Ames Area MPO Prepared This Report with Funding from the U.S

Public Participation Plan

The Ames Area MPO prepared this report with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, and in part through local matching funds of the Ames Area MPO member governments. These contents are the responsibility of the Ames Area MPO. The U.S. government and its agencies assume no liability for the contents of this report of for the use of its contents. The Ames Area MPO approved this document on May 26 2016. Please call (515) 239.5160 to obtain permission to use.

Adopted May , 2019

Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... 4 Transportation Policy Committee Members ...... 4 Transportation Technical Committee ...... 4 Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Staff ...... 5 INTRODUCTION ...... 6 Goals and Objectives ...... 6 About the Public Participation Plan ...... 7 STAKEHOLDERS AND PUBLIC GROUPS ...... 8 INFORMATION ACCESS ...... 9 OUTREACH TECHNIQUES ...... 10 Ames Area MPO Website (www.aampo.org) ...... 10 E-Mail Notification ...... 10 Direct Mailings ...... 10 Traditional Media ...... 10 Social Media...... 10 PUBLIC INPUT TECHNIQUES ...... 11 Public Hearing ...... 11 Public Input Session ...... 11 Workshop ...... 11 Surveys ...... 11 Social Media...... 11 Web-Based Mapping ...... 11 Mail ...... 11 PROCEDURAL NOTICES AND PROCESSES ...... 12 Public Participation Plan ...... 12 Long Range Transportation Plan ...... 12 Transportation Improvement Program ...... 13 Passenger Transportation Plan ...... 13 EVALUATION ...... 14 Usefulness of News Sources ...... 14 E-Notification Subscriptions ...... 14 AAMPO Website ...... 14 AAMPO Meeting Attendance ...... 14 CONTACT INFORMATION ...... 15 Appendix ...... 16 List of Stakeholders and Public Groups ...... 17 List of Consultation Partners ...... 20 MPO Member Social Media Accounts ...... 21 Acronyms and Definitions ...... 22

Ames Area MPO

Public Participation Plan 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Transportation Policy Committee Members John Haila, Chairperson City of Ames Gloria Betcher City of Ames Tim Gartin City of Ames David Martin City of Ames Chris Nelson City of Ames Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen City of Ames Amber Corrieri City of Ames Bill Zinnel Boone County Lauris Olson Story County CyRide Jonathan Popp City of Gilbert

Non-voting

Andy Loonan Iowa Department of Transportation Darla Hugaboom Federal Highway Administration Daniel Nguyen Federal Transit Administration Cathy Brown Iowa State University

Transportation Technical Committee Tracy Warner, Chairperson City of Ames Damion Pregitzer, Vice-Chair City of Ames Justin Clausen City of Ames Kelly Diekmann City of Ames Charlie Kuester City of Ames Sheri Kyras CyRide Cathy Brown Iowa State University Scott Kruse Boone County Darren Moon Story County Gerry Peters Ames Community School District Drew Kamp Ames Economic Development Commission

Non-voting

Andy Loonan Iowa Department of Transportation Darla Hugaboom Federal Highway Administration Daniel Nguyen Federal Transit Administration

Ames Area MPO

Public Participation Plan 4 Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Staff John Joiner Administrator Tony Filippini Transportation Planner Tracy Warner Municipal Engineer Damion Pregitzer Traffic Engineer Mark Gansen Civil Engineer Sheri Kyras Transit Director Shari Atwood Transit Planner Kelly Diekmann Planning & Housing Director Charlie Kuester Planner Diane Voss City Clerk Amy Colwell Principal Clerk

