Promoting uniformity of urban design and construction across Iowa.

WHAT'S NEW?

Iowa Senate File 455

We want to make sure you are aware of Senate File 455.  SF455 is a bill currently being discussed in the Committee on Local Government.  This legislation’s intention is to limit communities’ ability to maintain local control over stormwater management regulations for new developments and regulations pertaining to the preservation of topsoil on these sites.

Here are links for the proposed bill, a flyer from the Iowa Home Builders Association (the advocates for this bill), and an informational flyer from the Iowa Storm Water Educational Partnership.

During discussions, SUDAS has been mentioned as “regulations” that deter development.  It should be noted the SUDAS Design Manual is not codified.  Each community has the opportunity to adopt our standards, adopt our standards with modifications, or develop and adopt their own standards for public improvements.

The four points of SF455 from the SUDAS perspective:

  1. Topsoil preservation is necessary to provide an adequate growing medium for vegetation.  Well maintained vegetative areas reduce storm runoff.
  2. Controlling the increased runoff for storms below the 5 year storm is to protect our waterways from erosion occurring after the storms with the highest frequency.
  3. SUDAS standards do not require the pre-development calculations to be based on the “meadow standard”.  The SUDAS Design Manual does discuss this method of calculating the pre-development run-off.  This bill will effect communities with this increased level of requirement.
  4. SUDAS standards do allow the “Upstream Pass-through” of influent from upstream properties.

The SUDAS Corporation’s mission is to develop and maintain urban design standards and standard specifications for the State of Iowa that have been recognized, adopted, and used by state and local government agencies, contractors, and consulting engineers as the acceptable standards for construction of urban public improvements.  The SUDAS Design Manual and Standard Specifications were developed with a wide variety of input from licensed professional engineers.  This included not only engineers directly employed by local public agencies but consulting engineers that work for both our local governments and developers.

We recommend that communities review the proposed legislation, reach out to the members of the committee, and contact your legislators to voice your community’s opinion.  Click on this link to the House Local Government Committee for contact information.

2024 Edition Revisions

The 2024 editions of the SUDAS manuals are posted. Remember, we do not print and mail revision packets. Electronic versions of the revision packets can be found under Design Manual -> Latest Design Revisions or Specifications Manual -> Latest Specifications Revisions.

The website’s manual pages are all up to date as well.

Iowa DNR Review

The Iowa DNR Water Supply Engineering Section conducted a review of the 2024 Edition of SUDAS Specifications Divisions 3 and 5. In a letter addressed to SUDAS staff, Iowa DNR stated “at the current time, they are largely in accordance with the design standards of this Department and will be filed accordingly.” Click here for a copy of the letter.

Final Rule on PROWAG

On August 8, 2023, the U.S. Access Board issued final rule on the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG). The final rule was effective September 7, 2023. Click here for more information. Some changes were made to the 2013 PROWAG draft. SUDAS and Iowa DOT staff will be working together to draft revisions to our design guidelines accordingly. No changes will be implemented until the final rule is adopted by the US DOT and FHWA.

Seed Shortages and Substitutions

Due to continued anticipated shortages of specified seed types, Iowa DOT’s Roadside Development and the Construction & Materials Bureau has recommended allowable changes to the DOT’s seed mixes as follows for the 2023 construction season.

Permanent Rural mix due to the anticipated shortage of Perennial Ryegrass (Linn):

2601.03, C, 3, b, Seed Mixture.

Add note to Table 2601.03-3 (SUDAS Table 9010.07):

  1. For 2023 construction season only, ryegrass rate may be reduced to 30 pounds per acre as long as the fescue rate is increased to 150 pounds per acre.

Permanent & Stabilizing Urban mixes due to the anticipated shortage of Creeping Red Fescue:

2601.03, C, 2, b, Seed Mixture.

Add note to Table 2601.03-2 (SUDAS Table 9010.06):

  1. For 2023 construction season only, a partial or full substitution of the required 25 pounds of Creeping Red Fescue is allowed with any of the following varieties:  Chewing Fescue, Hard Fescue, Sheep’s Fescue or Blue Fescue.

2601.03, C, 4, b, Seed Mixture.

Add note to Table 2601.03-4 (SUDAS Table 9010.06):

  1. For 2023 construction season only, a partial or full substitution of the required 25 pounds of Creeping Red Fescue is allowed with any of the following varieties:  Chewing Fescue, Hard Fescue, Sheep’s Fescue or Blue Fescue.

Asphalt Binder and Mixture Reference Guides

The Asphalt Paving Association of Iowa has updated their reference guides. The reference guide for local agencies was developed to assist with selection of asphalt mixes for local agency projects. The reference guide for Iowa DOT provides updated guidance for projects constructed under Iowa DOT requirements.

Modifying the SUDAS Manuals

If you need to modify the SUDAS manuals to meet your jurisdiction’s needs, please read this document first.

SUDAS Email List

Anyone who would like to receive emails from us can subscribe to our list.

Temporary Traffic Control

SUDAS staff developed an updated Temporary Traffic Control Handbook through an Iowa Highway Research Board project. If you would like to request a copy, please complete this form. Click here for an electronic version of the handbook.

Potential Errors

If you notice something within the SUDAS Manuals that appears to be an error, please contact Beth Richards (brich@iastate.edu) and let her know.

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