The Des Moines Area MPO strives to provide members of the media with timely, relevant and fact-based information, analysis, data and maps to help elevate the community conversation about the current status and future of Greater Des Moines.
Media Resources
The Des Moines Area MPO is a rich source of information about Greater Des Moines, and its staff seeks to make that information readily available to members of the media. The MPO can provide the following resources to media:
- Documents
- Data
- Customized maps
- Neighborhood-level demographic information
Areas of Expertise
The MPO has expertise and in-depth knowledge of the following subject areas, especially relating specifically to Greater Des Moines:
- Planning
- Regional Sustainability
- Transportation
- Land Use
- Water Trails
- Watershed Management Authorities
- Transportation
- Active Surface Transportation Projects
- The regions’s short- and long-term term plans for improving the transportation system
- Conditions of existing transportation assets such as roads and bridge
- Complete Streets
- Multimodal Studies
- Bicycle & Pedestrian
Media Contact
Gunnar Olson | Communications and Strategy Manager
The primary spokesperson and media contact for the Des Moines Area MPO is Communications and Strategy Manager Gunnar Olson. A former journalist with The Des Moines Register, Olson aims to respond to all media inquiries quickly and comprehensively. Members of the media are invited to call or email him whenever working on stories relating directly to the MPO or on matters related to the MPO’s areas of expertise.
Email: golson@dmampo.org
Phone: 515-334-0075
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gunnarbolson
Twitter: @gunnarbolson
Press Releases
May 2020
May 4, 2020 — Online Public Meeting Opens for Des Moines River Activation and Possible Dam Modification Project
April 2020
April 20, 2020 — MPO announces project funding to advance regional goals
February 2020
February 27, 2020 — Public asked to help decide which local transportation projects to fund
December 2019
December 13, 2019 — Survey asks what Des Moines area residents think of e-scooters
November 2019
November 7, 2019 — $25 Million BUILD Grant Announced for Central Iowa Water Trails
September 2019
September 26, 2019 — Public asked for feedback on Long-Range Transportation Plan
July 2019
July 30, 2019 — Speaker Katharine Burgess _ Harvesting the Value of Water
April 2019
April 29, 2019 — MPO funding announced for projects advancing regional goals
February 2019
February 5, 2019 — Public asked to help decide which local transportation projects to fund
December 2018
December 12, 2018 — Transload Facility receives $11.2 million BUILD grant from U.S. DOT
December 12, 2018 — Economic Impact Study_Water Trails will bring tens of millions of dollars to region annually
October 2018
October 22, 2018 — Speaker Rue Mapp: Where Black People and Nature Meet
September 2018
September 19, 2018 — Speaker James Chung: Next frontiers for a standout city
June 2018
June 7, 2018 — Public invited to hear ‘The Dam Plan’
May 2018
May 4, 2018 — MPO funding announced for projects advancing regional goals
March 2018
March 26, 2018 — Partners bring internationally renowned resiliency trainer to Greater Des Moines
March 15, 2018 — Speaker Jason Roberts says Better Blocks start with residents
January 2018
January 16, 2018 — Public asked to help decide which local transportation projects to fund
October 2017
October 25, 2017 — Des Moines Area MPO recognized nationally for Outstanding Overall Achievement
October 6, 2017 — Des Moines Area MPO recognized with five statewide awards
September 2017
September 27, 2017 — Expert Don Shoup to talk “Parkability: The Price and Politics of Parking”
September 25, 2017 — The Dam Debate III, regional open houses announced for Water Trails Engineering Study
September 14, 2017 — Speaker says form-based zoning is quicker for developers, better for communities
August 2017
August 29, 2017 — Federal review find Des Moines Area MPO is a national model, setting best practices
June 2017
June 30, 2017 — With fund-raising complete, Water Trails Engineering Study gets underway
June 29, 2017 — New online tool lets companies find empty containers and save on shipping
June 8, 2017 — MPO funding announced for projects advancing regional goals
June 7, 2017 — Rick Tollakson recognized nationally for regional leadership on water trails
May 2017
May 22, 2017 — Iowa Data Bike looks out for future of paved trails
May 18, 2017 — Report Central Iowa trails busiest in May – Bike Month
May 3, 2017 — Planners’ Bike Ride and Iowa Data Bike Unveiling
March 2017
March 23, 2017 — Speaker says housing could make or break future of Greater Des Moines_ economy
January 2017
January 23, 2017 — With $75,000 grant, pilot project seeks to improve health with walkable schools
January 5, 2017 — Public asked to help decide which transportation projects to fund
December 2016
December 1, 2016 — Speaker Daniel Parolek makes case for “Missing Middle Housing”
November 2016
November 3, 2016 — Speaker David Fields says walkability needs to extend beyond downtown
October 2016
October 31, 2016 — With Complete Streets projects, cities invite healthful use by active people
September 2016
September 15, 2016 — Speaker Gabe Klein: ‘Start-Up’ cities can get projects done quickly
September 6. 2016 — Public-invited-to-drive-electric-dsm-car-show
August 2016
August 11, 2016 — Altoona commits to designing streets for all users with new policy
August 4, 2016 — Supervisor Angela Connolly recognized nationally for leadership
July 2016
July 20, 2016 — Detailed plan finalized to improve Walnut Creek and Walnut Creek Watershed Plan Fact Sheet
July 8, 2016 — Public invited to presentations on draft water trails plan
June 2016
June 27, 2016 — Urbandale’s Complete Streets policy commits to designing streets for all users
June 23, 2016 — The Dam Debate II: Bring river recreation to downtown Des Moines?
