McGregor council approves Walker Partners contract for Johnson Drive school-zone traffic study

The McGregor City Council on June 22 approved a proposal with Walker Partners to complete a Johnson Drive traffic study and establish a new school zone as the nearby school prepares to open in August. Council members approved the contract by voice vote.

Brian, a city staff member who presented the item, said the study is already under way and that the contract will formalize use of a subcontractor based in Witchaw, Kansas. "It's about a $46,000 tag plus expenses and the school system will pay for half of that," he said. He said Walker Partners had gathered the necessary information as of the prior week and that the work would allow the city to install traffic-safety equipment before the school opens.

Council members confirmed the study's scope would include recommended school-zone speed limits, signage and markings and noted the engineering work could evaluate speed limits on Johnson Drive more broadly after other nearby projects are completed. A council member asked whether the study would be representative given concurrent projects; staff replied the firm is aware of other work and would model intersections and expected changes.

The contract was approved after a motion and second; the minutes record the approval by voice vote and state "That motion carries." The motion recorded no roll-call tally in the transcript.

The city will use the study's recommendations to plan installation of equipment and any speed-limit changes ahead of the school opening. The council moved on to additional agenda business following the vote.