Ames officials have begun to draft plans for expanding and improving streets throughout the city.

The Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has teamed up with HWS Consulting Group Inc., a civil engineering firm based in Lincoln, Neb., to plan for future transportation needs in Ames and the surrounding area.

The group has identified transportation improvements needed during the next 20 to 25 years.

Some options for improvement are extending Grand Avenue past Lincoln Way to 16th Street, extending Southeast 16th Street from Dayton Avenue to South Duff Avenue, and creating better street conditions, more efficient public transportation and better bike trails.

“We can’t say right now that we’ll build new roadways,” said Mike Gorman, vice president and transportation practice manager for HWS.

“We must be cognizant of funding,” he said.

Plans were a direct result of a survey taken of Ames residents in the fall. The survey included 821 residents and 31 community leaders.

“It was important to include both residents and leaders because they have different views on what needs improvement,” Faulk said.

According to the study, the No. 1 priority of residents was the flow of traffic at peak times, followed by traffic signal operations and traffic flow on north to south streets.

Eighty-four percent of leaders were satisfied with traffic safety, but just 56 percent of residents were satisfied.

Gorman said the goals of the planning organization include coordinating various modes of transportation and providing safe and efficient transportation services while having a small impact on the environmental.

Mary Sand of Ames said she was at the public meeting Wednesday night with worries that an extension of Grand Avenue might take out affordable housing in the area.

Merlin Pfannkuch of Ames said he was concerned about bike trail improvements at the meeting.

“As a system, the trails aren’t safe,” he said. “A lot of bike trails dump out into six-lane roads. I just don’t want to see concrete everywhere.”

Les Holland of Ames said he was concerned about traffic safety and disruption in his neighborhood near Ames High School, and said nothing has been done to alleviate traffic.

“I have about 3,000 cars going past my house every day,” he said. “Traffic backs up from the high school up Hayes to 24th Street, and cars are sitting on the railroad tracks.”

Project coordinators will review resident suggestions and concerns and present alternatives at the next public meeting in April.

The final transportation plan is expected by October.