AAMPO Long Range Transportation Plan Website

What is a Long Range Transportation Plan?
A Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is a document prepared by communities within a designated area that identifies transportation improvements necessary to accommodate existing and future needs.

Why prepare a LRTP?
A LRTP embodies the goals and values of the people and agencies that make up the metropolitan area by providing study participants an opportunity to review and comment on proposed improvements.

What is the duration of the LRTP?
The LRTP will identify transportation needs for the next 20 – 25 years. However, federal regulations require that it be updated every 5 years. Therefore, the next scheduled update will be the year 2010.

What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization and what has changed since the Ames Area became one?
A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is an entity identified by the Federal Government for communities that have reached a population of 50,000 or greater. It provides a way to coordinate Federal funds for projects such as transportation improvements and environmental cleanup efforts for communities with multiple jurisdictions and agencies. Being an MPO provides Ames and surrounding communities with an opportunity to qualify for more federal funding options for these types of improvements. It also requires the communities within the MPO to cooperate and coordinate their efforts to a greater degree than they have in the past.

What does the LRTP include and not include?
The LRTP includes a study of roadway, bicycle, pedestrian, and transit improvements to be incorporated within the Ames Area MPO for the next 20-25 years.
The LRTP does not include concerns such as: Traffic Signal Timing, Parking Regulations, Street Maintenance and Repair, Snow Removal Activities, Parks and Recreational Areas. Concerns about issues not addressed in the LRTP should be forwarded to the City of Ames , Public Works Department; 515-239-5160.

Why aren't some of the upcoming projects shown in the alternatives?
Some of the upcoming projects are not shown as alternatives because the funding is already in place for those projects.The following is a list of the projects that are already included in the Travel Demand Model:

West Lincoln Way widening to 3-lanes Thackery to City Limits
East Lincoln Way widening to 5-lanes from existing 4-lane to Dayton and widening to 3-lanes Dayton to I-35
US 69/Grand Avenue widening to 3-lanes Bloomington to 190th
Grand Avenue extension Lincoln Way to South 4th (Connects to Squaw Creek Drive)
Dayton Avenue extension 3-lanes
South 16th widening Elwood Drive to K-Mart drive 4-lane

How does the study team determine which projects will be recommended to be in the LRTP?
The analysis includes a three-step screening process. Initially the study team gathers as much information as possible about current and future transportation needs and identifies a “universe of alternatives” to address them. These alternatives come from a number of sources including the previous LRTP, agency recommendations, citizen comments and technical analysis by the consultants. After the universe of alternatives is identified, each alternative is subjected to broad evaluation criteria to determine if it is feasible and accomplishes the LRTP’s goals and objectives. Projects that are deemed not feasible are removed from further consideration. The projects that remain are subjected to more detailed evaluation criteria and further refined to understand impacts and to develop cost estimates. After the second level screening, the projects that remain may be a part of the LRTP pending a financial analysis to confirm that they can be paid for with the anticipated local, state and federal funds over the next 20-25 years.

Who determines what projects will be included in the LRTP?
The day to day activities of the study team are overseen by the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee of the MPO. The MPO Policy Board will have final approval authority for the recommended improvements in the LRTP.

Which projects were selected as ones "you want included in the Long Range Transportation Plan" at the 2nd Public Meeting? (based on the comments forms received that evening)

Project # 2: Grand Avenue Extension - Lincoln Way to Squaw Creek Drive
Project # 3: Grand Avenue Extension - South 5th Street to South 16th Street
Project #16: 13th Street/Grand Avenue Intersection Improvements
Project #28: SE 16th Street Reconstruction
Project #33: 20th Street/Grand Avenue Intersection Improvements
Project #22: Bloomington Road Extension - Grand Avenue to I-35, received a significant number of votes but the number of YES and NO votes was equal.