June 13, 2016 — Draft recommendations – Develop abundant regional network of river recreation
June 3, 2016 — Paddling professor to give talk on wildlife of urban waterways
May 2016
May 23, 2016 — Residents asked to participate in travel survey for Greater Des Moines
May 17, 2016 — MPO funding announced for projects advancing regional goals
April 2016
April 29, 2016 — Midwest mayors discuss the politics and payoff of walkability
April 15, 2016 — Public invited to wade into ‘The Dam Debate’
March 2016
March 16, 2016 — Public workshops: What do you want to do on rivers of Greater Des Moines?
March 16, 2016 — Pleasant Hill’s new Complete Streets policy commits to designing streets for all users
March 8, 2016 — Maureen Collins kicks off speaker series with talk on sharing economy
March 3, 2016 — International praise for Greater Des Moines’ effort for more sustainable development
February 2016
February 16, 2016 — New ‘State of the Rivers’ Report finds great potential for river recreation in region
January 2016
January 12, 2016 — Greater Des Moines is one of seven U.S. regions selected for national academy
January 8, 2016 — Watershed plan will aim to improve Walnut Creek
January 6, 2016 — River history series kicks off as part of water trails regional planning effort
January 5, 2016 — Public asked to help decide which local transportation projects to fund
December 2015
December 3, 2015 — $75,000 in grants awarded to Complete Streets projects
November 2015
November 17, 2015 — Metro improves on some, not all, measures of transportation performance
October 2015
October 22, 2015 — Supervisor Angela Connolly recognized nationally for leadership
October 22, 2015 — MPO Executive Director Todd Ashby recognized nationally for leadership
October 8, 2015 — Explore upcoming metro transportation projects on new online map
September 2015
September 30, 2015 — Help shape future of Walnut Creek at Oct. 7 open house
September 15, 2015 — Public meeting set for proposed changes to long-range transportation plan
September 10, 2015 — Explore aquatic wildlife of Des Moines River at special event
September 3, 2015 — Report shows 16 impediments to freight in and out of Greater Des Moines
August 2015
August 18, 2015 — Grants now available for projects making streets safer for all users
August 5, 2015 — Artwork ‘Wading Bridge,’ pulled early, showed dynamics of the river
July 2015
July 22, 2015 — ‘Wading Bridge’ invites people to reconnect with the river
July 9, 2015 — Paddling and pontoon tours feature Des Moines River history
July 8, 2015 — With new policy, Windsor Heights commits to designing streets for all users
July 1, 2015 — Auto crashes causing death or injury have declined in Greater Des Moines
June 2015
June 8, 2015 — Once a ‘gap,’ High Trestle Trail Bridge is now top spot of 600 miles of trails
May 2015
May 28, 2015 — Region starts conversation on future of waterways
May 19, 2015 — Public invited to an art unveiling to kick off water trails plan
May 13, 2015 — How development patterns impact West Des Moines’ budget
May 7, 2015 — Metro housing less affordable when transportation factored
April 2015
April 30, 2015 — MPO funding announced for projects advancing regional goals
April 20, 2015 — Open house for Walnut Creek Watershed on April 29
April 2, 2015 — 2050 Forecast – Population of 750,000 is older, more diverse
March 2015
March 24, 2015 — The Tomorrow Plan 2015 Speakers Series Announced
March 5, 2015 — 45 metro bridges deemed structurally deficient
February 2015
February 9, 2015 — Public asked to help decide which local transportation projects get MPO funding
February 2, 2015 — Metro road conditions will worsen at current funding levels
January 2015
January 26, 2015 — Twenty local governments support more state transportation funding
January 21, 2015 — Walnut Creek gets new Watershed Management Authority
December 2015
December 10, 2014 — Des Moines Metro Driving Less
October 2014
October 6, 2014 — MPO Extends Public Comment Timeline for Long Range Transportation Plan
September 2014
September 9, 2014 — Des Moines Area Study Recommends More Movement of Goods by Rail
August 2014
August 27, 2014 — MPO Board Adopts On-Street Feasibility Study
Public Records Requests
The Des Moines Area MPO is a government entity and, as such, subject to open records laws. To make a records request, please call or email communications manager Gunnar Olson at 515-334-0075 or golson@dmampo.org.