The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) announces more than $16 million in grant awards for 16 projects around Greater Des Moines. The City of Johnston is a $500,000 recipient of a Surface Transportation Block Grant for the IA-141 and Towner Drive Interchange.
The MPO grants support a wide variety of projects. Some address system capacity, such as pavement reconstruction in Grimes and Waukee, major reconstruction or replacement projects in eight jurisdictions, system optimization projects in three jurisdictions, a bridge replacement in Des Moines, and replacement buses for the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART). A complete listing of funded projects is included below.
“As an organization, we have been focused on optimizing the transportation system we already have,” said Bob Andeweg, Urbandale Mayor and MPO Chair. “And we are pleased that this year’s grants are largely focused on improving the existing network.”
Through these projects, the MPO seeks to advance the region’s transportation goals: to manage and optimize existing transportation infrastructure and services, enhance multimodal transportation options, improve the region’s environmental health, and further the health, safety and well-being of all residents in the region.
The grants are available through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG), which is 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 2027.
MPO staff scored the projects on how well they would help meet the regional performance measures established in Mobilizing Tomorrow. Additionally, the public provided comments and feedback on the proposed projects. This information was the basis for a recommendation to the MPO Policy Committee, which approved the funding in April.
Mobilizing Tomorrow is the long-range transportation plan for the year 2050 adopted by the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in November 2019. The plan outlines how the MPO’s member governments throughout the Greater Des Moines region will invest approximately $8.1 billion in transportation funding over the next 35 years.
The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) acts as a regional forum to ensure coordination between the public and local, state, and federal agencies regarding planning issues and to prepare transportation plans and programs. The MPO develops both long- and short-range multimodal transportation plans, selects and approves projects for federal funding based on regional priorities, and develops methods to reduce traffic congestion.
Below is a list of the projects funded.
