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Ames council delays Wilder Boulevard mini‑roundabout project after strong neighborhood opposition
Summary
After outreach showed roughly half of respondents opposed a three‑mini‑roundabout retrofit on Wilder Boulevard, the City Council voted to delay installation and directed staff to run a speed study one year after the Daley Park splash pad opens.
The City Council of the City of Ames voted on May 26 to delay planned mini‑roundabout installations on Wilder Boulevard and to revisit the project after additional implementation experience and data collection.
Staff presented preliminary designs for three mini roundabouts intended to calm speeds on Wilder Boulevard, citing a 2022 speed study that found a portion of vehicles exceeding the local target speed by 10% or more. The design was part of a corridor program in the capital improvements plan and followed public outreach that drew an unusually large turnout; staff reported that roughly 50% of respondents opposed the proposal, about 30% were unsure, and 20% were in favor.
Public commenters living on Wilder and in nearby neighborhoods raised concerns about pedestrian safety, impacts on seniors and children walking to school, loss of recently replaced ADA‑compliant sidewalks, potential hydrant moves, and travel pattern changes once city amenities (like the Daley Park splash pad) open. One resident said, “I think council has heard that it's easy solution” but argued a flashing stop or enhanced signage would be preferable.
Staff explained the city has an interim stop control in place and estimated the mini‑roundabout corridor program at roughly $360,000 (about $100,000 per intersection). Staff noted that physical traffic-calming treatments tend to have longer-lasting effects than signage alone, but they also acknowledged that familiarity with roundabouts in the community is low and that this would be the city’s first retrofit mini‑roundabout project.
Council moved (alternative 2) to delay the project, asking staff to test similar roundabouts in other neighborhoods and return if problems persist. Council also directed staff to perform a speed study one year after the Daley Park splash pad opens and to place the item on a future agenda for reconsideration as needed.
Outcome: Motion to delay and monitor passed by roll call; staff to complete a corridor speed study one year after splash pad opening and report back to council.
