Iowa’s state transportation plan was adopted in May 2022. In 2024, an administrative modification was made to the plan to incorporate the following three implementation activities that had occurred since plan adoption: the Carbon Reduction Strategy, Resilience Improvement Plan, and Transportation 4.0: Innovative strategies for the transportation revolution. The plan looks out to 2050 and provides the long-range vision, policies, and decision-making framework that will guide investments in Iowa’s transportation system over the coming years. Iowa is required to have a long-range transportation plan by both federal and state code. The plan covers all modes of transportation in the state, for both people and goods.
The plan is updated every five years because Iowa’s transportation system is ever-changing. Proactively planning for the future of the system is critical to ensuring people and goods can get where they need to go in a safe manner. The needs for the system are continually evolving due to changes in demographics, land use, travel patterns, technology, and available funding. The plan establishes the vision and objectives for the state’s multimodal transportation system, identifies existing and emerging needs, risks, and challenges, and recommends strategies to achieve the vision for the transportation system.
This plan is the third in the current series of long-range plans. In 2012, a policy level plan was adopted. In 2017, the plan was expanded to identify primary investment areas, categorize future needs across modes, and provide strategies to achieve the system vision. The 2022 plan builds on these past plans by making enhancements that include:
- Additional focus on emerging planning considerations
- Establishment of system objectives
- Expanded analysis of highway system needs and risks
- Updated strategies to implement the plan
- Development of Iowa DOT’s rightsizing policy