Ames Area MPO

Public Participation Plan 5 INTRODUCTION Transportation Policy Committee Chair or the In accordance with Title 23, Code of Federal Transportation Technical Committee Chair to Regulations, Part 450 (23 CFR 450), the Ames address specific transportation-related topics or Area MPO provides transportation planning areas of interest to the Ames Area MPO. services for the City of Ames, City of Gilbert and portions of Story County and Boone County. As Goals and Objectives part of this transportation planning process, the The public involvement process required by 23 Ames Area MPO desires and requests citizen CFR 450 should “… provide complete input on the work, projects, and products information, timely public notice, full public proposed and created by the Ames Area MPO. access to key decisions, and support early and continuing involvement of the public in The Ames Area MPO recognizes the importance developing plans and Transportation and necessity of the public involvement process. Improvement Programs…” The following groups govern the activities of the Ames Area MPO:

The Ames Area MPO Transportation Policy Committee are local elected officials from the City of Ames, City of Gilbert, Story County, and Boone County; an appointed representative from the Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) and non-voting members from Iowa State University, Iowa Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and Federal Transit Administration.

Representatives to the Transportation Technical Committee (TTC) include city engineers, county representatives, public works directors, community planning staff, Ames Municipal Airport Representative, Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) staff, Iowa State University, Ames Community School District staff, and Ames Economic Development staff. Staff from the Iowa DOT, Federal Highway Administration, and Federal Transit Administration participate on the committee in advisory roles. This committee The Ames Area MPO is committed to the is charged with making technical availability of timely, complete information; to recommendations to the Ames Area MPO the notification of and public access to the Transportation Policy Committee. decision-making process; and to ongoing public involvement throughout the transportation Additional subcommittees and working groups planning process including, but not limited to, may be appointed at any time by the the development of the Long-Range Ames Area MPO

Public Participation Plan 6 Transportation Plan, the Transportation • Stakeholders and Public Groups Improvement Program, the Passenger o Identifying local stakeholders and Transportation Plan and the Public Participation community groups. Plan. Through this Public Participation Plan, the • Information Access Ames Area MPO aims to identify methods for o How the Ames Area MPO hosts readily obtaining public input and encouraging public available information for the public to involvement in the transportation planning access. process. • Outreach Techniques o How the Ames Area MPO shares About the Public Participation Plan information, such as upcoming This document is designed to strategize and meetings, initiatives, or other events. inform the general public about the regional • Public Input Techniques transportation planning process and receive o How the Ames Area MPO offers information from the public to inform the community members to engage and planning process. The document includes the participate in data gathering or decision following: making.

Ames Area MPO

Public Participation Plan 7 STAKEHOLDERS AND PUBLIC GROUPS The Ames Area MPO has identified the following groups and individuals, but not limited to, as those having potential interest in public input and involvement opportunities:

• Neighborhood organizations and home owner associations; • Development community; • Groups representing travel modes – transit, bicycle, pedestrian, freight; • Advocacy groups for the disadvantaged, minority groups, and limited English speaking individuals; • Media – newspapers, television, radio; • Governmental agencies; • Organizations on historic preservation; • Iowa State University Student Government; • Organizations or individuals who have been notified of public hearings for major projects, or organizations and individuals who have submitted written comments relating to public hearings for major projects. These individuals and organizations would remain on the mailing list as long as the major project is under development.

Specific organizations have been identified in “Appendix A”

INFORMATION ACCESS The MPO makes all formal planning documents available for public consumption. All planning documents are available both in print and digital format in English. Print Hard copies of the following MPO documents are available at the Ames Area MPO office, located on the 2nd floor of Ames City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, Room 212. The Ames City Hall is handicap accessible by elevator, located in the Clark Avenue entrance lobby.

• Long Range Transportation Plan; • Transportation Improvement Program; • Passenger Transportation Plan; • Public Participation Plan; • Transportation Planning Work Program; and • Title VI Program

All documents may be viewed for free, however, a fee may be assessed for personal copies of printed materials (in accordance with Appendix F – Ames Municipal Code). Digital Digital files of the following MPO documents are available at on Ames Area MPO website at http://www.aampo.org. All documents are available for viewing or download as PDF (Portable Document Format).

