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Resident warns of dangerous Johnston trail crossings; council budgets pedestrian-activated beacon for Johnston Drive
Summary
A longtime resident urged the council to fix sight-line hazards on multiple Johnston bike-trail segments. City staff said pedestrian-activated rapid-flashing beacons for the Johnston Drive crossing were included in this year's budget and that trail completion timelines depend on Des Moines Water Works repairs.
A Johnston resident told the council that several trail segments are "an accident waiting to happen," citing blind driveways, utility boxes and overgrown vegetation that obscure sight lines where trails intersect streets. He urged signage, relocation of obstructions or more substantial changes such as bridges or tunnels.
Resident Andy Lyons, who said he has biked Johnston trails for decades, identified problem locations including the south side of 70th Street (west of Merle Hay and east of Northland Drive) at the Casey's driveway, the trail crossing at North Lehi Drive/70th (where drivers are rolling past the stop line) and the trail near Ray Schleiz Park where brush obscures westbound traffic. Lyons asked the city to consider signage, a repaired sight line and longer-term infrastructure such as an overpass.
City response and actions: Staff told the council that pedestrian-activated crossing lights (rapid-flashing beacons) for the Johnston Drive trail crossing were programmed in this year's budget. As staff described it: "We've actually programmed, in this year's budget, putting in, some pedestrian activated crossing lights for the trail at that location, much like what you see on 60 second at Corteva ... we did budget for a set to go into Johnston this year." (Staff member Matt)
On trail completion, staff said the Des Moines Water Works project has repeatedly discovered leaks in a concrete pipe joint; crews must pressure-test, excavate and weld joints before a trail can be poured. Staff said that the contractor will resume pouring once the water-main work passes testing and the segment is ready, and that the city continues to press the utility for completion.
Other trail work: The Hundredth Street and 70 Eighth Avenue trail project is progressing, with the contractor pouring an initial section of trail and forming additional segments; one of three retaining walls has been completed. MidAmerican Energy crews have installed new street lighting and removed old poles along Merle Hay, and the city staff said remaining trail replacement is expected imminently.
Why it matters: Trail-vehicle conflicts can cause serious injuries; the city's decision to fund a pedestrian-activated beacon targets a high-use crossing and is a near-term engineering fix. Longer-term fixes may require coordination with utilities and property owners.
