Ames MPO unveils draft FY2027 work program, sets public hearing for May 26

MPO staff reviewed the Draft FY2027 Transportation Planning Work Program on March 24, telling the Ames Area Transportation Policy Committee the plan identifies the MPO’s planning activities and associated budget for the upcoming fiscal year and that federal highway and transit planning funds (with a 20% local match) will cover most work. "Complete Streets is the one that doesn't require a local match," the presenter said, noting it will be used to help fund the Safe Routes to School plan.

The presentation flagged three corridor studies as the major work items: the Duff Avenue corridor study (railroad crossing near Main Street to 16th Street), the Lincoln Way corridor study and the South Dayton study (from the US-30 interchange to South Dayton Place). Staff said the Duff study has completed traffic forecasting and crash review and is about to enter public outreach, with a planned council workshop in July and finalization expected in late summer or early fall. For South Dayton, staff said existing ramp queuing and anticipated development drove the need for a study and that some counts were collected while students were in session to avoid summertime distortions.

On program funding, staff said the Safe Routes to School consultant is budgeted at $60,000 and the Lincoln Way study at $125,000, with local match included in the City of Ames CIP because the MPO is currently funded from the city for matching dollars. "The draft CIP is going through its approval process, because the MPO is funded through the City of Ames right now as far as local match goes," staff said.

Following the presentation and a brief round of council questions about study timing, data collection and how planned construction (including an upcoming highway reroute) would affect counts, the committee voted to approve the draft work program and to open a public comment period through April, with a public hearing scheduled for May 26. Staff said the document will also be reviewed by federal partners during the comment period.