Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sioux City council adds signal alternative to Safe Streets grant application for South Lakeport and Singing Hills
Summary
Council authorized staff to apply for an 80/20 Safe Streets and Roads for All grant for two intersections and voted to include a stoplight option as an alternative to a proposed roundabout at South Lakeport and Singing Hills Drive.
Sioux City council voted to let staff apply for federal Safe Streets and Roads for All funding for two intersections and directed staff to add a stoplight alternative for the South Lakeport Drive and Singing Hills Drive intersection.
The action, taken during the consent-item discussion, allows the city to seek an 80/20 grant that could cover roughly 80% of construction costs for either a roundabout or a traffic signal at the location, council members said. Gordon Fair, the city engineer, told council, "No. This wasn't in the CIP for a roundabout or signal at this point," and said the project was flagged in an ongoing South Lakeport corridor study and in a Safe Streets study done with Sergeant Bluff.
Why it matters: council members expressed concern about cost, safety and timing but also noted the intersection has a documented crash history and some residents have asked for action. The grant would reduce the city's share of construction costs if awarded, but acceptance of any award, contract approvals and bidding would come later.
Council debate mixed technical and budget questions. A council member noted a roundabout estimate of $1,200,000 and asked whether the grant could be applied to a signal instead; another council member said a signal for Sunnybrook cost about $408,000 and that a signal would be a lower up‑front cost. Fair and other staff confirmed the grant is competitive and that there is no assurance the city will receive funds.
Council also discussed operational tradeoffs: one member cited Federal Highway statistics that roundabouts are 78% safer than signals, while others raised maintenance and snowplow concerns. Fair noted the grant application deadline was imminent and that staff needed authorization to submit the application with the alternative included.
Council then approved a motion to amend the application to include a stoplight alternative for the South Lakeport and Singing Hills intersection. The amendment passed and staff said they will return for project approvals, consultant agreements and bidding if the grant is awarded.
The council did not take a final construction decision at the meeting; the vote authorized application only.
