HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Hearing on amendment to the FFY 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement ProgramITEM #:2
DATE:01-27-26
DEPT:AAMPO
SUBJECT:FFY 2026-2029 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
AMENDMENT
TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
On January 13, 2026, The Ames Area MPO (AAMPO) Transportation Policy Committee
set a hearing date for January 27, 2026 regarding the proposed Transportation
Improvement Plan (TIP) amendment. A 10-day public comment period was held and no
comments were received by staff.
The following information is the same as what was included for the January 13
meeting:
The AAMPO’s current Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) contains federal-aid
projects programmed for federal fiscal years 2026 through 2029 and was adopted on July 8,
2025. The TIP may be amended as outlined below:
Steps for TIP Amendment
1. Request for amendment(s) by member agency or MPO staff
2. Recommendation by the Transportation Technical Committee
3. Initial review by Transportation Policy Committee; Setting of public hearing date
4. Minimum 10-day public comment period
5. Public hearing and final approval by Transportation Policy Committee
The AAMPO has recently received two separate requests to amend the FFY 2026-2029 TIP.
IOWA DOT REQUEST:
The Iowa DOT previously awarded over $16.2M in federal National Electric Vehicle
Infrastructure (NEVI) funds to various private entities to install 28 new electric vehicle (EV)
direct current fast-charging (DCFC) stations along Iowa's interstates. All awarded sites can be
viewed at the following link: https://iowadot.gov/media/2661/download?inline
One of the awarded EV charging station sites is located within the Ames Area MPO's
(AAMPO) boundary (see Attachment A for map). On November 11, 2025, the Iowa DOT
submitted a request to the AAMPO to amend the FFY 2026-2029 Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) in order for the IDOT to program the project so it may
access the NEVI funds and proceed with construction.
1
The amendment to the TIP would include programming the following new project:
Project: Iowa National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program Implementation: I-35
Exit 113.
TPMS ID: 58122
Funding ID: NEVI-E035(113)--9Q-24
Sponsor: Iowa DOT
Location: 2601 E 13th St, Ames, IA (see Attachment A)
Funding Amount: $803,000 ($578,160 = NEVI | $224,840 = Private Funds)
Funding Year: FFY 2026
It should be noted that since this project is using private funds for the required local
matching funds, and the NEVI funds were awarded directly by the Iowa DOT, this
amendment has no financial impact on the City of Ames or any federal funds awarded
by the AAMPO to its member agencies.
CYRIDE REQUEST:
CyRide programmed 38 total buses in FFY 2026 and FFY 2027 to compete for federal funding
in the FFY 2026-2029 TIP. The Iowa DOT’s 2026 Programming Guidance was utilized as a
planning tool to program appropriate federal funding levels for those buses into the TIP.
However, the Iowa DOT’s guidance quickly became outdated, and those funding levels are
now insufficient to cover the rapidly rising costs of buses. When the federal funding
programmed is insufficient, it is up to the local transit agency to cover the excess cost
with 100% local funds.
After the Iowa DOT was alerted to recent purchasing challenges by CyRide and other Iowa
transit agencies, it released updated transit programming guidance on January 6, 2026, which
accurately reflects the increased cost of buses. On that same day, CyRide submitted a
request to the AAMPO for an amendment to the TIP in order modify the funding levels
for the 38 buses programmed in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to reflect the updated
programming guidance from the Iowa DOT and ensure each bus is federally funded at a
more accurate level.
The amendment to the TIP would include updating CyRide’s programmed bus projects
as follows:
Update #1
Project: Heavy-Duty Diesel Bus (40-42 ft.)
TPMS IDs (30 buses): 11466, 11467, 11468, 11469, 11470, 11471, 11472, 11473, 11474,
11475, 11485, 11908, 11909, 11974, 11975, 11976, 11978, 11979, 11980, 11981, 11982,
11983, 11984, 11985, 11986, 11987, 11988, 11989, 11990, 11991
Sponsor: Ames Transit Agency (CyRide)
Funding Amount (per bus): $1,058,600 ($899,810 = FTA 5339 | $158,790 = CyRide Local)
2
Funding Year: FFY 2026
Update #2
Project: Heavy-Duty Articulated Bus (60 ft.)
TPMS IDs (2 buses): 11476, 11477
Sponsor: Ames Transit Agency (CyRide)
Funding Amount (per bus): $1,477,732 ($1,256,072 = 5339 | $221,660 = CyRide Local)
Funding Year: FFY 2026
Update #3
Project: Heavy-Duty Diesel Bus (40-42 ft.)
TPMS IDs (6 buses): 11999, 12000, 12001, 12002, 12003, 12004
Sponsor: Ames Transit Agency (CyRide)
Funding Amount (per bus): $1,160,840 ($986,714 = 5339 | $174,126 = CyRide Local)
Funding Year: FFY 2027
It should be noted that transit projects are programmed separately from roadway and
bicycle/pedestrian projects and utilize separate funding sources. Therefore, CyRide’s
amendment request will have no impact on the availability of federal funds awarded by
the AAMPO to its member agencies.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the amendment to the FFY 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program
(TIP).
2. Only approve the Iowa DOT's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) amendment
request.
3. Only approve CyRide's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) amendment request.
4. Do not approve an amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
MPO DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The Transportation Technical Committee and Transportation Policy Committee have
each reviewed both TIP amendment requests, and staff received no comments during
the 10-day public comment period. The Iowa DOT has requested this amendment so
that their project can access the awarded NEVI funds and proceed on schedule, and
CyRide's requested changes will allow them to more accurately reflect the rapidly
increasing bus procurement costs and match the newly updated Iowa DOT
programming guidance. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the MPO Director that the
Transportation Policy Committee adopt Alternative No. 1, as noted above.
ATTACHMENT(S):
A - Project Location Map.pdf
3