Citizen Portal
Sign In

Ames Area MPO sets Jan. 27 public hearing to add NEVI charging site, update bus costs in TIP

City of Ames City Council (and Ames Area MPO Transportation Committee) · January 14, 2026

Loading...

AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization voted to set a Jan. 27, 2026 public hearing to amend the FFY 2026–2029 Transportation Improvement Program to add a state‑awarded NEVI electric‑vehicle charging site on East 13th Street and to update Scribe transit bus costs to match Iowa DOT guidance.

The Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization voted to set a public hearing for Jan. 27, 2026, to consider amendments to the FFY 2026–2029 Transportation Improvement Program that would add a National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) charging site and update programmed transit‑bus costs.

Kyle, MPO staff, told committee members the Iowa Department of Transportation awarded roughly $16 million in NEVI funds to private applicants, including a site within the MPO boundary on East 13th Street at the Quality Inn. Because NEVI funds are federally sourced, the project must be included in the TIP, Kyle said, and adding it would not change MPO‑administered local funding obligations.

On transit, Kyle said Scribe has 38 buses programmed in the TIP for FY26–27 but that recent DOT programming guidance reflects sharply higher procurement costs. "The buses were previously programmed using the old guidance, which was quickly outdated," Kyle said; the amendment request would align TIP programming with DOT guidance so awarded grants will sufficiently cover bus costs and avoid shifting larger local matches to the transit provider.

Committee members asked who selected EV charging locations and whether federal funding remains stable. Staff said private entities applied to DOT, local planning reviews site specifics, and that formula funds the MPO awards remain steady while discretionary national grants can shift.

The committee moved, seconded and carried a motion to set the Jan. 27 public hearing to consider the TIP amendment. The hearing is the next formal opportunity for public comment and for staff to present details of the amendment before the MPO considers adoption.