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The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has prepared this report with partial funding from the United States Department of Transportation’s

Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, and in part through local matching funds provided by the MPO member governments. The contents of this

report are the responsibility of the MPO. All images are property of the MPO unless otherwise noted. The United States government and its agencies assume no liability for

the contents of this report or for the use of its contents.

© Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Please call 515.334.0075 to obtain permission for use.

Table of Contents

Executive Director’s Message 5

Metropolitan Planning Area 6

Committees 7

The Tomorrow Plan 10

Greater Des Moines Partnership Trip to Washington, DC 13

Funding 14

Surface Transportation Program and Surface Transportation Program Transportation Enhancement Awards

14

Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program 17

State Recreational Trail Program 17

Public Participation 18

Central Iowa Bicycle-Pedestrian Roundtable 19

Central Iowa Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation Plan 22

Trail Counter Program 23

Freight Roundtable 24

Public Transportation Roundtable 25

Mobility Matters 26

Passenger Rail Initiative 26

Passenger Transportation Plan 27

Stakeholders Working Group/Partners Committee 29

Traffic Management Advisory Committee 31

Congestion Management Process 32

Quick Clearance Memorandum of Understanding 32

2011 Travel Time Survey 32

2011 Vehicle Occupancy Survey 33

Frequently Used Acronyms 34

Staff 35

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Greetings, This past year has been a busy year at the MPO. The MPO has settled into its new office space, hosted six speaker series events, held numerous public engagement events, provided trail counters for our members, developed new social media tools, conducted travel time surveys, as well as our usual work with the Transportation Improvement Program and other planning activities. At your leisure, please take some time and read about what the MPO and staff have been involved with and what was accomplished during Fiscal Year 2012. Activities have included, but certainly are not limited to, development of The Tomorrow Plan — the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant — and its associated activities; updating the Horizon Year 2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan; coordinating planning activities with the DART Forward 2035 and Capital Crossroads plans; addressing the reauthorization of federal transportation bill; initiating a peer review of the travel demand model; increased use of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter; as well as attending and co-sponsoring community events; working collaboratively across the state in an effort to bring rail passenger service to Iowa and Des Moines; starting a trans-load freight facility study; and, working with the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations as well as the National Association of Regional Councils on transportation re-authorization issues as well as other transportation planning issues. Looking forward, the MPO will complete The Tomorrow Plan and begin the implementation phase, continue the update to the long-range transportation plan, update the travel demand model, continue to look at regional freight needs, work towards the implementation of passenger rail in the region and continue to work with our congressional delegation regarding transportation needs in the region. To our member organizations, thank you for your funding, your guidance, and your dedication to having a strong, proactive MPO. Thank you for allowing us, the staff, to touch on the many important issues facing the region as well as involvement in many activities that allow for stronger, more successful region.. Best Wishes, R. Todd Ashby, AICP Executive Director

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Des Moines Area MPO FY 2012 Annual Report

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METRPOLITAN PLANNING AREA In Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) was comprised of sixteen cities; the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART); two associate, non-voting cities; unincorporated portions of three counties in central Iowa; and one associate, non-voting county. The MPO’s Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA) encompasses the aforementioned areas.


COMMITTEES T h r e e d e s i g n a t e d committees form the primary structure of the MPO. The Transportation Technical Committee (TTC) is comprised primarily of planners and engineers from MPO member governments and offers technica l g u i d a n c e a n d recommendations to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee receives this guidance and offers its recommendations, based upon those of the TTC, to the Policy Committee. Given these recommendations, the Policy Committee takes formal action on transportation issues. The Policy Committee includes city council members, county supervisors, mayors, and city managers. Representatives on these committees are appointed by their respective governments and agencies. Both the TTC and the Policy Committee elect officers annually. In January 2011, Polk County’s Kurt Bailey was elected to serve as the Calendar Year (CY) 2011 TTC Chair, while Pleasant Hill’s Ben Champ was elected to serve as the Vice Chair. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Champ both were reaffirmed at the January 2012 TTC meeting. The Policy Committee’s officers serve as the MPO’s Executive Committee. In January 2011, the MPO elected its CY 2011 Executive Committee. The entire committee was reaffirmed in January 2012. Executive Committee members include:

Chris Coleman, City of Des Moines [Chair] Tom Hockensmith, Polk County [Vice Chair] Tom Armstrong, City of Grimes [Secretary/Treasurer] Robert Mahaffey, City of Des Moines Angela Connolly, Polk County Paula Dierenfeld, City of Johnston Ted Ohmart, City of West Des Moines [Ex-Officio]

In addition to these committees, the MPO establishes and supports other subcommittees focused on issues relevant to the MPO’s activities and responsibilities. Stakeholder organizations and citizens serve on these committees as appropriate. More information on these committees is offered in later sections of this report.

