HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - June 17, 2025, Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) Transportation Policy Committee1
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES
AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE
AMES, IOWA JUNE 17, 2025
The Special Meeting of the Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) was
called to order by Ames Mayor and voting member John Haila at 6:00 p.m. on the 17th day
of June 2025, in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law.
Other voting members present were: Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, City of Ames; Amber Corrieri,
City of Ames; Tim Gartin, City of Ames; Rachel Junck, City of Ames; and Anita Rollins, City
of Ames. Gloria Betcher, City of Ames, and Linda Murken, Story County Board of
Supervisors, joined the meeting electronically. Ex officio Emily Boland was absent.
AMES CONNECT 2050 AND COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ACTION PLAN WORKSHOP:
Transportation Planner Kyle Thompson, along with consultants Jonathan Markt and Jason
Carbee provided an overview of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and
Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP). Consultant Carbee explained that the
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is required to update the transportation plan every
5 years, looking out at least 20 years to 2050. The plan was multimodal, covering bicycle,
pedestrian, vehicular, freight, and transit modes. It aims to identify specific strategies and
projects, including a fiscally constrained project list for distributing federal transportation
funds.
Consultant Markt elaborated on the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP), which
would be funded by the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The intent was to help
communities do comprehensive safety planning and become eligible for future US
Department of Transportation (DOT) grant opportunities to implement projects aimed at
reducing serious injuries and fatalities on roads.
The presenters outlined the schedule, noting that the process began about a year ago and
is currently in draft recommendation phase. They discussed the engagement milestones
and technical analysis that informed the plan. Consultant Carbee then presented the five
goal areas identified for the transportation system: accessibility and connectivity, safety,
sustainability, efficiency and reliability, and placemaking/quality of life. He mentioned that a
detailed technical analysis was conducted, covering various aspects such as safety, traffic
operations, asset conditions, bicycle and pedestrian connections, freight movement, transit,
and environmental considerations.
The community engagement program was detailed by Consultant Carbee, which aligned the
MTP and CSAP to avoid duplicative meetings. Two main milestones of engagement were
conducted which identified community issues and opportunities and gathering feedback on
potential solutions. He then presented the safety analysis. It identified eight key contributing
factors to severe crashes: distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, and age -based
metrics. Consultant Carbee noted that the analysis allows for a more holistic understanding
of crash factors beyond road conditions. He also discussed future projections for population
growth highlighting that it aligned with Ames 2040 Plan.
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Consultant Markt reviewed a map of high-priority corridors comprising over 75% of
fatalities/serious injuries, noting these may be candidates for near -term investment.
Consultant Carbee then presented the draft recommendations for the MTP, including short-
term, mid-term, and long-term projects. He explained the prioritization process and how
projects were scored against various goals and objectives.
Draft project recommendations, including management projects (e.g. access changes, turn
lanes), potential new interchanges/roads, and bicycle/pedestrian projects aligned with the
Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan were explained by Consultant Carbee . He highlighted the
prioritization process, which based on how well they align with goals/objectives, and
presented the draft recommended plan, with projects bucketed into short-term (2030-2035),
mid-term (2036-2042) and long-term (2043-2050) timeframes. This included both street
projects and bicycle/pedestrian projects. He noted that the recommendations aimed to align
available federal/local funding with highest priority needs. Transportation Planner Thompson
clarified that the MPO received about $2 million annually in Surface Transportation Block
Grant funds and $200,000 in Transportation Alternatives Program funds. Projects were
selected and timed based on these anticipated funding levels.
The Committee members engaged in questions with the presenters. The Committee did not
take any formal action. Staff planned to return with a draft document for review and approval
at the July 29th meeting.
POLICY COMMITTEE COMMENTS: None.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Rollins, seconded by Corrieri, to adjourn the meeting at 7:36 p.m.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Renee Hall, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor