The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) today announces nearly $14 million in grant awards for 21 projects around Greater Des Moines.

The MPO grants support a wide variety of projects. Some expand system capacity, such as the Southeast Connector, a street widening in Ankeny, and an interstate interchange in Clive. Others improve existing infrastructure, with major road reconstruction projects in Altoona, Polk City, Urbandale, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights, as well as bridge improvements in Des Moines and Polk County.

The funding also supports multimodal transportation options, including new buses for the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), trail improvements in Altoona, Ankeny, Des Moines and Polk County. Two Safe Routes to School projects, in Norwalk and Waukee, were also funded.

“This has been another great cycle of grant awards,” said Joe Gatto, Des Moines City Council member and Chair of the MPO Policy Committee. “The region continues working together to build a regional transportation network with options for all residents.”

Through these projects, the MPO seeks to advances the region’s transportation goals: to manage and optimize existing transportation infrastructure and services, enhance multimodal transportation options, improve the region’s environmental health, and further the health, safety and well-being of all residents in the region.

The grants are available through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG) and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Set-Aside Program (STBG – Set Aside), which are funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and administered by the Des Moines Area MPO. The grant money becomes available for these projects in October 2024.

MPO staff scored the projects on how well they would help meet the regional performance measures established in Mobilizing Tomorrow. Additionally, the public provided comments and feedback on the proposed projects. This information was the basis for a recommendation to the MPO Policy Committee, which approved the funding on April 15.