Ames council approves consultant agreement to study Somerset Village corridor improvements

The Ames City Council on Sept. 30 approved a professional services agreement with Shai Hattery to design improvements through the Somerset Village corridor. Staff said the consultant will gather input from businesses and evaluate concepts that were previously developed, including options to reroute traffic and reduce some four-lane sections to two lanes. "We're gonna go, actually door to door for the businesses and get input from them," a city staff presenter said. Council members asked whether the central green space in the corridor must be retained; staff replied that preserving or altering the green space will be a budget and design choice and that the full reconstruction of the street in the future could reconsider the corridor’s configuration. The agreement was approved by roll call. Staff said the consultant has submitted an alternative concept that may lead to a hybrid design and that any final recommendation will return to council for approval after business outreach and detailed design.