METROPOLITAN PLANNING BRIEFING
February 2019
Greetings. This is your redesigned update from the MPO, part of ongoing efforts to improve communications and showcase the value that the MPO brings to its member governments and the Greater Des Moines region.
While we will continue to highlight actions from the latest MPO Policy Committee meetings, we are broadening the content to include other notable activities or items of interest. Additionally, we have begun publishing these updates, now called Metropolitan Planning Briefings, on the website, dmampo.org.
Like what you see? Think we should be doing something differently? We’d love to hear your feedback.
Gunnar
Gunnar Olson | Communications Manager
p. 515.334.0075 | e. golson@dmampo.org | w. www.dmampo.org | t. @gunnarbolson
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: MPO Grant Applications
The Des Moines Area MPO is asking for public feedback on which local transportation projects they would like to see receive federal funding in FFY2023. The public can find project descriptions and an interactive map of the 20 projects online at www.dmampo.org/public-participation/ and leave comments on the site now through Friday, February 15. Comments can also be shared at a public meeting from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 12, at the MPO office, 420 Watson Powell, Jr. Way, Suite 200, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Twenty projects are under consideration, ranging from roadways, bridges and transit buses to trails, safe routes to school and on-street facilities. More than $25 million has been requested from the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, as well as the Surface Transportation Block Grant Set-Aside Program, which combined have a approximately $13 million in available funding. Both grant programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and administered by the MPO.
NEW EMPLOYEE: Welcome Sreyoshi Chakraborty
The Des Moines Area MPO this month welcomed its newest team member, Sreyoshi Chakraborty.
Sreyoshi is a planner with more than 10 years of experience in transportation and land-use planning. Sreyoshi has a bachelor’s degree in Planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (India), and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Iowa. Sreyoshi’s interest and expertise lies in helping communities plan for and provide transportation choices to people from all walks of life. She has previously worked for the City of Fort Collins, Colorado, and the Cheyenne (Wyoming) MPO.
At the Des Moines Area MPO, she is responsible for overseeing active transportation planning, as well as the development of the Transportation Improvement Program. She can be reached at 515-334-0075 or schakraborty@dmampo.org.
POLICY COMMITTEE: January 2019
The latest Policy Committee meeting was held Thursday, January 17. You can find the full agenda HERE and the full presentation HERE. Topics include the Surface Transportation Block Grant applications, the Priority Project List for the Annual DC Trip, and an Environmental Justice Report.
IN THE NEWS: Noteworthy MPO Mentions
The Des Moines Register: Here are the top 5 priorities for Iowa’s largest economic development group in 2019, which includes two MPO initiatives – water trails and the transload facility
Des Moines Business Record: Kunert to chair Partnership;’19 goals unveiled
The Des Moines Register: $15.6 million railroad facility opens Des Moines to global markets
Des Moines Business Record: Des Moines receives $11.2 million federal grant for rail-truck transload facility