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Ames council pauses Wilder Boulevard mini-roundabout plan after robust public input
Summary
After a strong public response, the Ames City Council accepted staff recommendations to postpone installing three small roundabouts on Wilder Boulevard, explore other trial locations across Ames and reassess traffic 12 months after a new splash pad opens.
The Ames City Council on May 26 moved to postpone implementing a proposed mini-roundabout corridor improvement project on Wilder Boulevard after staff reported substantial public input.
City staff proposed installing three small roundabouts along Wilder Boulevard to reduce speeding and improve traffic control; a staff-hosted public input session drew a significant number of residents. Mayor John Haila said it was "very encouraging to hear that a significant number of residents did come out to a public input session that was hosted by staff."
Council members voted to accept staff’s recommendation to delay construction on Wilder Boulevard, direct staff to look for other Ames locations where mini-roundabouts could be tested, and request a follow-up traffic review 12 months after the new daily park splash pad opens to assess changes in vehicle and pedestrian patterns.
Why it matters: the council emphasized the importance of robust public engagement in street-safety projects and chose a cautious, trial-based approach rather than immediate construction along Wilder Boulevard.
Next steps: staff will identify alternative trial locations for mini-roundabouts and prepare a traffic reassessment to occur 12 months after the splash pad opens; no construction schedule or budget was specified in the meeting transcript.
The discussion occurred as agenda item 39 during the May 26 Ames City Council meeting.