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FY 2012 Transportation Technical Committee Altoona Vern Willey, Community Services Director John Shaw, Community Development Director Ankeny Eric Jensen, Planning & Building Director Paul Moritz, Public Works Director Bondurant Lori Dunham, Finance Director Carlisle Jeff Schug, Consultant Clive Matt McQuillen, Assistant City Manager Jim Hagelie, Engineering Services Director Cumming Anthony Bellizzi, Consultant Dallas County Murray McConnell, Director of Planning and Development DART Jim Tishim, Planning Director Des Moines Jennifer Bohac, City Traffic Engineer Michael Ludwig, Planning Administrator Jeb Brewer, City Engineer Des Moines International Airport Bryan Belt, Director of Engineering & Planning Federal Highway Administration Tracy Troutner, Transportation Planner Federal Transit Administration Mark Bechtel, Community Planner Grimes John Gade, Consultant HIRTA Julia Castillo, Executive Director Indianola Chuck Burgin, Director of Community Development Iowa DOT Mike Clayton, District Transportation Planner Johnston David Cubit, Public Works Director David Wilwerding, Community Development Director Madison County Doyle Scott, Madison County Development Group Mitchellville Timothy Brandt, Public Works Director Norwalk Mike Johnson, City Planner Pleasant Hill Ben Champ, Community Development Director Polk City Dennis Deitz, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Polk County Kurt Bailey, County Engineer Bret VandeLune, Land Use Planning Manager Urbandale Paul Dekker, Community Development Director John Larson, Assistant to the Director of Engineering Warren County Steve Struble, County Engineer Waukee McKinlee Gibson, Assistant to the City Administrator Brad Deets, Interim City Administrator West Des Moines Joe Cory, Director of Public Works Duane Wittstock, City Engineer Kara Tragesser, Community Development Planner Windsor Heights Josh Heggen, Community Services Director

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FY 2012 MPO Policy Committee Altoona Skip Conkling, Mayor Kyle Mertz, Council Member Ankeny Wade Steenhoek, Council Member Craig Block, Council Member Bondurant Mark Arentsen, City Administrator Carlisle Ruth Randleman, Mayor Clive John Edwards, Council Member Ted Weaver, Council Member Cumming David Chelsvig, Council Member Dallas County Mark Hanson, County Supervisor DART Elizabeth Presutti, General Manager Des Moines Chris Coleman, Council Member Skip Moore, Council Member Frank Cownie, Mayor Allen McKinley, Deputy City Manager Larry Hulse, Assistant City Manager Halley Griess, Council Member Richard Clark, City Manager Robert Mahaffey, Council Member Brian Meyer, Council Member Des Moines International Airport Kevin Foley, Assistant Executive Director & General Manager Federal Highway Administration Tracy Troutner, Transportation Planner Federal Transit Administration Mark Bechtel, Community Planner Grimes Tom Armstrong, Mayor HIRTA Julia Castillo, Executive Director Iowa DOT Mike Clayton, District Transportation Planner Johnston Brian Laurenzo, Citizen Paula Dierenfeld, Mayor Madison County Doyle Scott, Madison County Development Group Mitchellville Kris May, City Administrator Norwalk Jim Lane, Citizen Pleasant Hill Martha Miller, Council Member Polk City Gary Mahannah, City Administrator Polk County Angela Connolly, County Supervisor Tom Hockensmith, County Supervisor Urbandale Robert Andeweg, Mayor Creighton Cox, Council Member Mike Carver, Council Member Warren County Dean Yordi, County Supervisor


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Waukee Bill Peard, Mayor Dan Dutcher, Council Member West Des Moines Ted Ohmart, Council Member Russ Trimble, Council Member Steve Gaer, Mayor Windsor Heights Jerry Sullivan, Mayor

THE TOMORROW PLAN In October 2010, a consortium led by the MPO received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through its Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program. The grant funding is being supplemented with approximately $1.1 million in local resources. Known as The Tomorrow Plan, this is a regional planning effort focused on the sustainable development of Greater Des Moines. It involves residents and local leaders in identifying visions and aspirations for the region, exploring potential scenarios for its future, and setting a preferred direction for sustainable future development. The Tomorrow Plan is guided by a Steering Committee currently comprised of 24 individuals. In addition to the Steering Committee, the team includes a technical committee, the Partners Committee, and the Young Professionals Advisory Committee (YPAC). As its name implies, the technical committee provides technical insight to the MPO staff, the consultant, and the other committees. The Partners

Committee also provides subject matter expertise to these groups and i n c l u de s dozens of entities. Finally, the YPAC is designed to help the planning team reach out to y o u n g e r generations and to connect to a wider swath of the general public.

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The Tomorrow Plan Co-Chairs Frank Cownie + Angela Connolly

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The Tomorrow Plan Steering Committee Ankeny John Peterson, Assistant City Manager Carlisle Ruth Randleman, Mayor Center on Sustainable Aaron Todd, Board Member Communities Central Iowa Center for Frank Strong, Associate Director Independent Living Community Foundation of Barry Griswell, Chief Executive Officer Greater Des Moines Dallas County Brad Golightly, County Supervisor DART Elizabeth Presutti, General Manager Des Moines Richard Clark, City Manager Chris Coleman, Council Member Frank Cownie, Mayor Robert Mahaffey, Council Member Greater Des Moines Partnership Jay Byers, Chief Executive Officer Iowa Department of Natural Tammie Krausman, Resource Enhancement and Protection Resources (REAP) Coordinator Iowa State University Doug Johnston, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education Johnston Paula Dierenfeld, Mayor Polk County Angela Connolly, County Supervisor Tom Hockensmith, County Supervisor Polk County Housing Trust Fund Eric Burmeister, Executive Director United Way of Central Iowa Elisabeth Buck, Senior Vice President, Community Impact Urbandale Robert Andeweg, Mayor West Des Moines Ted Ohmart, Council Member Linda Schemmel, Planner Russ Trimble, Council Member Young Professionals Connection Jason Wells, Past President The past twenty years have seen a patchwork of g r o w t h a n d development in G r e a t e r D e s Moines. New development has been located according to the needs of each municipality rather than the region as a whole. The Tomorrow Plan presents an opportunity to coordinate anticipated change in the region. By 2050 the population of Greater Des Moines is expected to grow to approximately 750,000 people. It also brings together many groups as well as the people who live, work, and play in the area to work together toward a shared future. The guiding principles of The Tomorrow Plan have been defined by the various committees and the public as follows:


