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Public Asked to Help Decide Which Local Transportation Projects Get MPO Funding

February 9, 2015

Residents of Greater Des Moines are invited to share their opinions on which local transportation projects they would like to see receive funding from the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

Thirty-five projects are under consideration, ranging from trails, streetscapes and transit buses to the reconstruction of existing roads and the construction of new roads. More than $50 million in projects have been requested, while only $12.8 million in funding is available. The grants are available through the Surface Transportation Program and the Transportation Alternative Program, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and administered by the MPO. 

The public can find project descriptions and interactive maps of the 35 projects online at dmampo.org/getting-involved/ and leave comments on the site now through Sunday, Feb. 22. Comments can also be shared at a public meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the MPO, 420 Watson Powell, Jr. Way, Suite 200, Des Moines, IA 50309.

In addition to collecting public comment on the projects, the MPO staff has scored the projects on how well they help meet the regional performance measures established in Mobilizing Tomorrow, the region’s long-range transportation plan. The scores and public comments will be presented to a funding subcommittee of local elected officials, who will make a funding recommendation. The recommendation will be presented to the MPO board in March for review and again in April for final approval.

For more information on the projects, please call or email MPO staff at (515) 334-0075 or info@dmampo.org.

The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 

The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) acts as a regional forum to ensure coordination between the public and local, state, and federal agencies in regard to planning issues and to prepare transportation plans and programs. The MPO develops both long- and short-range multimodal transportation plans, selects and approves projects for federal funding based upon regional priorities, and develops methods to reduce traffic congestion.