AMES, Iowa -Oct. 24, 2013 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is seeking public input into the development of a new statewide plan for bicycle and pedestrian transportation at six public input meetings and online. The Iowa DOT is committed to expanding opportunities and further improving conditions for bicycling and walking across the state. The new Bicycle and Pedestrian Long-Range Plan is a major step forward for this effort.
This plan will build upon the Iowa DOT’s long-range strategy for multimodal transportation over the next three decades, Iowa in Motion -Planning Ahead 2040. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Long-Range Plan has three key objectives:
- Align with national best practices, including the federal transportation funding bill called Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) and national guidelines for trail development.
- Develop a list of priorities to expand the trails system between and within cities.
- Help state and local agencies to put the plan in place by providing tools for funding and design.
Upon its completion, this plan will serve as the primary guide for statewide decision-making regarding bicycle and pedestrian programs and facilities,including sidewalks, trails, bike lanes, paved shoulders, and other trail elements. It will also help achieve a better level of statewide coordination and continuity for all levels of bicycle and pedestrian mobility through regional, county, and city plans and programs.