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Downtown Tram Study
Downtown Des Moines has been the recipient of nearly $3 billion in public and private investment since 2000. These investments touch all areas of the downtown and contribute greatly to the revitalization of the downtown as a major employment and activity center for the metropolitan area. The downtown business community, residents, civic leaders, and elected officials are ambitious and enthused about the next steps for their downtown and continuing the positive momentum that has been established in recent years. A downtown tram system is one of the priority projects that has been identified, as a potential investment to assist in continuing downtown’s evolution. A Request for Proposals (RFP) has been sent and a firm has been selected to complete the feasibility study for electric railed transit serving our downtown and the feasibility of implementing this system on our downtown city streets.
Click here to download the RFP.
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008
Firm Selected to Conduct Tram Feasibility Study for Downtown
Des Moines, Iowa – The Downtown Community Alliance (DCA), along with The City of Des Moines, Polk County and Nationwide announced today that HDR out of Omaha will conduct the tram feasibility study for Downtown Des Moines. The study will focus on a tram linking Downtown’s Western Gateway to the East Village and the study is expected to be completed in early spring.
On the heels of the completion of the new Downtown Plan, Nationwide announced last March that they would provide funding for the tram feasibility study. After an extensive search and RFP process, officials from the City, DCA, Polk County and Nationwide determined HDR was the best firm to complete the study. Qualifications of HDR’s team of professionals include 25 tram feasibilities studies nationwide, as well as actually building the structure for these systems. Gçnus, a local subconsultant to HDR, will also assist with the project.
“We are confident in our decision to commission HDR to complete this study,” said Mary Lawyer, president of DCA. “They understood our desire for a feasibility study that is focused on developing a viable project that builds on the momentum in our downtown as well as providing top-notch technical analysis. Their experience in engineering and transportation projects is unmatched.”
The study will determine factors such as cost, type/style of tram, routes, infrastructure needs, funding options and timeline. The DCA and the City of Des Moines have established a formal steering committee to oversee the study. During the study, three input meetings will be held to give the public an opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas.
“It is an honor to contribute to the continued energy and development in Downtown Des Moines,” said Charles Hales, HDR’s National Director for Streetcar/Tram Projects. “Our experience with tram studies for other cities throughout the nation makes us uniquely qualified for this project.”
The tram feasibility study is the first step toward progress of the new Downtown Plan, a collaborative effort between the City, County and business community through the DCA that focuses on movement and development for Downtown Des Moines. World-renowned architect Mario Gandelsonas, along with a steering committee comprised of a broad representation of the Downtown community held numerous public forums and got broad citizen input in the development of the Downtown Plan that will guide the next 20 years of development for Downtown.
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