Jonathan and Julie Strum, 533 Hayward Ave., collected 114 signatures of residents who oppose the location selected for the new transitional hub that is to be located at Hayward and Chamberlain Avenues.

Strum and residents oppose the hub, because the location is on the outskirts of the residential neighborhood. The community worries over the traffic, noise and the impact it will have on the value of property in the area because of the hub. The group wants federal officials to refuse funding for the project.

The Hub design was created to build a facility to coordinate traffic from intercity bus carriers taxi services, CyRide and bike and pedestrian travel in the city of Ames. 

Ames participated in a national competition for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grants. Over 1,400 applications were received. Ames is 1 of 51 successful proposals.

Originally CyRide, Iowa State and the city of Ames asked for $42 million for the project when submitting for the TIGER grant. Ames only received $8.4 million stimulus grant from the Federal Transit Agency in February. The city then scaled back the design to meet the new budget.

Strum has looked over the redesigned plans for the hub and argues that they do not meet the requirements of the original TIGER grant. Strum has mailed letters to the TIGER grant team, U.S Congressman Tom Latham and to the Ames City Council over the design and location of the hub.

The Federal Transit agency will either approve or reject the redesign project May 17.

The redesign includes:

• 399 of 750 originally planned parking spaces.

• Two bays for intercity bus carriers.

• Two bays for regional bus carriers.

• Bike path (included after review of resubmitted plans).

• Space for two taxis.

• Public restrooms.

• Showers for bicyclists.

• Management/security office (included after public meeting).

• Pocket park (included at public request).