Planning Resource Guides A-M
Planning Resource Guides M-Z
MPO review calendar and process coming Spring 2025
Upon request, Iowa DOT planners will meet with new MPO/RPA planners to provide an overview of the transportation planning process in Iowa. Materials commonly discussed at these meetings are linked below. Please contact Travis Halm with the Systems Planning Bureau at travis.halm@iowadot.us if you are interested in setting up an overview session.
Background Information
Transportation planning process and federal requirements
- FHWA/FTA Transportation Planning Process Briefing Book
- FHWA Funding Federal-aid Highways publication
- Current federal transportation planning regulations (23 CFR part 450)
- History of transportation planning in Iowa
Maps
Iowa DOT offices and contacts
- Iowa DOT organization chart
- Systems Planning Bureau organization chart
- District contacts
- Aviation contacts
- Program Management Bureau contacts
- Public Transit contacts
- Rail Transportation contacts
- Systems Planning Bureau contacts
- State of Iowa employee directory
Required Planning Documents and Guidance
Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
- Statewide Transportation Improvement Program
- Iowa’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) guidelines and application
Public Participation Plan (PPP)
Planning funds
Miscellaneous resources
MPO and RPA Agency Websites
- Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
- Bi-State Regional Commission (Quad Cities area)
- Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization (Cedar Rapids area )
- Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
- East Central Intergovernmental Association (Dubuque area)
- Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (Waterloo-Cedar Falls area)
- Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (Omaha-Council Bluffs area)
- Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County (Iowa City area)
- Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (Sioux City Area)
- RPA 1 – Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission
- RPA 2 – North Iowa Area Council of Governments
- RPA 3 – Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission
- RPA 4 – Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council
- RPA 5 – Mid-Iowa Development Association Council of Governments
- RPA 6 – Region 6 Resource Partners
- RPA 7 – Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments
- RPA 8 – East Central Intergovernmental Association
- RPA 9 – Bi-State Regional Commission
- RPA 10 – East Central Iowa Council of Governments
- RPA 11 - Mid Iowa Planning Alliance
- RPA 12 – Region XII Council of Governments
- RPA 13 – Southwest Iowa Planning Council
- RPA 14 – Southern Iowa Council of Governments
- RPA 15 – Area 15 Regional Planning Commission
- RPA 16 – Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission
- RPA 17 – Chariton Valley Planning & Development
- RPA 18 – Metropolitan Area Planning Agency
- Iowa Aviation System Plan
- Iowa in Motion - State Transportation Plan
- Iowa Interstate Corridor Plan
- Iowa Park and Ride System Plan
- Iowa Railroad System Plan
- Iowa State Freight Plan
- Medicaid transportation study
- Medicaid transportation study appendices
- Transportation Asset Management Plan
Infrastructure Condition Evaluation (ICE)
- Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-making
- Non-metropolitan local officials consultation process
- Public Participation Plan Guidelines for Iowa’s MPOs and RPAs
- Project-related public meetings - Iowa DOT
- Public participation transportation planning process resource guide - FHWA
- State Public Participation Process for Transportation Planning
PPP Resources and Best Practice Examples
- IPTA presentation on Public Participation Plans
- INRCOG-2022 PPP
- MAPA 2024 PPP
- RPA 1-2021 PPP
- RPA7-INRTC-2017 PPP
- RPA16-2016 PPP
MPO-RPA Quarterly Meetings
April 2025 MPO-RPA Meeting
- Meeting Agenda
- Systems Planning
- Modal
- Program Management
- Local Systems
- Traffic & Safety
- Location & Environment
- District Planner Overview
- Bicycle & Pedestrian Update
- Freight Update
September 2024 MPO-RPA Meeting
- Meeting Agenda
- Design Guidelines – MUTCD, PROWAG and AASHTO
- Public Transit Update
- Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant Program
- Transit Accessibility Analysis
- NEVI Update
- ICE Planning Corridors
- MAPA Public Participation Plan
June 2024 MPO-RPA MEETING
- Meeting Agenda
- Local Systems Update
- State Rail Plan Update
- Transit Update
- Safe Streets for All – 97-County Safety Plan
- Resilience Improvement Plan
- Lansing Bridge Repair & Water Taxi
- Iowa DOT/ FHWA Approach to Equity Discussion
- Iowa Council of Governments (ICOG) Staff Retreat Overview
- FY 2025 TA Set-Aside Updates
March 2024 MPO-RPA MEETING
Meeting Recording
Meeting Agenda
Carbon Reduction Strategy
Des Moines MPO Pavement Databike
State Rail Plan Update
Bicycle Database Presentation
December 2023 MPO-RPA Meeting
- Meeting Agenda
- Systems Planning Bureau Updates
- FHWA Updates
- Cultural Resources
- Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment
- Rail Transportation
September 2023 MPO-RPA Meeting
- Meeting Agenda
- R Studio Peer Presentation
- 380 Express Bus Service
- UAB Update and Next Steps
- Planning Updates
- USDOT News and Grant Opportunities
- Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS)
June 2023 MPO-RPA Meeting
- Meeting Agenda
- IIJA Effectiveness – Local Systems Update
- Vulnerable Road User
- Bicycle Facility Nomenclature
- Resiliency Improvement Plan – Working Group
- Rail Transportation Updates
- Planning Updates
- Distribution Methodologies – General
- Distribution Methodologies – RPA 1
- Distribution Methodologies - MPO
MARCH 2023 MPO-RPA Meeting
- Meeting Agenda
- SS4A Planning Grants
- Climate Toolbox
- SHSP
- Local Systems Update
- Roadway Pavement Management Strategic Report
- Planning Funding Target Revisit
- 2020 Census Urban Area Population Numbers
- CRS Update
- Planning Updates
- Q & A
December 2022 MPO-RPA Meeting
- Meeting Agenda
- Iowa Bike-Ped Traffic Monitoring
- Operational Strategies for Corridors
- 2020 FHWA Urban Area Boundary Update Process
- Bus Funding
- Access Management Administrative Rule and Guidance
- 2022 Iowa Aviation Economic Report
- MPO Risk-Based Review Process
- Planning Updates
September 2022 MPO-RPA Meeting
- Bicycle safety - Iowa Bikes, Iowa DOT
- Integrating Safety in the Rural Transportation Planning Process Report
- MDST Factors of Success Report
- Traffic and Safety Bureau
- Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Systemic Safety Analysis 2020
- Statewide Screening for Potential Lane Reconfiguration
- Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)
- Synthesis of Safety-Related Research