Ames Intermodal Transportation Facility Study
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Project Overview
Definition & Maps
TIGER
Grant Application & Supportive Attachments
Project Overview: In the past few years, CyRide has been involved in discussions regarding the need for an Intermodal Transportation Facility for the Ames community. But what exactly is an Intermodal Transportation Facility? Click here to see the definition and conceptual drawings!
In May, the Department of Transportation released the availability of $1.5 billion in grant funding for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program authorized through the 2009 American Recovery & Reinvestment Act for potential projects nationwide. This grant, due September 15, 2009, could potentially fund up to 100% of the capital costs to build this facility for the Ames community.
Therefore, a study committee consisting of CyRide, the City of Ames and Iowa State University staff worked diligently with consultants to recommend a preferred site and conceptual plan to decision-makers that was developed into a TIGER grant application to perhaps fulfill this long desired need. Community involvement was essential throughout this process as the site was selected and facility concept developed and therefore; comments and participation from Ames residents, business owners, employees, and visitors were encouraged.
The following public meetings transpired with most being held at the Iowa State Memorial Union; 2229 Lincoln Way; Ames unless otherwise noted. Informational presentations links were posted after each meeting (if significantly different from the previous presentation) ensuring the public can access them and then comment back to CyRide.
| Meeting Type/Date | Room |
Time |
Information Presented |
|
Public Meeting Thursday, July 23, 2009 |
Gold Room (2nd floor) |
5:30pm - 7:00 pm |
Presentation |
|
South Campus Area
Neighborhood (SCAN) Tuesday, August 11, 2009 |
CyRide's Conference Room 1700 University Blvd.; Ames |
5:30pm |
Presentation |
|
Joint Ames City Council - ISU - CyRide Board Public Meeting |
Ames City
Hall Council Chambers 515 Clark Ave.; Ames |
5:30pm - 7:00 pm |
Presentation |
|
Campustown Businesses
Meeting |
Ames City
Hall Council Chambers 515 Clark Ave.; Ames |
2:30pm - 4:00 pm |
Presentation(5.45 MB) |
|
Public Meeting |
South Ballroom (2nd floor) | 5:30pm - 7:00 pm |
Presentation |
| GPSS Meeting Monday, August 31, 2009 |
Campanile Room (2nd floor) | 7:00 pm | |
| GSB Meeting (Iowa
State's Government of the Student Body) Wednesday, September 2, 2009 |
Campanile Room (2nd floor) | 7:00 pm |
For additional information regarding the Ames Intermodal Facility efforts or to submit comments, please contact Sheri Kyras (Transit Director) at skyras@cyride.com or 515-292-1100. A TIGER grant application was submitted on September 10, 2009 to the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and award announcements are expected by February 2010. A summary review of all 1,380 applications submitted for this competitive national program can be viewed by going to http://www.dot.gov/recovery/docs/tdgappoverview.pdf.
Ames Intermodal Facility: (definition)
An Ames intermodal facility would provide user-friendly accessible connections between nearly all modes of transportation within one location for bicycles, pedestrians, carpools/vanpools, CyRide buses, intercity buses (Jefferson Lines & Burlington Trailways), Des Moines airport shuttle, and taxis. Accessibility to transportation is important as currently the intercity bus carriers that connect individuals from Ames throughout Iowa and the nation are located on the outskirts of Ames limiting this mode choice as an option to most Ames residents/visitors. Bike lockers and shower facilities would be incorporated to support commute travel or recreational use of Ames' shared use paths as well as the ISU arboretum. An Intermodal Facility would begin to resolve these connection issues and serve as a location where commuters, students and business-persons could access all transportation mode options at one location.
