Proposed Improvements to the Intersection of Richland Road and F90

The City of Van Meter has identified that the intersection of Richland Road and F90 is need of improvements. Using data from traffic studies, citizen input and engineering studies, improvements have been included on the City’s Capital Improvement Plan as an upcoming public infrastructure project. In addition to the information obtained by the City, this intersection was also identified as a high priority intersection in a state wide study by the Central Iowa Regional Transportation Authority. 

There is a possibility that improvements could be funded (in part) with grant funding. The purpose of SS4A grants is to improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries through the development of Action Plans and refinement and implementation focused on all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists and commercial vehicle operators.

The SS4A program provides funding for two types of grants:

• Planning and Demonstration Grants are used to develop, complete or supplement an Action Plan, as well as carry out demonstration activities that inform an Action Plan.  In this SS4A funding round, there is just over $402 million available for Planning and Demonstration Grants. Funding ranges are $100,000 to $5,000,000.
• Implementation Grants are used to implement strategies or projects that are consistent with an existing Action Plan and may also bundle funding requests for supplemental planning and demonstration activities that inform the Action Plan. There is $580 million available for Implementation Grants and those awards will be between $ 2,500,000 to $25,000,000.

Local Projects Eligible for Support 

Eligible activities with SS4A grants include both grants for planning projects and for infrastructure projects:

• Develop a comprehensive safety action plan (Action Plan).
• Conduct supplemental safety planning to enhance an Action Plan.
• Carry out demonstration activities to inform the development of, or an update to, an Action Plan.
• Perform planning, design and development activities for projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan.
• Implement projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan that address roadway safety problems.

Successful grant applications will:

• Promote safety to prevent fatal and serious injuries on public roadways.
• Employ low-cost, high-impact strategies that can improve safety over a wide geographic area.
• Ensure equitable investment in the safety needs of underserved communities, which includes both underserved urban and rural communities.
• Incorporate evidence-based projects and strategies and adopt innovative technologies and strategies.
• Demonstrate engagement with a variety of public and private stakeholders.
• Follow Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to make facilities accessible to the maximum extent feasible.
• Support the creation of good-paying jobs.
• Align with principles from the DOT Order, Ensuring Reliance Upon Sound Economic Analysis in DOT’s Policies, Programs and Activities.

The City is utilizing a team at Bolton & Menk to assist in grant writing for this project. Staff, elected officials and local representatives have been working to share the project with representatives of both State and Federal government. 

Community Support is a huge component of success in these types of grants. Please consider reviewing & electronically signing this letter of support by June 16, 2025.

All renderings and design are conceptual in nature and should not be consider final. Preliminary designs indicate a potential need for grading easement on the South side of the road. At this time, any work on the North side of intersection will be in the City Right of Way.