OOIDA Information Update - Iowa members
August 18, 2008

Heads up: Iowa truckers! The Iowa Department of Transportation is asking for public comment on its four-year transportation improvement plan. Proposed projects include work on interstates, highways, local roads and bridges. If you have a beef with a roadway you use frequently, now is the time to push for a fix.

Residents can provide comments on the proposed projects during a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at DOT headquarters in Ames, IA. Comments also can be submitted in written form to any metropolitan planning organization, regional planning affiliation or DOT district office.

How do you find out what projects are proposed to date? The transportation projects are included in the Iowa Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. The program provides information on projects for city, county, state and federal transportation systems that could receive federal funding during the next four years.

Warning, this is a huge document – 193 pages – and could be problematic to download, but the details of the fiscal year 2009-2012 plan can be viewed at http://www.iowadot.gov/pdf_files/STIP_DRAFT_0912.pdf.

The meeting to accept public comments is scheduled from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Aug. 20, at the Iowa DOT headquarters, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, in the Office of Systems Planning conference room.

People unable to attend the meeting may comment on the projects identified by calling Iowa DOT’s Office of Program Management at 515-239-1288; or by sending e-mail to shawn.majors@dot.iowa.gov.

To submit comments by e-mail for metropolitan planning organizations or regional planning affiliations, visit www.sysplan.dot.state.ia.us/rpampocontact.htm.

Contact information for Iowa DOT district planners is available at www.sysplan.dot.state.ia.us/distplannercontact.htm.

Comments must be received by Sept. 5 to be considered prior to submittal to the Federal Highway Administration.