• Long Range Transportation Plan; • Transportation Improvement Program; • Public Participation Plan; • Title VI Notice and Complaint form; • Passenger Transportation Plan; and Transportation Planning Work Program OUTREACH TECHNIQUES Traditional Media To achieve a well-informed citizenry who are able to contribute meaningful input, the MPO at Newspaper times will need to publish educational pieces Information about all MPO meetings will be regarding the planning process or other added to the existing Public Meeting Calendar transportation initiative. Therefore, the that is produced weekly and that is distributed to following strategies are identified for spreading local newspapers (Ames Tribune, ISU Daily, local information. radio stations, and it is placed on the Ames Area MPO website. In addition, the agenda for the Ames Area MPO Website meetings will be posted at the Ames City Hall and (www.aampo.org) on the www.aampo.org website, a minimum of twenty-four hours prior to the meetings. The Ames Area MPO website, www.aampo.org, provides information about Ames Area MPO Regular meetings, as well as special activities activities including information about the related to long-range transportation planning Transportation Planning Work Program, and project development would be included. Passenger Transportation Plan, the Long Range Formal notices for public hearings are published Transportation Plan, and the Transportation in the Ames Tribune. Press releases to area Improvement Program. Translation services are newspapers, television stations, and radio available on the Ames Area MPO website in over stations will also be used to notify citizens of 90 languages. Over-the-phone translation upcoming activities of the Ames Area MPO. services are also available to all persons contacting the Ames Area MPO. Cable TV The City of Ames maintains a local government E-Mail Notification access cable channel (Channel 12). Programs E-mail notifications are available describing the activities of the Ames Area MPO for interested parties. The e- are included in the programming. In addition, notification allows users to the channel maintains a calendar, which will subscribe to weekly digest of upcoming meetings include information concerning all of the and events. meetings. Subscriptions are user initiated and users can Social Media opt out at any time. Subscriptions can be set up Messages and events can be shared by MPO at the following URL for either MPO Events, members through their social media channels. MPO News, or both: The Ames Area MPO does not utilize MPO http://www.cityofames.org/enotification branded social media accounts and relies on local members to post MPO generate messages. Direct Mailings A list of currently social media accounts are listed Meeting information will also be included in the in “Appendix C” City of Ames newsletter, CitySide, and on social media as appropriate. This newsletter is published monthly and inserted into utility bills.

Ames Area MPO

Public Participation Plan 10 PUBLIC INPUT TECHNIQUES such as visual preference surveys, mapping To develop community inspired plans, input activities, and other input gathering strategies. from the public is crucial. The following strategies are identified to provide the maximum Surveys amount of opportunity to citizens and Surveys can be conducted using the Ames Area stakeholders to be involved in developing MPO website and by hand-written means to regional transportation plans. The Ames Area gather input from participants. MPO ensures that all public input meeting Social Media locations are accessible in accordance with the Although the MPO does not have an agency Americans with Disabilities Act. social media account, the public can submit The Ames Area MPO will consider and respond comments or address the MPO plans through to all public input received during the planning the City of Ames social media Facebook and and program development processes. If Twitter channels (@cityofames). significant written of oral comments are received on the long range transportation plan, Web-Based Mapping Transportation Improvement Program, Web-based maps can be created to demonstrate Transportation Planning Work Program, or project locations along with descriptions. Passenger Transportation Plan, a summary, Capabilities include participates to submit analysis, and report on the disposition of the comments on specific projects through the web comments will be made a part of the final interface. document. Public Hearing The Transportation Policy Committee hosts public hearings to approval draft documents, adopt plans, and pass resolutions. The public are invited to Public Input Session Meetings can be planned at pre-determined locations for a specified amount of time to present and answer questions about MPO plans and documents. These meetings are designed to be flexible for the public to come-and-go and at any point during the time period. Copies of materials and staff will be present. No formal Figure 1 Web-Based Map used for TIP development presentations are made. Mail Workshop Comments can be mailed to the MPO office, Meeting with a series of activities aimed to be addressed to: visually engaging and gather public input in the Ames Area MPO form of written, spoken, or other forms. 515 Clark Avenue Workshops could employ a number of activities Ames, IA 50010

