Passenger Transportation Plan

Home Planning Passenger Transportation Plan

Passenger Transportation Plan

Background
The Ames Area MPO coordinates the development of the Passenger Transportation Plan (PTP). This plan coordinates efforts between transportation providers and human service agencies providing transportation services for the Ames community. The purpose, per PTP guidance developed by the Iowa DOT, is to enhance transportation access throughout the community, minimize duplication of services, and facilitate the most appropriate cost-effective transportation possible with available resources. The plan helps decision makers by outlining the transportation providers and human service agencies' priority needs within the Ames community. The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) encourages agencies to share specific projects that may develop or be requested in future federal/state grant applications. However, the Iowa DOT requires the identification of any priorities or strategies for any specific 5310 (Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities) funded projects.

The PTP process is formally facilitated through the Story County Transportation Collaboration (TC) coordinated under the direction of Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA). Development of the PTP must include a honest effort to jointly involve human service agencies/organizations, private transportation providers, and transit systems in the planning process and consider all passenger transportation needs and services. The Transportation Collaboration is a group of transportation providers and human service agencies or other interested parties discussing transportation issues and is an on-going effort. Every five years, the TC group works to develop priorities and strategies to impact the elderly and disabled Ames community. Those projects are identified in the PTP and recommended to the AAMPO for formal approval.

The last fully approved Passenger Transportation Plan was approved by the AAMPO on March 26, 2024 and can be downloaded at:
FINAL FY2025-2029 AAMPO Passenger Transportation Plan

All previous PTP's are listed below. The Ames Area MPO is responsible to update the PTP, at a minimum, every five years. However, if any new projects come to light after the full plan has been approved as recommended by the Transportation Collaboration, the AAMPO will provide an amendment of the PTP documenting the need and specific project with identified federal funding. AAMPO staff will have the Transportation Collaboration review previously approved projects and their status, request any new transportation needs and finally request changes to the recommended projects for each formal plan.

The Passenger Transportation Plan (PTP) is also used as one of several inputs into the Ames Area MPO's Transit Chapter of the area's metropolitan (long-range) transportation plan.

For additional information and/or to get involved in the annual PTP planning process through the Story County Transportation Collaboration Committee, please contact Shari Atwood (Transit Planner) at shari.atwood@cyride.com or 515-292-1100.