For ISU students and Ames residents, the primary route to and from Iowa State is the east-to-west thoroughfare that extends 6.75 miles through their community.

Lincoln Way, which connects most neighborhoods and businesses in Ames, is the most travelled, being constantly used by commuters, visitors and residents. Through the continuous usage, the route is generally in need of repair, and the businesses are often in need of refurnishing to establish “a sense of place and identity” for the Ames community, according to the Ames City Council.

In the hope to focus on issues relating to Lincoln Way, the Ames City Council, through the supervision of the Planning and Zoning Commission, recently started the Lincoln Way Corridor Plan Study to target and identify areas for improvement that the community finds the most prominent.

The plan’s initial phases, which is expected to be finished in the initial phases by the fall of 2016 in October or November, is hoped to be “implemented long-term in the next five to 10 years,” said Karen Marren, Ames city planner.

To perceive the necessary changes that need to be discussed, the Planning Commission has recently consulted with Houseal Lavigne Associates from Chicago, to begin incorporation of community input and present findings for the plan.

Through the workshop that was conducted April 19, five focus areas were identified — including the West Gateway (from US 30 Interchange to the Boone County Line), West Ames (Boone County Line to Franklin Avenue), University Area (Franklin Avenue to University Boulevard), City Center (University Boulevard to Borne Avenue) and Lincoln Way Industrial (Borne Avenue to I-35).

The Planning Committee will soon be working on the prioritization of these areas, and working through “good, bad and ugly comments” to do so, according to Marren, to increase economic vitality, provide multi-modal mobility and enhance the quality of land use and development along the corridor.

According to their press release, the plan is currently addressing three types of recommendations:

– Land Use and Development

– Transportation and Mobility

– Urban Design and Character

Kelly Diekmann, Ames planning and housing director, said this plan would have an effect on student housing choice near campus, such as apartments on S. 4th Street and townhouses along Lincoln Way, which also takes into account how transportation near Iowa State will function and how “transit, bike and walk needs will be met.”

Lillian Pride, senior in horticultural, said she believes that this plan is the essential step in portraying a “cleaner, shinier representation of Iowa State University [and Ames].”

As this plan indicates improvements alongside the active street for the numerous businesses, pedestrian walkways, bike lanes and merging streets, Pride said the Ames City Council has several identifiable areas which in assisting would greatly benefit the students attending Iowa State.

Julia Takemura, senior in integrative studio art, voiced her concern that previous plans might not be incorporated into the new plan. According to the Ames City Council however, that thought has been recognized and previous plans will be integrated to fit with the vision that the new plan holds for the community.

Takemura said she was interested in how she could take part, stating that a goal that she had before she graduated was to assist the local community.

For those who are interested, the Ames City Council is giving the opportunity for those who are wishing to make their ideas heard and influence the outcome in several ways which include:

1. Participating in a survey with drop boxes at Parks Library and the City Library.

2. Attending the next workshop for the plan, predicted to be held near the end of May.

3. Taking a questionnaire survey online answering questions about areas of input.

4. Posting on sMap!, an interactive online feature that allows for pinpointing a place of concern and writing a comment.

Currently, more than three hundred responses have been received through surveys for the Lincoln Way Corridor Plan and Marren said the Planning Committe is looking for input “any way they can receive it.”

Not only that, but public input meetings were held March 2 and 3 for the neighborhoods, community, and businesses to give input on what could be done to improve the Corridor. Another public meeting on April 19, through a presentation by Houseal Lavigne Associates, went over the existing conditions report that stated the conditions, issues and opportunities of the corridor and identified the foundation of the structure of the plan.

Takemura and Pride both say that they plan on contributing and encourage others to do so as well.

For questions or more information, the City of Ames encourages residents to contact Karen Marren at [email protected] or 515.239.5447.