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Allow for sustainable options that offer flexibility and that enhance mixed uses, walkability/accessibility, and sense of place through zoning, land use planning, and development

Support existing neighborhoods by redeveloping/repurposing underused and vacant properties and by cultivating public-private partnerships

Increase housing and transportation options while maintaining neighborhood character and enhancing sense of place

Improve efficiency, equity, quality, and performance through a concerted effort to regionalize infrastructure services and standards where appropriate and practical

Maintain, enhance, and connect parks, recreation, and conservation opportunities to promote the health of natural resources and people

Preserve agricultural lands and natural systems by encouraging infill development

Increase the region’s commitment to economic development and job creation Enable local stakeholders to work together to achieve regional goals while

respecting individual institutions Promote regional approaches to stormwater and flood management Foster support for the continued evolution of entertainment, culture, and the

arts in the region Over the past year, the team has participated in and facilitated around 100 meetings and presentations, reaching thousands of G rea te r Des Mo ines r e s i den t s . The team introduced Design My DSM, which was developed as an interactive, online tool for envisioning the future of Greater Des Moines, in April 2012. The goal was to give people the opportunity to learn about planning issues, opportunities, and tradeoffs, and provide a fun, responsive way to explore priorities and spending. This feedback has been useful for comparison with different scenarios and with the range of information gathering in the broader planning study. In a process that “made planning fun,” the team collected about 1,000 responses. Compared to their representation in the population as a whole, twice the number of under 35 year olds participated than the team would have expected. The twenty month planning process for The Tomorrow Plan remains on schedule to be complete by February 2013.

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The innovative onlineDesignMyDSMgameput thepowerofdesigningthemetroareaincitizens’hands.Asonemetroarea resident stated, “You’vemadeplanningfun.”

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GREATER DES MOINES PARTNERSHIP TRIP TO WASHINGTON, DC In May 2012, representatives from the MPO participated in the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s annual trip to Washington, D.C, to meet with members of the area’s congressional delegation and federal agency staff. In light of reduced congressionally-directed appropriations funding in recent years, the MPO’s representatives took a different approach when meeting with members of the area’s congressional delegation. Rather than highlighting transportation projects for which additional funding is required, as was traditionally done, the MPO also provided updates on projects which had already received funding or do not require funding assistance from Congress. The MPO provided updates on the following projects: Designation of the Purple Heart Highway (Iowa Highway 5 and US

Highway 65) as an interstate highway; Efforts to bring passenger rail service to Des Moines from Chicago via

the Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities and Iowa City; The DART Central Station project; The DART Forward 2035 long-range transit planning study; and, The Tomorrow Plan. In addition to these projects, the Des Moines Area MPO briefly highlighted the following six priority surface transportation projects for funding consideration in Federal Fiscal Year 2012: Southeast Connector Extension – City of Des Moines; Grand Avenue Bridge Reconstruction – City of Des Moines; Northwest 66th Avenue Reconstruction and Kempton Bridge Replacement –

Polk County; Interstate 80 Interchange at US 65 Reconstruction – Iowa Department of

Transportation; Polk County Trail Connection (Gay Lea Wilson Trail) – Polk County; Des Moines (Principal) Riverwalk – City of Des Moines; and, University/Ingersoll Bus Rapid Transit Loop – DART.


Source: Greater Des Moines Partnership

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The Des Moines Area MPO representatives also heard from the congressional delegation and transportation officials about the status of a federal transportation reauthorization bill, as well as the shift away from congressionally-directed funding to more competitive and performance-based funding programs. FUNDING Surface Transportation Program and Surface Transportation Program Transportation Enhancement Awards The Surface Transportation Program (STP) is a federal funding program designed to aid in the construction/reconstruction of roadways and bridges, as well as transit capital improvements, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and various planning activities. The MPO awards funds four years in advance; the MPO’s funding target for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016 was approximately $10,048,000 in STP funds and $767,000 in STP Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds. STP funding is divided into several categories, including: Major construction

Existing: Add capacity to an existing street or highway, or add lanes to an existing bridge

New: New alignment or bridge replacement Minor construction: Spot improvements, including intersection channelization

and signalization, bridge improvements, and railroad crossing and signal improvements

Preservation: Maintain or preserve the existing highway or street, including pavement resurfacing, pavement replacement, or bridge restoration

Alternative transportation: Bicycle/pedestrian facilities, public transportation, multi-modal facilities, or carpool/vanpool The MPO annually allocates these STP or STP TE funds to projects through an eligibility, application, scoring, and recommendation process. The MPO approved the funding of the following STP projects for FFY 2016 at their May 2012 MPO meeting:

