HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - May 26, 2026, Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) Transportation Policy Committee Minutes1
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
AMES AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (AAMPO)
TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE
AMES, IOWA MAY 26, 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 6:02 p.m. on the 26th day of May, 2026. 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; Erich Kretzinger, Boone County Board
of Supervisors; and Linda Murken, Story County Board of Supervisors. Anita Rollins, City
of Ames, joined the meeting electronically.
CONSENT AGENDA: Moved by Corrieri, seconded by Murken, to approve the Consent
Agenda.
1. Motion approving Minutes of the Regular Ames Area Metropolitan Planning
Organization Transportation Policy Committee Meeting on March 24, 2026
2. Motion setting June 9, 2026, as date of public hearing for amendment to the
FFY 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program
3. Motion approving Draft FFY 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program
and setting July 14, 2026, as date of public hearing
4. Motion setting July 14, 2026, as date of public hearing for amendment to the
Public Participation Plan
5. Motion recommending Ames City Council approval of Professional Services
Agreement with Toole Design Group, LLC of Minneapolis, Minnesota for
creation of a Safe Routes to School Plan in an amount not to exceed $60,000
Vote on Motion: 8-0. Motions declared carried unanimously.
DRAFT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS (TSMO)
PLAN: Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Director Justin Clausen and
Transportation Planner Kyle Thompson presented the Transportation System
Management and Operations (TSMO) Plan, alongside consultants from Olsson. Director
Clausen noted that the plan was a framework document that was distinctly different from
typical MPO plans. He highlighted that the MPO itself did not own or operate any
transportation infrastructure, so the plan did not contain specific capital projects or
mandates. Rather, it established a regional coordination framework that member
agencies could use to improve day-to-day operational practices. Director Clausen
provided an example of the Interstate 35 closure plan, which the Iowa Department of
Transportation (DOT) developed in coordination with Story County Emergency
Management, Story County Secondary Roads, the City of Ames, and Iowa State Patrol,
showcasing how regional coordination could handle an emergency efficiently and
reflecting the potential impact of a well-implemented TSMO plan.
Transportation Planner Thompson outlined the development process of the plan, noting
that it drew upon two primary inputs. The first was a review of existing plans including the
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Long-Range Transportation Plan, City of Ames Walk Bike Roll Plan, and Comprehensive
Safety Action Plan. The second input was stakeholder engagement with member
agencies of the MPO, including the City of Ames, Iowa DOT, CyRide, Iowa State
University (ISU), InTrans, Emergency Services, and other regional partners. A
stakeholder survey identified traffic signal timing, transit use encouragement, and
emergency vehicle routing as the highest priorities. One-on-one meetings were also held
with most stakeholder groups.
Olsson TSMO Engineer Christina Thibodeau gave an overview of the plan, highlighting
Program Management, Mobility and Multimodal Operations, Event Management, and
Technology and Infrastructure, as the four main components. Two subsidiary categories
of Emerging Technologies and Program Maintenance were also included. Each of these
sections included recommended activities to improve coordination between agencies.
The Program Management and Regional Coordination section addressed the framework
for inter-agency coordination, recommending the formation of an operations-focused
working group, integration of TSMO initiatives into project selection criteria, and workforce
development partnerships with ISU.
The Mobility and Multimodal Operations category focused on improving throughputs for
all users, prioritizing safety for vulnerable road users, and maintaining efficient
emergency response. Initiatives included supporting a coordinated signal timing program,
developing technology to detect and communicate blocked rail crossings, and
implementing transit signal priority or emergency vehicle preemption on high-priority
corridors.
Olsson Vice President Blake Hansen reviewed the Event Management portion of the
plan, which covered both planned events, such as work zones and special events, and
unplanned events, such as traffic incidents and inclement weather. Recommendations
included smart work zone technologies, coordinated public messaging across agencies,
game day management coordination, and improved incident response playbooks for
situations such as freeway closures that divert traffic to city streets.
