MODES, OSKALOOSA INNOVATION PARK, RAILROAD TRANSLOAD STUDY, AND THE US 63 – IA 23 CONNECTOR

Project Overview

Mahaska County and the City of Oskaloosa have been planning since the 1990’s to improve the transportation system through and around Oskaloosa. The existing industrial park in the southeast corner of the city creates heavy industrial traffic using residential and the historic downtown roads for access to the park. The system was not originally designed for large industrial truck traffic, and because of this, the system has issues with safety, efficiency, and community access. The extra traffic makes quality of life activities, such as biking, running, and walking, more difficult and less safe and increases the deterioration of the local roadway system. Large vehicles hauling hazardous materials through the historic downtown is not recommended but necessary in the current transportation system. Additionally, the transportation system has contributed to areas of persistent poverty as the southeast quadrant of Oskaloosa is removed from easy access to the rest of the city due to the heavy industrial traffic flow on local roads.

McClure was selected to plan, manage, perform traffic studies, prepare federal and state grant applications, and aid in public information meetings and one-on-one meetings with residents and businesses for the Mahaska/Oskaloosa Driving Economic Success (MODES), Oskaloosa Innovation Park, Railroad Transload Study, and US 63 – IA 23 Connector projects. These projects tie together and link directly with the larger planning study and environmental reviews required to complete the east Oskaloosa transportation system. The new system will attract new businesses and provide an efficient way to get more agricultural products out to the rest of Iowa, the United States, and the world.

McClure was directly involved in the planning and branding of the MODES project including applications for BUILD and RAISE federal grants. McClure collected and provided the letters of support and information required to Rep. Miller-Meeks’ office to obtain a Community Project Funding Grant and presented the project to US Senator Joni Ernst, State Senator Rozenboom, and State Representative Brink. McClure is currently working with IEDA to complete the Oskaloosa Innovation Park Certified Site and the Iowa DOT to obtain a RISE Grant for the US 63 – IA 23 Connector. McClure also secured a Revolving Railroad Loan and Grant funding to study a transload facility.

Project Highlights

• Developed the MODES brand, funding packages, and website www.modesiowa.com while coordinating with Mahaska County, City of Oskaloosa staff, council, residents, and businesses, and Oskaloosa Chamber staff.
• Developed and reviewed planning areas for future transportation corridors in the Oskaloosa area.
• Provided traffic studies of the area and analyzed local signal timings.
• Presentation with US Senator Joni Ernst, State Senator Ken Rozenboom, and State Representative Holly Brink.
• Provided boundary survey for the certified site project.
• In depth coordination with utility companies to provide facility capacities, relocation locations, and eliminate conflicts.

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