Ames Area MPO

Public Participation Plan 11 PROCEDURAL NOTICES AND Long Range Transportation Plan PROCESSES The Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) contains future transportation plans for at least Public Participation Plan a 20 year planning horizon to address major The Public Participation Plan (PPP) outlines how transportation needs in the Ames area. The LRTP the MPO will engage the community to have a must be updated every five years. well-informed participants able to contribute Two or more public meetings shall be held to meaningful input to transportation decisions present new or major updates to the Long Range through a variety of locally developed strategies. Transportation Plan prior to adoption. At least The A minimum public comment period of 45 one of these meetings shall be held a minimum days will be established prior to Public of 30 days prior to adoption of the plan. Participation Plan adoption or revision. Robust plan development Draft Recommended by (Including public meetings) Transportation Technical Committee

Draft Presentation to Draft Presentation to Transportation Policy Committee Transportation Policy Committee

Public Comment (30 days) Public Comment (45 days)

Transportation Policy Committee Transportation Policy Approval Committee Approval

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Public Participation Plan 12 Transportation Improvement Program Passenger Transportation Plan The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) The Ames Passenger Transportation Plan (PTP) is is a four-year schedule of projects to improve or an effort of providing key community decision maintain the quality of the public transportation makers with the knowledge of how individuals network. A new TIP is developed and adopted are currently being transported throughout annually. One public meeting shall be held to Ames, the additional transportation needs and present the Transportation Improvement service requests identified, and recommended Program to the public. The meeting shall be held strategies or projects to overcome these needs. prior to the adoption of the program. The Passenger Transportation Plan will be developed in coordination with a Transportation Draft Recommended by Advisory Group (TAG). Transportation Technical Committee

Approval by Transportation Advisory Group

Draft Presentation to Transportation Policy Committee (Public Hearing)

Draft Recommended by Transportation Technical Committee Public Comment (3-4 weeks)

Draft Presentation to Transportation Policy Committee Transportation Policy Committee Approval

Amendments to the TIP which update or adjust Public Comment (3-4 weeks) project cost, schedule changes, funding sources, or scope changes that are considered a major change require approval by the Transportation Transportation Policy Committee Approval Policy Committee. These amendments will be presented to the Transportation Policy Committee and a public comment period Amendments to the Passenger Transportation opened, which will last until the next Plan will be required when any changes are Transportation Policy Committee meeting. The made to proposed Section 5310 funded projects. comment period will last 3 – 4 weeks. Amendments will be presented to the Transportation Advisory Group for review. These Minor changes to the Transportation amendments will be presented to the Improvement Program, known as administration Transportation Policy Committee and a public modifications, will be processed internally and comment period opened, which will last 3 – 4 shared with the Transportation Policy weeks until the next Transportation Policy Committee and the public as informational Committee meeting. items.

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Public Participation Plan 13 EVALUATION E-Notification Subscriptions The Ames Area MPO will monitor the Public The Ames Area MPO provides e- Participation Plan periodically in order to mail notification of MPO news and evaluate the effectiveness of the procedures upcoming MPO meetings. outlined in this document. At a minimum, the Subscriptions are user initiated plan should be evaluated and updated along and users can opt out at any time. Total number with the long range transportation plan every of subscribers are tracked monthly for both five years. categories.

