North Grand Mall

[IcSyU]

For the size of town Ames is, it is absolutely horrible to drive across. A lot of arterial roads have stoplights (untimed) every fifty feet and crazy low speed limits. (25MPH on State? Really? Did anyone let the city know that the middle school closed over five years ago?). I live on the west side and it literally takes me the same amount of time to get to the mall as it does to get to Ankeny. Even the time it takes getting to Walmart/Target in Ames seems hardly worth it.

Oh, and I dare anyone to turn left out of Cold Stone Creamery onto Duff pretty much any time of day, what do we have against frontage roads in this town?

From the west side, North Dakota to Ontario to 24th is less than a 10 minute drive. From way out west, the county road on the Story/Boone county line to Cameron School Road to Bloomington takes about 12 minutes.

And 25 on State is ridiculous but I'm guessing it has to do with the fact that a lot of student foot traffic takes that back path from near the old middle school to the new middle school that Run for the Roses uses.

[FarminCy]

Agree with you here, something needs to be done with traffic on South Duff, although I suppose the Grand extension will alleviate some problems.

Forgot about that. This could also be something that could work in the mall's favor.

I can't remember the full details but isn't Grand going to be going all the way to 30 when it's done?

[ribsnwhiskey]

Forgot about that. This could also be something that could work in the mall's favor.

I can't remember the full details but isn't Grand going to be going all the way to 30 when it's done?

Not quite. S. 16th where Coldwater Golf Course and the new apartment complex is.

Unfortunately it's been put off a couple more years I think because of funding issues.

[IcSyU]

Forgot about that. This could also be something that could work in the mall's favor.

I can't remember the full details but isn't Grand going to be going all the way to 30 when it's done?

I thought it was to SE 16th? and that'll be just a grand ole mess when that project comes around. They need to get the area by Vet Med to 4 lanes.

[Freebird]

From the west side, North Dakota to Ontario to 24th is less than a 10 minute drive. From way out west, the county road on the Story/Boone county line to Cameron School Road to Bloomington takes about 12 minutes.

And 25 on State is ridiculous but I'm guessing it has to do with the fact that a lot of student foot traffic takes that back path from near the old middle school to the new middle school that Run for the Roses uses.

This is never less than a twenty minute drive for me. I must be doing something wrong.

[Freebird]

A bit of an exaggeration, maybe

From my house I can be in Ankeny in 25 minutes or in the mall parking lot in 25 minutes. I guess if I did it in the middle of the night with the traffic lights/construction/traffic all working out I could do it in 15 or so.

[ISUCubswin]

This is never less than a twenty minute drive for me. I must be doing something wrong.

Stop riding a motorized scooter?

Don't ride CyRide?

[IcSyU]

This is never less than a twenty minute drive for me. I must be doing something wrong.

It takes me about 10 minutes to get to the vet with my dog from my girlfriend's place in Somerset out to the vet by Perfect Games (<- speaking of business in Ames I'm shocked are still in business).

And there is no fast way around Ames right now since I think every road is under construction.

[cyclone87]

Not quite. S. 16th where Coldwater Golf Course and the new apartment complex is.

Unfortunately it's been put off a couple more years I think because of funding issues.

city has it programmed to start in 2014, I think they got or are looking to get an earmark for it to help fund it as well. It seems by programming it into the the transportation plans they must have the money now.

[3TrueFans]

When was the last time you tried driving that route? That takes a half hour plus under ordinary driving conditions. It should never take you half an hour to drive across a city the size of Ames. Part of that is horrible infrastructure, part of it is the mall is in a really bad location.

Here's another thing you're missing - any mall in Ames should be serving the region, not just the city of Ames. NGM is so horribly located (and has such a poor choice of stores) that people would rather just drive to Des Moines and shop there. Ames is losing $$$ to Des Moines because it couldn't close the deal to get the mall built on 13th and I-35. And until that happens Ames is going to continue losing business to Des Moines.

Not counting construction, which is a necessity, driving between any two points in Ames takes no more than 10 minutes.

[FarminCy]

I thought it was to SE 16th? and that'll be just a grand ole mess when that project comes around. They need to get the area by Vet Med to 4 lanes.

My thought's exactly.

Are there any development plans for S 16th in the near future (stores, etc.)? Seems like such a random street considering it's right off of 30 and in between two main ramps off of 30.

[IcSyU]

Coldwater is going to be goofy as **** to golf when there's a damn road between 1/2 and 8/9?

And SE 16th is a mess because there's businesses, residential townhouses, apartments, a golf course, a Christian school, a trailer park, and then out of nowhere a college campus. About the only thing they can add is more residential on 16th in front of Coldwater.

[cyclone87]

Here is a map of the city's long range transportation projects planned: https://docs.google.com/a/iastate.ed...QGkBSfCg&pli=1

Looks like Grand may eventually go over 30, interesting didn't know that.

[Mr Janny]

Not counting construction, which is a necessity, driving between any two points in Ames takes no more than 10 minutes.

That's not true, man. I take Duff from a residential area south of Hwy 30 to the corner of Duff and 13th every day, twice a day, and quite often that takes more than 10 minutes. (not counting trains) That's hardly "across town." Duff in the afternoon can be a bear.

[3TrueFans]

Here is a map of the city's long range transportation projects planned: https://docs.google.com/a/iastate.ed...QGkBSfCg&pli=1

Looks like Grand may eventually go over 30, interesting didn't know that.

Roundabouts!