{"id":17496,"date":"2020-07-01T14:46:43","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T14:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmampo.org\/?p=17496"},"modified":"2023-06-20T20:12:34","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T20:12:34","slug":"metropolitan-planning-briefing-july-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmampo.org\/metropolitan-planning-briefing-july-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Metropolitan Planning Briefing — July 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Metropolitan Planning Briefing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

July 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this Briefing we unveil the MPO\u2019s 2020 Annual Report;<\/strong> offer updates on the Transload Facility<\/strong>, the Transportation Improvement Plan<\/strong>, and a new list of illustrative projects<\/strong>; and share a video for those missing the Tomorrow Plan Speaker Series<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ANNUAL REPORT: Delivering value to MPO members and region<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are pleased to present the FY2020 Annual Report<\/a>, highlighting our work over the past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report describes MPO investments in the region over the past five years, provides a snapshot of the state of the transportation system, and notes the progress made on several of the MPO\u2019s initiatives, including the Iowa Data Bike<\/a>, Transload Facility<\/a>, Central Iowa Water Trails<\/a>, and the Tomorrow Plan Speaker Series<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All in all, FY2020 was a productive year. We hope you check out the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TRANSLOAD FACILITY: Environmental Analysis Open for Public Comment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the MPO\u2019s signature initiatives \u2013 a long sought-after transloading facility at the center of the metro \u2013 is another important step closer to reality: An Environmental Analysis has been drafted and released for public comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo far the environmental analysis has not turned up any significant environmental impacts,\u201d said Todd Ashby, CEO and Executive Director of the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). \u201cBefore moving forward, we want to check in with the public to ensure we are not missing anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A transload facility serves to transfer raw goods from trucks to trains, and vice versa. The $25 million Des Moines Area Transloading Facility would include trackage, docks, and warehousing on a site that is uniquely situated in southeast Des Moines with access to two Class 1 railroads that span the country, as well as the regional Iowa Interstate Railroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MPO secured nearly $13 million for the project, including a $1.7 million interest-free loan from Iowa Department of Transportation, as well as an $11.2 million BUILD Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information and to comment on the Environmental Analysis, please visit dmampo.org\/transload-facility\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN: Open for Public Comment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) has been drafted and is currently out for public comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The TIP is a federally required document that needs to be updated each year. It is essentially a list of all of the transportation projects utilizing federal dollars that are being developed over the next four years. Developing the TIP for the Des Moines metropolitan area is one of the core functions of the Des Moines Area MPO, which it does as behalf of its member governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each year the public is invited to review the TIP and comment on it. Written comments for the MPO\u2019s TIP are being accepted through July 11. Click here to review the TIP and comment.<\/a> For more information on the projects, please call or email MPO staff at 515-334-0075 or info@dmampo.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ILLUSTRATIVE PROJECTS: What\u2019s possible, though not funded, in the future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Des Moines Area MPO is adding \u201cillustrative projects\u201d to its Long-Range Transportation Plan, Mobilizing Tomorrow<\/a><\/em>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are called illustrative projects because they have no funding currently identified for them \u2013 but are being added to show the public what possible improvements could be made to the region\u2019s transportation network in the future. The illustrative projects range from trail connections to new highways. Click here for the full list.<\/a> Notable examples include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n