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Jurisdiction Project Description Amount

Des Moines Southeast Connector Southeast 14th Street to

Southeast 30th Street

$3,229,000

Ankeny Northeast 36th Street

Widening + Reconstruction

500’ east of US 69 to 750’

west of Interstate 35

$400,000

Grimes Southeast 37th Street

Widening + Reconstruction

Iowa 141 to 700’ west of

Northwest 100th Street

$400,000

Johnston Northwest 70th Avenue Northwest 86th Street to


$400,000

Polk County Northwest 66th Avenue

Reconstruction/Kempton

Bridge Replacement

Northwest 26th Street to

Northwest Beaver Drive

$2,000,000

Urbandale 100th Street Bridge

Reconstruction

100th Street at Interstate

35/80

$400,000

West Des Moines Grand Avenue Raccoon River Park Entrance

to South 50th Street

$500,000

DART DART Vehicle Purchase N/A $900,000

Mitchellville Cotton Avenue Reconstruction Interstate 80 to Mill Street

Southwest

$400,000

Des Moines Grand Avenue Bridge Over the Des Moines River $500,000

Clive/West Des Moines University Avenue Resurfacing Northwest 86th Street to


$565,800

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STP TE funding is divided into three categories: Bicycle/pedestrian facilities: Facilities for pedestrians and bicycles,

preservation of abandoned railway corridors, and safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicycles

Historic preservation: Acquisition of historic sites, historic preservation, historic highway programs, rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings and structures, and archeological planning and research

Scenic/environmental: Acquisition of scenic easements, scenic highway programs, landscaping and other scenic beautification, control and removal of outdoor advertising, mitigation of water pollution due to highway runoff, and reduction of vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity

The MPO approved the funding of the following STP TE projects for FFY 2016 at their May 2012 MPO meeting:

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Jurisdiction Project Description Amount Bondurant Chichaqua Valley Trail —

Bondurant to Des Moines Connection

Chichaqua Valley Trail east of Bondurant to Gay Lea Wilson Trail

$160,000

Des Moines Waveland Trail Interstate 235 to University Avenue

$150,000

Polk County/Des Moines

Easter Lake Circumferential Trail

Connecting Ewing Park and Easter Lake Park and around Easter Lake

$150,000

Des Moines Ingersoll Streetscape — Phase 2 Ingersoll Avenue from 31st Street to 35th Street, excluding the north side of the 3400 block

$100,000

Des Moines 6th Avenue Hickman Road to Interstate 235 $100,000

Windsor Heights Hickman Road (US Highway 6) Streetscape — Phase 1

South on 63rd Street from Hick-man Road about 1 block (west side only) and three blocks west (south side only)

$107,000

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Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program

The Iowa Transportation Commission approved the funding of the following Iowa Clean Air Attainment (ICAAP) projects for FFY 2013 at its January 10, 2012, meeting:

State Recreational Trail Program

The Iowa Transportation Commission approved the funding of the following State Recreational Trail Program projects for FFY 2013 at its October 11, 2011, meeting:


Recipient Project Amount Des Moines Downtown Bicycle Implementation — Phase 1 $240,000

Des Moines Traffic Observation Camera System and Downtown Wayfinding $200,000

Grimes Iowa 141 Traffic Signal Interconnection Project $160,000

Johnston Northwest 86th Street Traffic Signal Interconnect $170,224

West Des Moines Traffic Adaptive Signal Control System — Valley West Drive $250,434

DART $63,617 Route #7 Fort Des Moines/Hubbell Service Improvements

DART Route #11 Ingersoll Avenue/West Des Moines/Jordan Creek $306,400

Recipient Project Amount Polk County Conservation Board

Central Iowa Trail Loop — Chichaqua Valley Trail to Gay Lea Wilson Trail

$753,750

Des Moines Gray’s Lake Neighborhood Connection Trail & Southwest 14th $439,920

Johnston Northwest Beaver Drive Trail $181,464

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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION The MPO’s public outreach efforts consist of three primary components: public meetings, publications, and the MPO website. As previously discussed, the MPO support three primary committees, all of which meet on a monthly basis. Additionally, the MPO hosts a number of regular roundtable meetings to discuss other topics, as outlined later in this document. The MPO also hosts public meetings for new and/or a m e n d e d projects that are part of the Horizon Year 2 0 3 5 Metropol itan Transportation Plan and the Transportation Improvement Program. The intent of these meetings is to disseminate information to the public and to solicit public review and comment on these documents. The MPO also seeks to gather feedback on the development of various other planning products. When practical and feasible, the MPO supplements public meetings with other outreach techniques, such as publicly circulated surveys. The MPO newsletter, InTouch, provides information and updates on plans, programs, and public discussions. Each issue of InTouch provides a listing of upcoming MPO events and a summary of recent MPO happenings. In addition to these newsletters, the MPO publishes special editions of InTouch throughout the year to notify the public of special events. Occasionally, the MPO publishes other documents, such as pamphlets, informational brochures, and fact sheets. These materials provide summary information to the public regarding the MPO and important transportation planning issues and activities. The MPO website, www.dmampo.org, contains MPO news as well as information on upcoming events, MPO members and staff, the organization of the MPO, and

