MPO Extends Public Comment Timeline for Long Range Transportation Plan
Residents of Greater Des Moines can weigh in on how the region invests approximately $600 million in transportation over the next 35 years.
The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has extended the public comment period due to the addition and shift of future transportation projects included in the draft plan. The MPO seeks public comment on the draft Mobilizing Tomorrow, a long-range transportation plan that will guide the allocation of approximately $13 million in annual federal funding. The draft plan can be viewed on the MPO website found here.
“This is our chance as a region to address critical regional transportation issues such as maintenance of an aging system and challenges facing changing demographic needs our citizens, and we want to hear what people have to say about how we invest federal transportation dollars,” said Todd Ashby, Executive Director of the Des Moines Area MPO.
The MPO will host an additional public comment open house on Wednesday, October 29 from 4–6 p.m. at the MPO office located at 420 Watson Powell Jr. Parkway, Suite 200 in downtown Des Moines. Comments on the plan will be accepted through Wednesday, November 19 and can be emailed to info@dmampo.org. The MPO is scheduled to vote on the draft plan on November 20. Highlights of the plan are outlined in the attachment.
The long-range plan is significant due to the region’s steady growth in population, expected to increase from approximately 480,000 people today to 750,000 people by 2050. For the last year the MPO has worked with the 17-member governments to determine growth trends, model the needs of the future transportation network and outline trends in transportation planning. The federal government mandates that MPOs plan 20 or more years into the future and account for all regionally significant road, transit, freight, ITS, walking, biking and trail projects. The 2050 plan mirrors the goals and strategies outlined in the newly adopted The Tomorrow Plan.
About Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Acts as a regional forum to ensure coordination between the public and local, state, and federal agencies in regard to planning issues and to prepare transportation plans and programs. The MPO develops both long- and short-range multimodal transportation plans, selects and approves projects for federal funding based upon regional priorities, and develops methods to reduce traffic congestion.