The Technology and Infrastructure component addressed the foundational
communications networks, intelligent transportation systems, data sharing, and travel
information platforms. Vice President Hansen emphasized the value of sharing fiber
infrastructure and data across agencies to reduce costs and improve coverage.
The supplemental section on Emerging Technologies provided a vetting framework to
help the MPO evaluate and adopt new technologies in a measured, cost-effective way
appropriate for a mid-sized region.
Transportation Planner Thompson recapped that the TSMO plan was different from
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previous plans because it served as more of a framework rather than a list of specific
tasks. He emphasized that it was designed to be open-ended, allowing member agencies
to develop and enhance operational practices within the region. He summarized that the
draft plan was being presented for approval by the Committee, which would then be
followed by a public comment period and anticipated final adoption in July.
Committee Member Gartin inquired as to what benefit the plan would provide to the City.
Director Clausen explained that it provided a structured approach to regional coordination
that would reduce duplication of effort and optimize operational workflows, creating a
smoother and potentially more cost-effective transportation system. He offered the
example of snow and ice control policies, where the City, ISU, Story County, and Iowa
DOT each operate under different service level standards. The TSMO Plan provided the
framework to bring those parties together to align policies where jurisdictions intersect,
which was an ongoing effort that had never been formalized in this way.
Committee Member Murken observed that much of what appeared in the plan was
already being done informally. Director Clausen agreed, noting that a key function of the
plan was to formalize existing practices and create written documentation so that
institutional knowledge could be preserved even if agencies experienced turnover in
personnel.
Moved by Gartin, seconded by Murken, to approve the Draft Transportation System
Management and Operations (TSMO) Plan and set July 14, 2026, as date of public
hearing.
Vote on Motion: 8-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
HEARING ON FY 2027 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING WORK PROGRAM:
Transportation Planner Thompson presented the final version of the FY 2027
Transportation Planning Work Program, noting that the draft had been brought forward at
the March 24, 2026, meeting and had since undergone a public comment period and
review by state and federal partners. Minor revisions had been made to budget tables in
response to Iowa DOT comments. The substantive change from the draft was an
adjustment to the northern limits of the South Dayton Avenue Corridor Study, which were
extended northward to include Southeast 5th Street in order to fully capture potential truck
traffic associated with the new Resource Recovery Center.
Mayor Haila opened and closed the Public Hearing when no one came forward to speak.
Moved by Junck, seconded by Kretzinger, to approve the Final FY 2027 Transportation
Planning Work Program.
Vote on Motion: 8-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE COMMENTS: Council Member Gartin acknowledged that meetings often
address complex subjects that can be difficult for the public to connect to tangible
outcomes, and thanked staff for their work in improving community transportation
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services.
Mayor Haila added that the TSMO Plan and related work was supported by a region-wide
technical committee involving Iowa DOT and other partners, and extended thanks to
those agencies as well.
Committee Member Murken raised a question regarding a roundabout project at the
intersection of Hyde Avenue and 190th Street, an area experiencing significant new
residential development within the City of Ames corporate limits but served by the Gilbert
School District. She noted that consultants working on Story County’s Comprehensive
Safety Action Plan had recommended a roundabout at that location but that it had not
been included in their plan because that intersection fell within the City’s Comprehensive
Safety Action Plan. However, she had recently discovered that the intersection did not
appear in the City’s plan either, which limited access to Safe Streets for All grant funding.
She inquired as to what plan the project would be included in and what the timeline and
funding source would be. Transportation Planner Thompson explained that the Safety
Action Plan was an MPO plan, not a City of Ames plan, and confirmed that the intersection
was not included. He reported that the intersection was identified as a short-term project
in the MPO’s Long-Range Transportation Plan, with an earliest potential construction
window of FY 2030–2031, and that the pathway to MPO funding would be a joint
application submitted by Story County and the City of Ames during an annual MPO
Surface Transportation Block Grant application window.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Kretzinger, seconded by Murken, to adjourn the meeting at
6:32 p.m.
Vote on Motion: 8-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
______________________________ ______________________________
Taylor Swanson, Deputy City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
______________________________
Renee Hall, City Clerk