The Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization informed the community of the future transportation needs and expansions and gave the community the chance to provide feedback.

The Ames Area MPO gave an update about the Long Range Transportation Plan at their first public meeting Sept. 30 in the Scheman Building. About 25 to 30 community members attended the meeting.

The plan is to help with the future growth of Ames and surrounding areas that are expected to be made more urbanized.

Jason Carbee, with the Metropolitan Planning Organization, gave a 20 minute presentation about the plan and its objectives. He brought up the increase in the usage of CyRide, which has risen about 56 percent over the past decade.

After the presentation, the group had two exercises for the people who attended the meeting to help gather information from the community.

“This plan is the community’s plan,” said Damion Pregitzer, a traffic engineer.

One of the groups was working on a “Geographic Map Exercise.” Participants at the table worked with some of the MPO workers to point out problem areas or mark improvements they, the community, wanted.

During the map exercise, Mike Parsons, an Ames resident and an avid runner in three running clubs, pointed out his desire for a location that stretches about two miles from Ada Hayden Heritage Park to Gilbert.

Parsons said he would like to see a trail made because the current gravel road is too inconvenient for runners and bicyclists due to of the road conditions.

“Whether you drive, bike, use public transit or walk, we want to hear from you about ways we can improve,” said Tony Filippini, Ames Area MPO transportation planner.

The last activity was called “Vision Theme Exercise,” where the different groups in the crowd threw out words to be written on a note board. The idea, Carbee said, was to have ideas along the line of “economic enhancement, safe, implementation and innovative.”

Ames Mobility 2040 is an effort involving the public, state and local officials. It is to help address funding needs and current and future transportation needs. This is the community’s chance to help with the process of this developing plan, Filippini said.

The website, www.AmesMobility2040.com, that is being launched will help the community members stay informed of upcoming events. The website is made to be user-friendly to help gather input from community members, Filippini said.

There will be an interactive map on the website similar to the geographic map exercise that the groups created, but it will be online for anyone to input their thoughts where they think roads, buses and trails could be improved.

The governor of Iowa named the Ames Area MPO in 2003. It includes parts of Story and Boone counties. The project will be updated every five years and will continue until the year 2040.

People interested in learning more information can sign up to receive emails of upcoming events relating to Ames Mobility 2040 at the website, amesmobility2040.com.