{"id":21030,"date":"2022-07-08T13:57:25","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T13:57:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmampo.org\/?p=21030"},"modified":"2023-06-20T20:12:10","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T20:12:10","slug":"metropolitan-planning-briefing-july-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmampo.org\/metropolitan-planning-briefing-july-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Metropolitan Planning Briefing — July 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this Briefing you\u2019ll find updates on the 2022 MPO Annual Report<\/strong>, grant awards<\/strong>, the new economic development district<\/strong>, the transload facility<\/strong>, and water trails<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ANNUAL REPORT: \u2018MPO as investor, financial planner\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MPO today published its FY2022 Annual Report, highlighting its accomplishments of the past year and demonstrating its value to its member governments and the region at large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe like to think of the MPO as a kind of investor and financial planner whose focus is on bettering the future of Greater Des Moines,\u201d write MPO Chair Bob Andeweg and CEO Todd Ashby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report highlights not only the MPO\u2019s direct investments in transportation projects and the grants it has secured for regionally significant projects; additionally, the report focuses on staff preparations to position its members to leverage future funding opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to check out the 2022 MPO Annual Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MPO GRANTS: $16.5 million awarded to 13 metro projects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual allocation of federal funding by the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) this year included $16.5 million split among 13 projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here for a complete list of project awards.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grants went to a variety of projects. Some will address system capacity, such as pavement reconstruction in Grimes and West Des Moines,  a street widening in Ankeny, and an interstate interchange in Clive. Others improve existing infrastructure, with major road reconstruction projects in Altoona, Des Moines, Polk County, and Windsor Heights, as well as bridge improvements in Des Moines and Polk County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The funding also supports multimodal transportation options, including new buses for the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), as well as trail improvements in Ankeny, Des Moines, Polk County, and West Des Moines. A complete listing of funded projects is included below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grants are available through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG) and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Set-Aside Program (STBG \u2013 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 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT: MIPA has launched<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, staff at the MPO recognized a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the region \u2013 the establishment of an Economic Development District (EDD).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central Iowa had been the only region in the state without an EDD designation from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and it had been missing out on funding as a result. The region usually didn\u2019t qualify for the designation, but the pandemic disaster declaration provided a rare window of opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, two years later, the new EDD is a reality. MPO staff created a new organization, the Mid-Iowa Planning Alliance for Community Development (MIPA), which will serve member governments in Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Marion, Polk, Story and Warren Counties. As of this writing, MIPA\u2019s membership had reached 56 jurisdictions (of the 96 eligible). Collectively, the members represent more than 94 percent of the region\u2019s population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MIPA\u2019s primary role will be grant-seeking, grant-writing, and grant administration on behalf of its members. Additional services are available, as well. MIPA has a dedicated staff person, Senior Planner Caleb Knutson (cknutson@midiowaplanning.org<\/a> or 515-334-0075). Feel free to reach out to him and schedule an introductory meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional information is at www.midiowaplanning.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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