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Residents press council for immediate steps after Lincoln Way pedestrian fatality; council orders lights, signs and enforcement
Summary
After a February pedestrian fatality at Lincoln Way and South Russell, residents urged immediate safety measures. Council directed staff to buy permanent speed‑feedback signs, requested increased police enforcement, added the crossing to the priority list for enhanced treatments, and asked for a lighting assessment and corridor study.
Ames City Council took public comment June 23 and voted on near‑term safety measures for Lincoln Way at South Russell after a fatal pedestrian crash earlier this year.
Public works director Justin Clausen and traffic engineering manager Damian Pregitzer returned to council with a staff report about a fatal collision the Iowa State Patrol had investigated. Staff noted the corridor had been included in earlier walk/bike/roll planning but had not been among the plan’s highest‑priority crossings. Council heard from more than a dozen neighbors who described daily pedestrian demand — children, transit riders and event traffic — and urged immediate interventions to prevent another death.
Residents asked for a mix of short‑term and long‑term responses: increased police enforcement, painted highly visible crosswalks, permanent speed‑feedback signage, temporary trailer signs while permanent units are ordered, and a commitment to a corridor redesign or walking‑focused corridor study. Several callers noted the crossing is heavily used by Syride transit riders and by people walking to Iowa State events and nearby amenities.
Staff summarized four options: (1) continue implementing the Walk‑Bike‑Roll plan and wait for the project to be funded in sequence; (2) evaluate higher lighting standards and targeted lighting improvements at the crossing; (3) accelerate enhanced crossing treatments (pedestrian hybrid signals, full signalization or refuge islands), which require design, right‑of‑way and larger capital investment; and (4) examine bus stop spacing and alignment with enhanced crossings.
Council approved three near‑term actions: purchase permanent dynamic speed‑feedback signs for both directions at the South Russell crossing (and deploy the police speed‑trailer until permanent signs are installed); request increased scheduled enforcement from the Ames Police Department; and add the South Russell intersection to the list of prioritized crossings in the Walk‑Bike‑Roll appendices so it can be advanced in CIP planning. Council also asked staff to evaluate lighting improvements along the corridor and return with cost estimates and a proposed timeline.
Public‑works staff said a corridor study or a targeted Lincoln Way plan could better identify a long‑term engineering solution but cautioned that design, right‑of‑way and funding needs can lengthen implementation. Council members said they want immediate tactical measures while the longer corridor planning and capital funding are pursued.
The council’s motions passed by recorded vote; staff will return with implementation details, cost estimates and a proposed place in the capital improvement program.