Following evaluation of the outputs and outcomes of the Public Participation Plan, the Jan. 1, Jan. 1, Jan. 1, Jan. 1, Ames Area MPO may revise these methods to 2016 2017 2018 2019 incorporate new and innovative ways to involve News 64 89 108 153 the public in the transportation decision-making Calendar 60 92 109 150 process. Usefulness of News Sources AAMPO Website Annually, the City of Ames evaluates the The Ames Area MPO hosts a website at usefulness of local media for government www.aampo.org. All planning documents are information. The preferred methods to receive available as well as meeting agendas, minutes, information is led by e-mail and letters from the and materials for all committee meetings. city. Followed by door hanger, city website, Facebook, and local newspaper. Average Monthly Hits 2016 2017 2018 All MPO Pages 413 217 MPO Homepage 89 79 Policy Committee 6 7 Technical Committee 5 5 Public Participation P 4 1 Long Range Plan 30 36 TIP 30 36 TPWP 11 15 PTP 16 13 ITS 13 7

Figure 2 Preferred method to learn about City services, programs or projects, 2017 (35th Annual Report Ames Residential Satisfaction Survey) AAMPO Meeting Attendance Meetings are held to gather feedback from The 2017 report found the City of Ames website, citizens and stakeholders. City Side (utility bill insert), and Facebook/Twitter/YouTube to be the most Average 2015 2016 2017 2018 frequently cited sources of local government Attendance information. LRTP Open 28 NA NA NA House TPWP/TIP Open 3 1 1 3 House Ames Area MPO

Public Participation Plan 14 Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization 515 Clark Avenue Ames, IA 50010

Phone: (515) 239-5160 CONTACT INFORMATION Fax: (515) 239-5404 The Ames Area MPO believes firmly in the essential role of the public in the transportation Website: http://www.aampo.org planning process, welcoming any and all comments from citizens or groups concerning transportation issues. List of Ames Area MPO Staff contact information is available at: The Ames Area MPO may be contacted at the following: http://www.cityofames.org/government/aamp o/about-the-mpo/mpo-staff-contact

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Public Participation Plan 15

Appendix

List of Stakeholders and Public Groups

Neighborhood Associations and Community Organization

Neighborhood Associations • Allenview Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Bloomington Heights Neighborhood Association (Ames) • College Creek/Old Ames Middle School Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Colonial Village Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Edwards Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Emanon Roosevelt Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Friendship Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Historic Old Town Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Inis Grove Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Ironwood Court Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Kate Mitchell Neighborhood Association (Ames) • King-Am Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Meadow Glen Road Neighborhood Association (Ames) • North Brookside Neighborhood Association (Ames) • North Old Town Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Oak-Riverside Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Oak-Wood-Forest Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Reiman West Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Ringgenberg Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Somerset Village Neighborhood Association (Ames) • South Campus Area Neighborhood Association (Ames) • South Brookside Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Spring Valley Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Sunrise Addition Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Timberland Road Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Westbend Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Westside Neighborhood Association (Ames) • Northridge Home Owners Association (Ames) • Stone Brooke Home Owners Association (Ames)

Community Organizations • Campustown Action Association • Main Street Cultural District

Development Community; • Ames Chamber of Commerce • Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau • Ames Economic Development Commission • Ames Home Builders Association

Groups representing travel modes – transit, bicycle, pedestrian, freight; • Ames Bicycle Coalition • Ames Kidical Mass • Ames Velo • AMTRAK • Burlington Trailways • CyRide • Executive Express • Jefferson Line

Advocacy groups for the disadvantaged, minority groups, and limited English speaking individuals; • Transportation Collaboration – United Way of Story County

Media – newspapers, television, radio;

Online and Newsprint • Ames Tribune • Iowa State Daily • The Des Moines Register • Story County Sun

Television • Channel 12, City of Ames • Channel 16, Ames Public Access • WOI-DT, ABC • KCCI, CBS • KDIN-TV, Iowa Public Television • WHO-DT, NBC • KCWI-TV, CW • KDMI, TCT Network • KDSM-TV, FOX • KFPX, ION

Radio • KURE, Iowa State University Student Radio • WOI-FM, Iowa Public Radio • WOI (AM), Iowa Public Radio • KMYR, Adult Contemporary • KCYZ, Hot Adult Contemporary • KASI, News/Talk • KHOA, Community Radio

Governmental agencies; • Boone County • Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance • City of Ames • City of Gilbert • Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization • Story County