An overall goal of the facility would also be to generate long-term economic activity and stimulate jobs in Ames. The facility would support development for Ames commercial areas and Iowa State University by adding a parking ramp component (approximately 5 levels - 750 spaces) thereby allowing more commerce and business to the community. Signalization improvements needed would be added to the project to facilitate traffic flow around the facility. Additionally, office and retail spaces would be added to facility façade to blend neighboring commercial/residential uses into the Intermodal facility’s parking ramp component. A final element of the facility would incorporate the ISU campus police home base thereby adding substantially more security to the building as well as the neighboring areas. See the site location and conceptual drawings below:
Intermodal Facility
Campustown Location (995.06 KB)
Intermodal Facility Conceptual Design - Floor plans (98.86 KB)
Intermodal Facility 3D
Conceptual Design - Rendering (264 KB)
Grant & Supportive Attachments
Ames Intermodal Transportation Facility TIGER Grant Proposal (submitted 9/10/09)
Letters of Support and/or resolutions Links
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Partners (CyRide, City of Ames, Iowa State University)
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Stakeholders (HIRTA, Heartland Senior Services, Executive Express, Jefferson Lines, Burlington Trailways, Ames Taxi)
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Supporters (Iowa Department of Transportation, Story County, ISU’s Government of the Student Body, ISU’s Graduate and Professional Student Senate, Developers, Businesses, Human Service Agencies)
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Legislative (Senator Grassley, Senator Harkin, Congressman Latham)
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Campustown Action Association Petition (Businesses in Campustown Benefited By Project)
Planning/Study Document Links
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2005 LRTP Executive Summary (3.44 MB)
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2005 LRTP Final Report (92.6 MB); Cover (2.5 MB); Appendix Groupings (16.0 MB) & Project Sheets (218 MB - not available online)
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Long Range Transportation Plan Amendment May 2007 (9.78 KB) & Approval Minutes (970 KB)
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FY2010-2013 Ames Area MPO Transportation Improvement Plan (252.41 MB)
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FY2010-2013 Iowa Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) (34.10 MB; page 204)
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ISU Master Plan (documents importance of campus fringe parking)
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ITS Architecture (783.40 KB) (pgs. 16, 27, 71, 91-92) Appendices
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Shared Use Path System map/plan (1.92 MB)
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Campustown Study - Summary Document (18.55 MB)
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Final Ames Area MPO PTDP Executive Summary (245 KB) (pgs. 5,9,13)
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Final Ames Area MPO Passenger Transportation Development Plan (PTDP) (6.47 MB)
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City of Ames Capital Improvements Plan (2.34 MB)
Intermodal Facility Document Links
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Intermodal Facility Campustown Location (995.06 KB)
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Intermodal Facility Conceptual Design - Floor plans (98.86 KB)
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Site Floor Plan (no floodplain shown)
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Intermodal Facility 3D Conceptual Design - Rendering (264 KB)
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New Market Tax Credit Area Qualification Map (Distressed Area)
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LEED Buildings (constructed/ongoing)
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Documented Categorical Exclusion Submittal & applicable links
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ARRA Reporting Requirements & State of Iowa Certifications
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CyRide understands and will comply with the ARRA reporting requirements as stated within the Federal Register vol. 74, No. 115 dated June 17, 2009 under the following sections: Section 1201(c): Maintenance of Effort; Section 1512: Reports of Use of Funds and Section 1609: Environmental Reporting
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Section 1511 (Filed by the Iowa DOT on 3/3/09) - Certification, Infrastructure investment has received full review and vetting required by law and chief executive accepts responsibility that the infrastructure investment is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars. (NOTE: direct recipients of FTA funds do not have to file section 1511 certificates. The state certification covers them. If the TIGER funds are not routed through FTA, then CyRide will proceed with additional certification measures from a local official.)
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Section 1201(a) and (b) (Filed 3/19/09) - Certification of Maintenance of Effort: Reporting Requirements
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Section 1607 (Filed 3/17/09) - Certification, Accepting funds that will be used to create jobs and promote economic health
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City of Ames University Area Urban Revitalization Program – encourages revitalization of slum and blighted and underutilized properties encouraging the support of new development of mixed-use buildings with structure parking. Effective 2/24/09
Amended for Commercial & Multiple Family Program 4/28/09.
