CyRide
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The Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) is an administrative agency of the City of Ames and is governed by a Board of Trustees which meets monthly throughout the year. The six-member board consists of the Ames City Manager, Iowa State University's Senior Vice President for University Services, a member of the Ames City Council, an appointee by the Mayor of Ames, an Iowa State University Student Government (SG) Senator, and an appointee by the President of SG. The board's responsibilities are to oversee the operation, management, control and governance of transit services in the Ames community.
Next CyRide Board Meeting
Date/Time
- Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
Meeting Materials:
July 9, 2026 Transit Board Packet
(Typically, the agenda/packet materials are posted 3 business days prior to the meeting.)
Location:
CyRide Large Conference Room; 601 N. University Boulevard; Ames IA 50010
Title VI Notice
CyRide operates its service without regard to race, color or national origin. For more information, or to file a complaint or concern, please visit www.cyride.com/titlevi or email cyride@cyride.com OR call 515-292-1100 and ask for the Assistant Director of Operations.
Previous Meeting Minutes and Agenda Packets
View previous meeting minutes & agenda/board packet materials
Future Board Meeting Dates and Times
- Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
- Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
- Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 4:30 p.m
- Thursday, December 17, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
The public is invited to attend any CyRide board meeting and comment directly to the Board of Trustees. Please limit comments to no more than 5 minutes. Individuals may also send any correspondence directly to the board representatives at the following e-mail addresses by clicking on their name listed below under current board members, or via regular mail to CyRide; 601 N. University Boulevard; Ames, IA 50010.
To email the entire CyRide Board of Trustees and Transit Director in one group email, click here or you may email each board member individually by clicking on their names above their bio's shown below.
Current Board Members
| Steve Schainker |
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Steve is the City Manager for the City of Ames and has been on CyRide's board since its inception. Steve is responsible to the Ames City Council for the proper administration of all city business (18 departments and divisions) and for the annual budget. Since CyRide is an agency of the City, CyRide's operating and capital budget is part of the overall City of Ames budget; therefore, all finances are approved by the Ames City Council in addition to CyRide's board. Steve comments, "I'm proud of CyRide's customer driven focus where over 5 million passengers are safely transported each year throughout the Ames community." |
| Michael Norton |
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Michael Norton began serving on CyRide's Board of Trustee's in September 2022. Mike serves as General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer for Iowa State University. In that role, Mike is part of the University’s executive leadership team and provides strategic legal advice and counsel to the President, University administrators, faculty, and staff. Mike’s practice areas include University and Strategic Leadership, First Amendment & Free Speech, Intercollegiate Athletics, Risk and Compliance, Threat Management, Public Records, Data Security, Trademarks and Licensing, as well as overseeing the provision of all legal services provided to the University. Mike leads a team of attorneys who provide legal counsel and representation on a wide range of matters affecting the university. Additionally, Mike is responsible for the management of Environmental Health and Safety and the Department of Public Safety, which includes the ISU Police, Parking and Risk Management units. Before joining the University in 2016, Mike was a partner in the Kansas City law firm Husch Blackwell where he served for 12 years as a leader in the firm’s higher education practice group. Before joining Husch Blackwell, he served six years as a senior associate with Jones Day, Dallas. Mike has more than twenty-five-years of experience representing clients regarding complex legal issues including labor and employment, risk management, litigation, regulatory compliance, and governance and has had a dedicated focus on advising and representing institutions of higher education. Mike is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and is a frequent speaker at regional and national higher education and employment conferences. He has also served on the boards of various nonprofit organizations and is a certified volunteer advocate of the Iowa Court Appointed Special Advocate Program. Mike received a bachelor's degree in political science (1992) from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City; and Doctor of Law degree (1995) from Drake University, Des Moines. He is admitted to practice law in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Texas and is also admitted to practice before various federal courts in those jurisdictions.
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| Rachel Junck |
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Ames City Council Appointee: Term expires 12/31/2026
Rachel Junck joined CyRide's Board in January 2025. She holds two degrees from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an M.B.A. Rachel now works full-time as a Project Engineer for Chevron Renewable Energy Group.
Rachel has been representing the Ames City Council's 4th Ward since January 2020. Before joining the CyRide Board, she served on the Discover Ames Board of Directors for 5 years and continues to serve on the Discover Ames Community Grants committee.
Rachel has ridden CyRide regularly for many years and considers it to be one of Ames's greatest community assets. She rode the CyRide as a middle schooler who couldn't yet drive, as a college student without a car, and as a community member to get places efficiently. Her favorite route is the #2 Green route, but she is also partial to any route where the ElectriCY’d electric buses operate. Rachel is passionate about sustainability and is excited about the opportunities CyRide has in contributing towards reducing Ames' carbon footprint by decreasing vehicle emissions as well as increasing transit usage. |
| Deb Lee |
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Mayoral Appointee: Term expires 5/14/2027 Deb joined CyRide's Board in May 2023 and is originally from Corvallis, Oregon. She earned a B.S. in Agriculture from Oregon State University and M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Minnesota. She has been employed in data management at Pioneer Hi-Bred (now Corteva), as coordinator of the Ames Community Conversations on Diversity program, and as an instructor in the Iowa State University online Masters in Agronomy program. She has served in several volunteer roles, including Meeker Elementary School PTO President, City of Ames Planning and Zoning and Campus and Community Commission member, League of Women Voters board member, and as a neighborhood coordinator and advocate. Deb feels fortunate to live in a neighborhood with great access to CyRide. She uses CyRide for most of her transportation needs, including to the I S U campus and Campustown, medical appointments in central, west, and north Ames, and to North Grand Mall. Deb values the peacefulness of watching the view from the bus, sharing the day with other community members, and the freedom from having to search for a parking space. She also appreciated the opportunity to serve as a community representative on the CyRide 2.0 committee. Deb enjoys using public transportation in other communities and observing aspects that might have potential applications in Ames. Deb believes CyRide is an important community asset and is interested in encouraging efforts to continue providing quality public transportation options to area residents. |
| BEN DAUMAN |
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ISU Student Government Senator: Term expires 5/14/2027 Ben began on CyRide's Transit Board of Trustees in May 2026. He is currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Ben is involved with a lot of activities such as Student Government, Hall Council, House Cabinet, and Emerging Leaders in Engineering.
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| Srishti Nandal |
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ISU Student Government Representative Appointment: Term expires 5/14/2026. Srishti joined CyRide's Transit Board of Trustees in May 2026. She is an undergraduate student at Iowa State University studying Data Science and currently serves as the Chief of Staff for ISU Student Government.
This biography is currently in development.
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