Ames may soon be getting its share of Congress’ roughly $800 billion stimulus plan, in the form of an intermodal transportation hub.

Sheri Kyras, director of transit for CyRide, said $1.5 billion of the stimulus is set aside for transportation initiatives through the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction, or TIGGER, grant program.

Ames has commissioned to develop a plan for a transport hub, which would meet the program’s requirements, allowing Ames to apply for grant money.

The proposed transportation hub would house stations for both CyRide and intercity bus carriers, as well as parking.

“The first thing we need to do is settle on a site,” Kyras said.

Four different sites are currently on the table. One option would place the hub downtown.

The other proposed sites would have direct impact on Iowa State. Proposed sites include an existing University parking lot in Campustown on Hayward Ave., north of campus on Stange Road, or the lots at the Iowa State Center.

If one the options near the university is chosen, Kyras said there is also a possibility that ISU Police will have offices at the hub — either the parking division, the police division, or both.

Details need to be fleshed out quickly, as the grant application is due Sept. 15, and requires a specific proposal.

In order to speed the process along, outside consultants are being brought in to do much of the research, at an estimated cost of $100,000, split equally by the City of Ames, CyRide, and Iowa State.

But if Ames’ bid is successful, stimulus money could pay for up to 100 percent of the project.

The likelihood of success is unknown.

“What our chances are is anybody’s guess,” Kyras said. “It really depends on what applications they get in.”