Organizations on historic preservation • Ames Historical Society

Iowa State University Student Government; • ISU Student Government

List of Consultation Partners • Boone County Conservation • Federal Highway Administration, Iowa Division • Federal Transit Administration, Region 7 • Iowa Department of Aging • Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship • Iowa Department for the Blind • Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs • Iowa Economic Development Authority • Iowa Department of Education • Iowa Department of Human Rights • Iowa Department of Human Services Story County • Iowa Department of Natural Resources • Iowa Department of Public Safety • Iowa Emergency Management Division • Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management • Iowa Utilities Board • Office of the State Archaeologist • State Historical Society of Iowa • Story County Conservation • U.S. Army Corp of Engineers • U.S. Department of Agriculture, NRCS • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

MPO Member Social Media Accounts

Boone County

None

City of Ames

• Facebook - facebook.com/cityofames/ • Instagram - @cityofames • Twitter - @cityofames • YouTube – AmesChannel12

City of Gilbert

• Facebook - facebook.com/City-of-Gilbert-Iowa-474422712754680/

CyRide

• Facebook - facebook.com/cyride/ • Twitter - @CyRide

Iowa State University

• Facebook - facebook.com/iowastateu • Instagram - @iowastateu • Twitter - @IowaStateU • YouTube – iowastateu

Story County

• Facebook - facebook.com/storycountyiowa • Twitter - @storycountyiowa

Acronyms and Definitions AAMPO – Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization: Designated in 2003 at the regional transportation planning agency for the Ames-Gilbert planning area.

CIRTPA – Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Affiliation: The rural transportation planning organization for Iowa Region 11, which includes the non-metropolitan areas of Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Marion, Madison, Story, Polk, and Warren Counties.

CyRide: The fixed-route transit operator within the City of Ames.

FAST Act – Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act: Surface transportation bill signed by President Barack Obama on December 4, 2015, authorizing Federal Transportation funding Federal Fiscal Year 2016 through 2020.

FHWA – Federal Highway Administration: A division of the U.S. Department of Transportation responsible for administering Federal highway transportation programs under Title 23 U.S.C.

FTA – Federal Transit Administration: A division of the U.S. Department of Transportation responsible for administering transit planning and programs under Title 49 U.S.C.

GIS – Geographic Information Systems: Integration of hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends and present that information in the form of maps, reports, and charts.

LRTP – Long Range Transportation Plan: A document resulting from regional or statewide collaboration and consensus on a region's or state's transportation system and serving as the defining vision for the region's or state's transportation systems and services. In metropolitan areas, the plan indicates all of the transportation improvements scheduled for funding over a minimum of the next 20 years.

MPA – Metropolitan Planning Area: The geographic area determined by agreement between metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the area and the Governor, in which the metropolitan transportation planning process is implemented.

PTP – Passenger Transportation Plan: A document that coordinates efforts between transportation providers and human service agencies that provides transportation services in order to enhance transportation access, minimize duplication of services and facilitate appropriate and cost-effective transportation possible with available resources.

TAG – Transportation Advisory Group: A steering committee made up of transit providers and human services providers, used to develop the Passenger Transportation Plan and coordinate passenger transportation services within the Ames region.

TIP – Transportation Improvement Program: A four-year listing of transportation projects within a metropolitan area which are funded with Federal dollars or are of regional significance. MPOs are required to prepare a TIP as a short-range programming document.

Title VI: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Prohibits discrimination in any program receiving Federal assistance.

TPWP – Transportation Planning Work Program: Annual planning document outlining planning activities and funding along with all participants in the planning process.

TPC – Transportation Policy Committee: The governing body of the Ames Area MPO, charged with approving MPO policies and funding.

TTC – Transportation Technical Committee: The advisory body of the Ames Area MPO, charged with developing MPO documents and recommending policies and funding to the Transportation Policy Committee. The TTC is comprised of staff from local governments and agencies associated with the Ames Area MPO.