment received no negative public comment at the April 11, 2002
public meeting and none is anticipated bythe April 23, 2002 deadline. You will receive a
follow up letter confirming the completion of the TIP amendment.
The DMATS also plans to fund the estimated $3.5 to $7.5 million necessaryto complete the
study of identified archeological sites in the alignment. The DMATS will also tryto
significanflylower initial construction costs of the facility, lnclnding the possibility of lower
design speeds, purchase and/or preserve the necessary fight-of-way for a four lane divided
roadway with grade-separated interchanges, but possibly initially construct only two lanes
with at-grade intersections.
Suite 330, Nesler Centre · P.O. Box 1140 * Dubuque, IA 52004-1140 * {563)556-4166 * Fax {563)556-0348
E-Mail: ecia@ecia.org
Mr. Mark Wan&o, Director
April 11, 2002
Page 2
Thank you for your recognition of the importance of Iowa 32 to Northeast Iowa and the
State as a whole. I look forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Mr. Kevin Mahoney, Director - ICnghway Division, Iowa DOT
Mr. Dick Kautz, Iowa DOT District # 6 Engineer
Shaven Majors, Iowa DOT
Dubuque City Council
Dubuque CountyBoard of Supervisors
Sister Catherine Dunn, President, Clarke College
Senator Tom Harkin
Senator Charles Grassley
Congressman Jim Nussle
Senator Thomas Flynn
Representative Pam Jochum
Representative Pat Murphy
Representative Robert Osterhaus
Representative Paul Scherrman
l,lnda Lucy, Assistant to Senator Tom Harkin
CindyKohlmann, District Representative for Congressman Jim Nussle
Steve Homan, President Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
Rick Dickenson, Executive Director, Greater Dubuque Development Corp.
John Schmidt, Chairman of the Board, Greater Dubuque Development Corp.
~ Coyle, Chairman of the Board, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Dubuque Development Corporation Executive Board
Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Board
Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director, E CIA
Michael G Van Milh'gen, Dubuque City Manager
F:\Tram\MPO'~Projects\Iowa 32\Wandro Lerner 04112002.doc
PHONE: 563-589-4441
FAX: S63-589-7884
EMAJL: brdofsup@d~qco.org
ol
COURTHOUSE
DUBUQUE~ IOWA 52001-7053
Febmaty25,2002
DONNA LiSMffN
ALAN R. MANTEBNACH
JIM WALLER
Mr. Mark Wandro, Director
Iowa Department of Transpurtat/on
~00/-Jncoha Way
Ames IA 500 I0
Dear Mark:
The Dubuque County Board of:
D~abuque Metropolitan Area
cons~action of the Southwest Axtefial, Iowa 32
We do understand that'
Commission 5-year plan is dependent
the compIet/un of the stady to
on in/t/al construct/on of the road.
rith a delegation from the
~our meet/rig on Febraary 14. The
"s Nttmber 1 priority.
, lfie Southwest Arter/al, ia the IDOT
Environmental ASsessment and
will work to cut costs
Howe~er, we know that you end the
be~een our major highway systems to
We sfiacerely appreciate your
Arterial a reality.
/mportance of the
cC.*
PHONE: 563-589-4441
FAX: 563-589-7884
EMAIL: brdofsup@dbqco.org
COURTHOUSE
DUBUQUE, IOWA 52001-7053
DONNA L. SMITH
ALAN R. MANTERNACH
JIM WALLER
April 8, 2002
Mr. Mike Van Milligen
City Manager
50 West 13t~ Street
Dubuque IA 52001
Dear Mike:
At our regular meeting today, the Dubuque
in the local match for
approximately' $59,400
We understand that in t
mitigation for this project.
As you know.
Dubuque County, and
complete this
~of
Thank
jh
cc: [
City Manager's Office
50 West 13tJa S~eet
Dubuque, Iowa 52001~864
(33.9) 589-4110
(319) 589~149 FAX
April 4. 2002
Ms. Donna Smith, Chairperson
Dubuque County Board of Supervisors
Dubuque County Courthouse
720 Central
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Re: Southwest Arterial
Dear Donna:
As you know, we have been negotiating with the Iowa Department of Transportation in
an effort to keep the $21 million currently programmed in their five-year plan for the
Southwest Arterial (IA 32). At a recent meeting with Iowa DOT Director Mark Wandro,
he agreed to keep the funding in place. We agreed to provide DMATS and local funds
for the completion of the supplemental environmental assessment (EA), and at a later
date, the environmental mitigation archeological work.
Thank you very much for your participation in this process and the letter of support from
the County Board.
Iowa DOT staff, along with City Engineer Mike Koch and County Engineer Mark Jobgen,
is in the process of negotiating an agreement for the completion of the EA, subject to
City Council and County Board approval. The estimated cost of the work necessary to
complete the EA is $594.000. The work includes looking at options other than a
freeway design for the arterial in the first phase of construction.
The purpose of this letter is to follow-up on our conversation in asking for County Board
participation in the local match for the completion of the EA. The local match is
estimated to be $118,800, which we would propose be split between the County and the
City. One half of the local match is $59.400. I will be presenting a similar concept to
you on the costs of mitigation of the archeological sites in the near future.
The formal agreement will be sent to you and the City Council for action within the next
few weeks. Assuming we will be able to reach an agreement with IDOT, I am
requesting the County Board agree to financially participate in this EA, which is the next
step in the completion of our highest priority transportation project. If you give me
Service People Integ~ty Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
Ms. Donna Smith, Chairperson
April 4. 2002
Page 2
advance notice on when the County Board will consider this request, I would be happy
to attend the meeting.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
MCVM:bb
cc: Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director. ECIA
Mike Koch. Public Works Director
Bill Baum, Economic Development Director