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employment opportunities. The website details MPO activities and committees. Meeting agendas and minutes are available as is a listing of committee representation. Additionally, the MPO website features a library containing documents, maps, newsletters, press releases, and related documents. The MPO also developed a comment form to allow citizens to leave feedback regarding planning products. In FY 2012, over 5,000 people from 58 countries visited the MPO website; two-thirds of all visits to the site originated in Iowa. In FY 2012, the MPO began to utilize social media to a greater extent. The MPO’s Facebook page is available at www.facebook.com/dmampo. In the last three months of the FY, the content of this page was seen over 10,000 times. The MPO also maintains a Twitter account (@dmampo) that has 115 followers. Both of these platforms allow the MPO to share relevant news items, to react more quickly to citizens, and to let them know about upcoming events and participation opportunities. CENTRAL IOWA BICYCLE-PEDEDSTRIAN ROUNDTABLE The Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Roundtable (Bike-Ped Roundtable) encompasses the planning areas of the MPO, the Ames Area MPO, and the Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance (CIRTPA). The mission of the Bike-Ped Roundtable is to facilitate the development, maintenance, and promotion of a world-class commuter and recreational bicycle and pedestrian system in central Iowa. In FY 2012, the Bike-Ped Roundtable met monthly; City of Norwalk MPO representative Jim Lane served as chairperson through November of 2011. In December of 2011 the role of chairperson was turned over to City of Altoona Technical Committee representative Vern Willey.


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FY 2012 Bike-Ped Roundtable participants included: City of Altoona; City of Ankeny; City of Bondurant; City of Carlisle; City of Clive; City of Des Moines; City of Grimes; City of Indianola; City of Johnston; City of Norwalk; City of Mitchellville; City of Perry; City of Urbandale; City of Waukee; City of West Des Moines; City of Windsor Heights; Congressman Boswell’s Office; DART; Des Moines Park Board; Downtown Community Alliance; FOX Engineering; HDR Engineering; Iowa Bicycle Coalition; Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation; Metropolitan Advisory Council; Polk County Conservation; Trails & Greenways Committee; Story County Conservation; Transportation Management Association; United States Army Corps of Engineers; and, Warren County Conservation. In FY 2012, the Bike-Ped Roundtable discussed the following topics: Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan; Complete Street Legislation; Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding in Federal Transportation Bill; National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project; Transportation Event with Congressman Leonard Boswell; CIRTPA Trail Counter Purchase Update; Remaining Earmark Funds;

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Bicycle and Pedestrian Related Funding Application Deadlines; Des Moines Area MPO STP Scoring Process; Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Gaps Definition; Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance’s Federal Fiscal Year

2013 Transportation Enhancement Applicants; Project Solicitation for FFY 2013 Transportation Appropriations and the Greater

Des Moines Partnership’s 2012, Washington D.C. Trip; Central Iowa Trail App; Update on Transportation Reauthorization; Accessibility Guidelines for Public Right-of-Way; 2012 Iowa Bicycle Summit; 2012 Bike Month – 10 Year Anniversary Celebration; Review of the Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan; Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition List; Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Roundtable Subcommittees; FFY 2012 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Update; Iowa in Motion – Bicycle and Pedestrian Meeting; Central Iowa Trail Signage Agreement; Walkability Audits; Regional Trail District; Unified Bicycle Ordinance; Update on On-Street Bicycle Projects; Trail Counters; Surface Transportation Program (STP) Transportation Enhancement; Funding

Recommendations; Mayors 2012 Annual Ride for Trails; Trail Count Methodology; 2012 National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project Dates; State

Recreational Trails Program; and,

Iowa Trails Summit Recap.


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Central Iowa Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation Plan The MPO’s Bike-Ped Roundtable developed Connect: The Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan (Connect) as an update to a 1981 bicycle plan for the Des Moines metropolitan area. Connect is an action plan to guide central Iowa’s planning development process to improve accessibility and mobility by foot or by bicycle. The plan aims to help guide the central Iowa region toward transportation alternatives that are bicycle and pedestrian friendly and away f rom dependence on automobiles. Connect addresses and targets levels of bicycle and pedestrian use and recommends projects, programs, and policies to improve safety, convenience, education, enforcement, engineering, encouragement, and frequency of walking and bicycling throughout the region. Connect was developed because walking and bicycling, alone and combined with transit, can help address congestion, pollution, social equity, public health, and quality of life concerns. In addition, more accessible public right-of-way can help address the mobility needs of all users. Connect identifies general needs, promotes “best practices,” and encourages coordination by communities and transportation agencies in central Iowa to develop a bicycle and pedestrian friendly transportation system. Connect has the capability to: Identify needs in education, safety, enforcement, promotion, and engineering; Increase the number of bicyclists and pedestrians and decrease the number of

accidents and injuries; Identify national best practices for bicycle and pedestrian transportation and

detail their possible effectiveness in central Iowa; Develop regional goals and objective for bicycle and pedestrian

transportation; Propose programs, policies, and projects for meeting and implementing the

regional goals and objectives, including the identification of funding sources;

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Connect aims to help guide thecentral Iowa region towardtransportation alternatives thatare bicycle and pedestrianfriendly and away fromdependenceonautomobiles.

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Identify action steps for agencies and organizations to continue integrating bicycle and pedestrian planning into community planning and transportation planning processes; and,

Serve as a framework for comprehensive, coordinated, and continuing planning processes for state agencies, counties, and local governments in planning and developing bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

In FY 2012, a small committee of Roundtable members met to review Connect with the goal of producing an annual report by December 2012. This report will outline the progress that has been made toward implementing the benchmarks of the plan since it was approved by the MPO in 2009. In FY 2013, the Bike-Ped Roundtable will focus on implementing the goals, objectives, actions, and benchmarks outlined in the Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan. Trail Counter Program Fiscal Year 2012 marks the beginning of the Central Iowa Trail Count Program. On October 23, 2011, the MPO staff ordered twenty infrared trail counters from TRAFx Research Ltd. to provide a consistent method for collecting trail user data across central Iowa. The purpose of this program is to implement Chapter Seven, Objective 3, Action 3.1, Benchmark 3.1.1 of the Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan which states, “Administer bicycle/pedestrian counts and user survey’s annually.” The trail counters became available for member governments to checkout in January 2012 and the first counters were placed in the field in April 2012. The MPO staff is working with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Roundtable to develop a methodology for extrapolating monthly data into annual data. This will allow the MPO staff to use the limited number of counters to utilized short term counts to determine the number of annual users along a given trail segment. The extrapolation will be based off of the methodology developed by Alta Planning & Design that was crated for the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project. This methodology will be calibrated based on regional factors. The data collected in FY 2012-2013 will be used to set a baseline against which future trail usage can be compared. This information will help the MPO and the Bike-Ped Roundtable better understand where future trail investments may be needed.


Source: TRAFx

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FREIGHT ROUNDTABLE The MPO’s Freight Roundtable pursues freight issues in central Iowa to ensure that the area is economically competitive in the region, the nation, and the global market. Its mission is to work with the public and the private sector to maximize the Des Moines metropolitan areas, central Iowa’s, and Iowa’s economic opportunity through development of and advocacy for an efficient transportation system to promote economic development and trade in the North American trade corridor centered on Interstates 29 and 35, and connecting Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The Freight Roundtable met quarterly during FY 2012. John Wahlert, Bridgestone Americas Tire Company served as chair. In FY 2012, the following entities participated in the Freight Roundtable: Bridgestone Americas Tire Company; Greater Des Moines Partnership; Iowa Department of Transportation; CH Robinson; HR Green; Polk County; Downtown Community Alliance; City of Carlisle; Iowa Interstate Railroad; Des Moines Transportation; Union Pacific Railroad; North American Super Corridor

Coalition (NASCO); and, Transportation Management,

LLC. Items discussed at the FY 2011 meeting included the following: The Central Iowa Intermodal

Study results and impacts; Transloading opportunities in

Central Iowa; Port of Des Moines website; Funding opportunities available

for freight-related projects; and, North American Super Corridor

Coalition (NASCO).

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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROUNDTABLE The Public Transportation Roundtable functions as an arena to discuss public transportation related topics of interest to the Des Moines metropolitan area and central Iowa. This roundtable also makes recommendation to the MPO regarding public-transportation issues. The mission of the Public Transportation Roundtable is to promote the expansion of the coordinated, comprehensive, and multimodal transportation system that will increase the quality of life for central Iowa residents, reduce dependency on personal automobiles, and increase mobility for those who cannot or choose not to use other transportation modes, by identifying both short- and long-term public transportation needs and deficiencies in central Iowa. In FY 2012, the Public Transportation Roundtable merged with the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Transit 2030 Task Force. The Transit 2030 Task Force met twice during FY 2012 and, at their April 6, 2012, meeting, the group decided to adopt the Public Transportation Roundtable name and to begin meeting on a quarterly basis in FY 2013. The Public Transportation Roundtable is chaired by Mike Kulik with the Davis Brown Law Firm. During FY 2012, the Public Transportation Roundtable addressed numerous items, including: Chicago to Omaha Passenger Rail Feasibility Study; DART’s Bus Rapid Transit Loop; Capital Crossroads visioning effort; Public transit feasibility along the Ames/Des Moines corridor; Intercity bus accommodations; DART Forward 2035 transit planning effort; The Tomorrow Plan planning effort; Drive Time Des Moines; and, Bringing Southwest Airlines to Des Moines.


Source: DART

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Mobility Matters The Public Transportation Roundtable’s Transportation Advisory Group (TAG) hosted the fourth annual Mobility Matters Workshop on April 27, 2012, at the Mercy Medical Center’s East Tower Auditorium. The event engaged human service agencies, transportation providers, community planning, local government officials, and the business community. It allowed participants to better understand the link between public transportation and livability. In the morning session, workshop participants heard from a number of organizations, including the MPO, DART, HIRTA, and CyRide (Ames’ public transit authority). These organizations provided a regional update and perspective on key issues affecting transportation in central Iowa. The morning session also featured a keynote address by the newly hired rural mobility coordinator. The a f te rnoon sess ion featured a working session that addressed the creation of the transit network and also participated in a mock travel training session. Passenger Rail Initiative

