Iowa Department of Transportation

The meeting agenda included discussions and action items concerning several key funding recommendations and program modifications. Key actions involved the approval of minutes from the previous meeting. Significant discussion centered on Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy (RISE) applications for Huxley and Sioux Center, requiring reclassification to RISE Local Development projects with associated grant awards. A modification to a previously awarded RISE Local Development grant for Waterloo, supporting the South Waterloo Business Park, was also approved, increasing the total grant amount. Furthermore, the Commission recommended approvals for funding allocations under Iowa's Clean Air Attainment Program, the Federal Recreational Trails Program, and the Statewide Transportation Alternatives Set-aside Program. Finally, funding recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2027 State Transit Assistance Special Projects were presented for approval.

The key discussion topic for this meeting involved the purchase of 21 boxes of road maps for delivery to ICenters at a cost of $1,575.00. A motion was made and seconded to approve this purchase, excluding the mileage reimbursement for delivery, and the motion was subsequently approved.

The key discussion topics included the Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy (RISE) application for Altoona, which involved recommending a RISE grant of $2,721,281 for infrastructure improvements to support industrial access. The Commission also reviewed and made recommendations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Traffic Safety Improvement Program, covering site-specific projects, traffic control devices, and studies/outreach. Furthermore, recommendations for the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Intercity Bus Program funding totaling $7,434,629 were approved. Finally, an amendment to the 2026-2030 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program was approved, including the addition of $5.1 million for right-of-way costs related to the I-35 widening project, with authorization for condemnation if necessary.

This document, "Iowa's Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment," reviews statewide safety challenges for vulnerable road users (VRUs), including pedestrians and bicyclists, and proposes specific projects and strategies to enhance their safety. The assessment identifies high-risk areas for VRUs through a data-driven, systemic analysis, engages stakeholders, and develops a program of projects and strategies. Key strategies include public education campaigns and leveraging various funding opportunities (HSIP-Local, TSIP, and discretionary grants). The overarching vision is to reduce traffic fatalities for vulnerable road users, aiming for zero fatalities, by providing infrastructure improvements, fostering a culture of safety, and implementing a Safe System Approach.

This Strategic Highway Safety Plan for Iowa outlines a comprehensive framework to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, with an ultimate vision of Zero Fatalities. It prioritizes eight key safety emphasis areas: lane departures and roadside collisions, speed-related incidents, unprotected persons, young drivers, intersections, impairment-involved incidents, older drivers, and distracted or inattentive drivers. The plan emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach based on the 'Five E's' (Education, Emergency Medical Services, Enforcement, Engineering, Everyone) to implement strategies and achieve its safety goals.