HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - January 13, 2026, Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) Transportation Policy Committee Minutes
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
AMES AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (AAMPO)
TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE
AMES, IOWA JANUARY 13, 2026
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 6:00 p.m. on the 13th day of January, 2026. Other voting
members present were: Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, City of Ames; Gloria Betcher, City
of Ames; Amber Corrieri, City of Ames; Tim Gartin, City of Ames; Anita Rollins, City
of Ames; Erich Kretzinger, Boone County Board of Supervisors; and Linda Murken,
Story County Board of Supervisors. Rachel Junck, City of Ames, and Emily Boland,
Ames Transit Agency Board of Trustees, joined the meeting electronically.
CONSENT AGENDA: Moved by Murken, seconded by Betcher, to approve the
consent agenda.
1. Motion approving Minutes of the Regular Ames Area Metropolitan
Planning Organization Transportation Policy Committee Meeting on
September 23, 2025
2. RESOLUTION NO. 26-035 adopting updated Transit Asset Management
(TAM) targets
Vote on Motion: 10-0. Motions/Resolutions declared carried/adopted unanimously,
signed by the Chair, and hereby made a portion of these Minutes.
HEARING FOR AMENDMENT TO THE FFY 2026-2029 TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM: Transportation Planner Kyle Thompson, alongside
Public Works Director Justin Clausen and Transit Director Barb Neal, provided an
overview of the amendment request for the Transportation Improvement Program
(TIP). Planner Thompson reviewed that the AAMPO had received two separate
requests: one from the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and another from
CyRide. He explained that the TIP was a four-year program that included all federally
funded transportation projects in the MPO area, similar to a Capital Improvement Plan
but specifically for federal transportation projects in the region. He noted that the TIP
could be amended between annual updates if requested by an agency.
For the first request, Planner Thompson detailed that the Iowa DOT had previously
awarded approximately $16 million in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI)
funds to various private entities to install electric vehicle charging stations along Iowa's
interstates. One of these sites was within the MPO boundary on East 13th Street at the
Quality Inn property. Since these were federally sourced funds, the project needed to
be included in the TIP. Planner Thompson emphasized that this project used state-
awarded funds with private matching funds and had no impact on local funding or the
MPO's federal programs.
Council Member Gartin asked about the decision-making process for selecting
charging station locations. Planner Thompson explained that private entities submitted
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applications to the Iowa DOT, which then made awards similar to other projects. He
noted that the specific on-site placement of charging stations would still go through
review with the Planning Department.
For the second request, Planner Thompson explained that CyRide had 38 buses
programmed in the TIP between fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The Iowa DOT recently
released updated programming guidance reflecting the rapid increase in bus
procurement costs. CyRide's request aimed to update the programming to match this
new guidance, ensuring adequate federal funding levels for the buses. If the federal
funding was not adequate, a local match would be needed to make up the difference.
Planner Thompson clarified that this adjustment had no impact on the MPO's federal
funding programs for roads or bicycle projects, as the transit system had different
funding sources.
Council Member Gartin inquired about the stability of federal transportation funding.
Planner Thompson responded that formula funds like Surface Transportation Block
Grants (STBG) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) that the MPO receives
had remained stable, while some competitive national grants had been changing
names but generally maintaining similar funding levels. Transit Director Neal confirmed
this assessment.
Moved by Murken, seconded by Rollins, to set January 27, 2026, as date of Public
Hearing for amendment to the FFY 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program.
Vote on Motion: 10-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
POLICY COMMITTEE COMMENTS: None.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Murken, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to adjourn the
meeting at 6:07 p.m.
Vote on Motion: 10-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
______________________________ ________________________________
Taylor Swanson, Deputy City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
______________________________
Renee Hall, City Clerk