In October 2010, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded the Iowa DOT $230 million to develop passenger rail service between Chicago and Iowa City. This award was in addition to federal funding awarded earlier in 2010, which included $1 million to study passenger rail service between Chicago and Omaha, NE. The Iowa Legislature has not provided matching funds to move forward with the Iowa portion of the Chicago-Iowa City service and is instead waiting on the Chicago-Omaha feasibility study to be completed. In May 2012, the Iowa DOT hosted a series of public input meetings to receive feedback on five route alternatives between Chicago and Omaha. Following the public input meetings and after evaluating a variety of criteria – including forecasted ridership, travel times, technical feasibility, and environmental issues – the Iowa DOT recommended Route Alternative 4-A, which travels through the Des Moines metro area, to move forward with a Tier 1 Service Level Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EIS is required on all federally funded projects by the

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National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) . A No-Bui ld alternative also will move forward with the Tier 1 EIS, as required by NEPA. The Iowa DOT anticipates public hearings on the draft Tier 1 Service Level EIS to take place in December 2012. Additional information about this process, as well as copies of all reports, is a v a i l a b l e a t h t t p : / /w w w . i o w a d o t . g o v /chicagotoomaha/index.html. Locally, the MPO has been working with the Iowa DOT to identify potential routing through the Des Moines metropolitan area and to understand how future transportation projects planned for the region may impact passenger rail service. A Tier 2 EIS, which will be more specific, will be required for the Des Moines area at a later date should Alternative 4-A move forward following the Tier 1 EIS. Passenger Transportation Plan

The MPO received and accepted the Fiscal Years 2013-2016 Passenger Transportation Plan Update (FY 2013-2016 PTP Update) in May of 2012. The need for PTP development comes from the federal transportation reauthorization bill, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). SAFETEA-LU calls for an increased effort in coordination transportation services, particularly services intended for elderly persons, for persons with disabilities, and for low-income persons. PTPs or PTP updates are annual requirement of the Iowa’s metropolitan planning organizations and regional planning affiliations. The PTP requirement was reaffirmed with the passing of the new transportation reauthorization Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) on July 6, 2012. The PTP has several required elements. Those required elements include a transportation provider inventory, an unmet transportation needs assessment, and a listing of projects developed to address identified needs. Funding amounts and funding sources for any transit projects that would be included in the MPO’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) must be included in the PTP, along with


Source: Iowa Department of Transportation

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justification for each project. The top needs identified in the FY 2013-2016 PTP included the following table: The FY 2012-2015 PTP Update identified the hiring of two mobility coordinators for central Iowa as a key strategy to help address the identified needs. In FY 2012, the Transportation Advisory Group (TAG) continued to pursue the development of a mobility management system for central Iowa. The TAG, through DART, Polk County, and HIRTA, pursued funding to create two mobility manager positions in central Iowa. The Mobility Coordinator – Travel Trainer will work out of the Polk County office and the Rural Central Iowa Mobility Coordinator will work out of the HIRTA office. These two positions were filled between January and February of 2012. The Public Transportation Roundtable is responsible for the PTP. The Public Transportation Roundtable’s TAG oversees the PTP’s actual development. As done in previous years, the MPO collaborated with the CIRTPA to develop one PTP that covers both the MPO and the CIRTPA planning areas. Due to successful completion of the Fiscal Years 2010-2013 PTP, the MPO and the CIRTPA were only required to develop a PTP Update for FY 2013-2016.

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Rank Need

1 Need to maintain and expand existing services

2 Need to develop more volunteer transportation systems in central Iowa

3 Need for more marketing/education of transportation information and for making

information easier to access

4 Need to get more low-income persons access to jobs at the hours they need

5 Need for more hours or service on weekends and weeknights

6 Need for trips to essential services, particularly trips to medical appointments in

Des Moines and Iowa City, as well as access to food and groceries

7 Need for more training on how to use the bus system

8 Need to better service multi-purpose trips

9 Need to increase the accessibility of transit, i.e., ensuring sidewalks to bus stops

are in good condition

11 Need to continue to study rapid transit alternatives

12 Need to make passenger transportation more affordable.

10 Need for local governments to coordinate land use and transportation decisions

in the planning and development process

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STAKEHOLDERS WORKING GROUP/PARTNERS COMMITTEE The Stakeholders Working Group was established in January 2008 as the MPO developed the Horizon Year 2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. It was designed as a forum for federal, state, and local environmental agencies and organizations to provide input regarding transportation projects. The creation of this working group represented the MPO’s commitment to get stakeholders engaged in the metropolitan transportation planning process. Since The Tomorrow Plan launched, the Stakeholders Working Group has become part of the Partners Committee for The Tomorrow Plan. This group provides subject matter expertise to the MPO staff, the consultant team, the technical committee, and the Steering Committee. It is open to representatives of regional service providers; entities that have participated are outlined below. 1000 Friends of Iowa; Blank Park Zoo; Central Iowa Shelter and Services; Central Iowa Sierra Club; Charitable Giving Resources Center; Children and Family Urban Ministries; Chrysalis Foundation; City of Carlisle; City of Des Moines; City of Grimes; DART; Des Moines Area Community College; Des Moines Community Action Agency; Des Moines Music Coalition; Des Moines Water Works; Downtown Community Alliance; Food and You, LLC; Friends of Des Moines Parks; Grand View University; Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity; Greater Des Moines Partnership; Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines; Howard R. Green Company; Iowa Commission on the Status of Women; Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Iowa Economic Development Authority; Iowa Environmental Council; Iowa Legal Aid;


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Iowa Realty; Iowa State University; Jerry’s Homes, Inc.; Meals from the Heartland; MidAmerican Energy; Neighborhood Finance Corporation; Polk County Community Services; Polk County Conservation; Polk County Health Services; Polk County Housing Trust Fund; Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District; Raccoon River Watershed Association; Transition Des Moines; Trees Forever; Urban Ambassadors; US Army Corps of Engineers; USDA Rural Development; and, Warren County Economic Development.