Which projects were selected as the ones "you do NOT want included in the Long Range Transportation Plan" at the 2nd Public Meeting? (based on the comments forms received that evening)

Project # 21: Blomington Road Extension - GW Carver Ave and 500th Ave
Project # 26: North Dakota/UPRR Crossing Grade Separation
Project # 27: 20th Street Extension from Ames High School to 24th Street
Project # 39: North Dakota Widening from UPRR to Onion Creek Lane
Project #22: Bloomington Road Extension - Grand Avenue to I-35, received a significant number of votes but the number of YES and NO votes was equal.

Will pedestrian and bicycle access be addressed? If so, how?
Pedestrian and bicycle facilities are included in the LRTP. The study team will review existing facilities, meet with appropriate agencies and groups, identify deficiencies and make recommendations to improve existing facilities and add new ones.

How does the LRTP address public transit?
Public transit is an important part of the transportation system in Ames and will be a significant part of the LRTP. The LRTP will look at existing routes and services and suggest ways to improve transit use. The LRTP may also include recommendations for inter-city bus routes to Gilbert, Boone and Des Moines .

How are projected traffic counts and patterns determined?
Future traffic projections are determined by the use of a Travel Demand Model. The model is calibrated using today’s population, land use, street network and travel characteristics. The model is then used to predict future traffic volumes using a future land use plan and street network for a particular planning year. In this case, traffic projections for the year 2030 will be developed.

Who determines what the future land use will be?
Future land use is determined by the City of Ames Planning Department through the adopted Land Use Policy Plan.

How will we know if the LRTP’s goals and objectives are met?
The goals and objectives are the guiding principles for development of the LRTP. Wherever possible, these goals and objectives will be translated into objective evaluation criteria that can be measured. In some cases, that is not possible and it is then up to the agency members and elected officials to make decisions regarding which projects best meet the goals and objectives.

How does the LRTP address freight and truck traffic?
An important objective of the LRTP is to accommodate commercial truck traffic by providing facilities suitable for their use. The LRTP will review existing truck routes and industrial sites to identify locations where truck traffic is high. Recommended improvements for these areas will be designed to accommodate larger vehicles.

How are environmental and historic features considered in the planning process?
The criteria used to evaluate each potential improvement in the LRTP will include impacts to environmental and historic resources. In many cases, these resources are protected by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and can effect whether or not a project is feasible.

What information was presented at the August public meeting?
The public meeting on August 4, 2005, focused on the projects that are being recommended to be part of the Long Range Transportation Plan. The meeting included a discussion as to how potential transit improvements, as well as additional pedestrian/bicycle facilities will be integrated into the overall recommendations. More information from the meeting can be found on the Meetings page.

What is the next step after the LRTP is complete?
After the LRTP is completed it must be approved by the MPO’s Policy Board, which represents the agencies that make up the MPO. Once it is approved by the Policy Board, the City of Ames , Planning Commission and City Council will also need to approve its recommendations.

A citizen opinion survey was conducted in September and October 2004 as part of the LRTP. How is information from that survey being used?
The survey provided useful information regarding the opinions of Ames area residents on deficiencies in the transportation system as well as areas where there is general satisfaction with the system. The survey helped to pinpoint locations within the metropolitan area where transit service and pedestrian facilities need to be improved. It also helped identify streets and intersections where people have the most concerns about safety and congestion.

Will the survey be used for anything other than the LRTP?
City officials will be using the survey to identify things that can be done immediately to improve the transportation system. Issues such as signal timing, street maintenance and parking were mentioned in the survey and can be addressed immediately.

Who is the Citizens Advisory Committee and what is their role?
The Citizens Advisory Committee is made up of people who have indicated an interest in transportation projects within the Ames area. They include bicycle enthusiasts, Cy-ride users, business people and elected officials. The purpose of the Citizens Advisory Committee is to obtain a diverse cross section of opinions about various transportation issues. A key responsibility of the committee is to advise the study team on ways to improve the public involvement process.

If you have additional questions please go to the Submit a Comment link.
Thank you for your participation!