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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - March 25, 2025, Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) Transportation Policy Committee1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AMES AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (AAMPO) TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE AMES, IOWA MARCH 25, 2025 CALL TO ORDER: The Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) Transportation Policy Committee meeting was called to order by Ames Mayor and voting member John Haila at 5:59 p.m. on the 25th day of March, 2025. Other voting members present were: Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, City of Ames; Gloria Betcher, City of Ames; Tim Gartin, City of Ames; Rachel Junck, City of Ames; Anita Rollins, City of Ames; Mayor Jonathon Popp, City of Gilbert; Scott Longhorn, Boone County Board of Supervisors; Linda Murken, Story County Board of Supervisors; and Emily Boland, Ames Transit Agency Board of Trustees. CONSENT AGENDA: Moved by Murken, seconded by Popp, to approve the consent agenda. 1. Motion approving Draft FY 2026 Transportation Planning Work Program and setting May 27, 2025, as date of public hearing 2. Motion adopting updated TAM and PM2 targets 3. Motion naming Justin Clausen as Interim Executive Director of the AAMPO until the City of Ames hires a new Public Works Director 4. Motion appointing Ames Interim Public Works Director Justin Clausen as the 2025 AAMPO representative to the Statewide Urban Design Specifications (SUDAS) Board of Directors 5. Motion approving annual self-certifications for FY 2026 6. Motion approving submittal of updated Title VI documentation to the Iowa DOT, Federal Highway Administration, and Federal Transit Administration 7. RESOLUTION NO. 25-112 approving designation of AAMPO 2025 representatives to the Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance (CIRTPA) Vote on Motion: 10-0. Motions/Resolutions declared carried/adopted unanimously, signed by the Chair, and hereby made a portion of these Minutes. TARGET YEAR FOR ACHIEVING ZERO FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURY CRASHES : Transportation Planner Kyle Thompson highlighted that in December of 2023, the AAMPO was awarded funding through the Safe Street and Roads for All (SS4A) program for the creation of a comprehensive safety action plan (CSAP). Planner Thompson turned the presentation over to consultant Jon Markt, Transportation Safety Program Manager with HRD. Amber Corrieri, City of Ames, entered the meeting at 6:02 p.m. Consultant Markt reviewed the AAMPO traffic crash statistics from 2017 to 2023, noting that there are various transportation types and/or activities that are highly related with the fatalities and serious injuries reported in the data. He shared that the Safe System Approach (SSA) recognized that safety is proactive and deaths and serious injuries are unacceptable. Committee Member Gartin inquired on how the crash statistics compared to peer cities and how traffic on I-35 was factored into the data. Consultant Markt noted that peer city data was not 2 available as part of the presentation but could be provided to the committee after the meeting. He additionally highlighted that portions of I-35 ran through the AAMPO boundaries and interstate traffic accidents did impact the data. There were three tiers to SSA that were explained by Consultant Markt, which included major projects such as capital improvement projects, systemic projects which included low-cost strategies, and policy strategies that would rely on behavior modification. Consultant Markt highlighted that the AAMPO would not be using novel innovative strategies, but rather a common toolbox of tested and impactful strategies would be allied such as speed management, crosscutting, and enhanced roadway departure techniques. Consultant Markt concluded with a review of the progress so far and discussed the steps still to come, which included input and review of the plan by the public and stakeholders. He noted that that one required component of the CSAP specified by the SS4A grant program was a leadership commitment and goal setting that specified the target date for achieving zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries. Planner Thompson presented the year of 2050 as the recommended goal to coordinate with the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan update currently underway. Committee Member Gartin questioned how the plan worked with the other efforts of the AAMPO and City of Ames to implement safety on the roadways. Traffic Engineer Damion Pregitzer shared that staff had implemented techniques to improve transportation but was constantly trying to evolve methods because fatalities and major injuries were an unacceptable traffic outcome. He noted that analysis conducted through the plan would highlight safety techniques that would become the next evolution toolset for the AAMPO. Committee Member Gartin encouraged the incorporation of a cost benefit analysis into the presentation process prior to the adoption of the plan and Committee Member Murken inquired if the plan would include areas of focus where the greatest number of fatalities and major injuries occur. Consultant Markt replied in the affirmative, noting that the plan would highlight both locational and non-locational projects with corridors named in the study. Committee Member Betcher referenced the current federal funding environment and inquired about the implementation of the plan in the absence of funding. Traffic Engineer Pregitzer shared that staff had reviewed the language of the grant and does not have current concerns that any funds would be sequestered. He added that that the effort and analysis used to formulate the plan could be used irrespective to the grant to ensure the highest performance measures and inform project prioritization during the Ames Connect 2050 Long Range Plan update. The Committee discussed strategic direction, variability, infrastructure projects, interventions, and demographic considerations before reviewing the impact of improved vehicle safety features. Moved by Betcher, seconded by Murken, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 25-113 setting 2050 as the target year for achieving zero fatal and serious injury crashes in the AAMPO's current planning area. Vote on Motion: 11-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Chair, and hereby made a portion of these Minutes. 3 POLICY COMMITTEE COMMENTS: With no comments from the Committee, Chair Haila took this opportunity to introduce the newest member of the AAMPO Transportation Policy Committee, Scott Longhorn, who represented the Boone County Board of Supervisors. ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Gartin, seconded by Murken, to adjourn the meeting at 6:34 p.m. Vote on Motion: 11-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. __________________________________ ____________________________________ Carly M. Watson, Deputy City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor __________________________________ Renee Hall, City Clerk