Generally, Partners Committee members attend Partners Committee meetings; contribute specialized knowledge that may contribute to the planning process; review documents, plans, and other materials, as necessary; participate in interviews and/or focus group meetings; support community outreach efforts; and, provide general planning support.

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TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Traffic Management Advisory Committee (TMAC) acts as a forum to discuss incident management, traffic management, and intelligent transportation systems issues at the metropolitan level. The TMAC met quarterly in FY 2012. Jesse Tibodeau, Iowa DOT, served as a Chair of the TMAC, and Jon Davis, Polk County, served as Vice-Chair. TMAC representatives participating at meetings in FY 2012 included: City of Ankeny; City of Clive; City of Des Moines; City of Johnston; City of West Des Moines; City of Windsor Heights; Downtown Community Alliance; Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau; Hanifen Co., Inc; Howard R. Green Company; Iowa Department of Public Safety; Iowa Department of Transportation; Polk County; and, Transportation Management Authority. The TMAC discussion topics this fiscal year included: Traffic Management Center Data Analysis; Congestion Management Process; Diversion Routes; Quick Clearance; Crash Data Analysis; and, Travel Time Surveys and Vehicle Occupancy Counts.


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Congestion Management Process The Congestion Management Process (CMP) document is required as part of the planning process in Transportation Management Area (TMA). A TMA is required for MPOs in regions with over 200,000 citizens. MPO staff worked with members of the TMAC to develop and review the initial draft of the CMP, which is scheduled for completion in early FY 2013. Quick Clearance Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) The TMAC and Quick Clearance Policy Subcommittee discussed the potential for updating the Des Moines Metropolitan Area Quick Clearance Guidelines memorandum of understanding (MOU). Quick clearance is a plan that describes the overall strategy for managing an incident. The MOU includes definition, safe and quick clearance philosophy, role of the parties, and contact list and was signed on between the MPO and Iowa DOT in December 2010. Quick Clearance remains an issue in the region and discussions on best practices are ongoing. 2011 Travel Time Survey MPO staff conducted the annual travel time survey in October 2011. The purpose of the survey is to monitor and evaluate the operational performance of the street and highway system. Staff surveyed nine peak-hour routes. Staff defines peak hour as the hours between 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Staff collected travel time data from the Iowa DOT’s TMC for the freeway system. The location of routes surveyed, was as follows: #01 |Hickman Road; #02 |22nd – 86th Street; #03 |Merle Hay Road; #07 |Army Post Road/Fleur Drive; #11 | Ankeny Boulevard/NE 14th Street; #13 | Hubbell Avenue/Euclid Avenue; #17 | University Avenue; #18 | Grand Avenue; and, #20 | Mills Civic Parkway The route also are illustrated in the following map. The findings from the survey are available in the 2011 Travel Time Survey Report.

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2011 Vehicle Occupancy Survey MPO staff conducted the annual vehicle occupancy survey to determine current vehicle occupancy rates in October 2011. MPO staff completed vehicle occupancy counts at twelve locations during the a.m. and p.m. peak-hours, including: #01 | 2nd Avenue (Des Moines); #02 | Ankeny Boulevard (Ankeny); #03 | 63rd Street (Des Moines); #04 | Grand Avenue (Des Moines); #05 | Hickman Road (Des Moines); #06 | Jordan Creek Parkway (West Des Moines); #07 | Keo Way (Des Moines); #08 | Merle Hay Road (Des Moines); #09 | 3rd Street (West Des Moines); #10 | University Avenue (Des Moines); #11 | M.L. King, Jr. Parkway (Des Moines); and, #12 | Ashworth Road (West Des Moines). The findings from the survey are available in the 2011 Vehicle Occupancy Report.


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FREQUENTLY USED ACRONYMS

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CIRTPA Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance

CMP Congestion Management Process

CY Calendar Year

DART Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority

DOT Department of Transportation

FFY Federal Fiscal Year

FY Fiscal Year

ICAAP Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program

MPA Metropolitan Planning Area

MPO Metropolitan Planning Organization

NASCO North America’s SuperCorridor Coalition

PTP Passenger Transportation Plan

REAP Resource Enhancement and Protection

SAFETEA-LU Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users

STP Surface Transportation Program

STP TE Surface Transportation Program Transportation Enhancement

TAG Transportation Advisory Group

TIP Transportation Improvement Program

TMA Transportation Management Area

TMAC Traffic Management Advisory Committee

TTC Transportation Technical Committee

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STAFF Executive Director Todd Ashby Executive Administrator Stephanie Muller Executive Assistant Jennifer Ratcliff Jenn Deckard, Executive Intern Transportation Planners Nathan Goldberg, Senior Transportation Planner Dylan Mullenix, Principal Transportation Planner Nokil Park, Senior Transportation System Modeler Luke Parris, Senior Transportation Planner Jennifer Roberts, Transportation Planning Intern Bethany Wilcoxon, Senior Transportation Planner Zach Young, Associate Transportation Planner


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