by Bill Petroski, Des Moines Register

Iowa Department of Transportation officials are requesting public input at six public meetings into the development of a new statewide plan for bicycle and pedestrian transportation

This plan will build upon the Iowa DOT’s long-range strategy for multi-modal transportation over the next three decades, Iowa in Motion – Planning Ahead 2040, officials said.

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Long-Range Plan has three key objectives:

1. Align with national best practices, including the federal transportation funding bill called Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) and national guidelines for trail development.

2. Develop a list of priorities to expand the trails system between and within cities.

3. Help state and local agencies to put the plan in place by providing tools for funding and design.

This plan will serve as the primary guide for statewide decision-making regarding bicycle and pedestrian programs and facilities, including sidewalks, trails, bike lanes, paved shoulders, and other trail elements, officials said. It will also help achieve a better level of statewide coordination and continuity for all levels of bicycle and pedestrian mobility through regional, county, and city plans and programs.

In addition, this plan will help improve safety for all road users, reducing crashes, and bringing Iowa closer to achieving the goal of zero fatalities on Iowa’s roadways, officials said.

Here is a list of public meetings:

Cedar Rapids
Monday, Nov. 4, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.
Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 6 Office
Conference room
5455 Kirkwood Blvd. SW.
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Fairfield
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013
5 to 6:30 p.m.
Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 5 Office
Materials training conference room
307 W. Briggs
Fairfield, IA 52556

Des Moines
Monday, Nov. 18, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.
Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Burnham conference room
420 Watson Powell Jr. Parkway, Suite 200
Des Moines, IA 50309

Sioux City
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.
Wilbur Aalfs Library
529 Pierce St.
Sioux City, IA 51101

Atlantic
Monday, Nov. 25, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.
Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 Office
2210 E. Seventh St.
Atlantic, IA 50022

Mason City
Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.
Mason City’s City Hall, second floor conference room
10 First St. NW
Mason City, IA 50401

People can also go online to the project’s web site at  http://www.IowaDOT.gov/BikePedPlanto sign up for progress report emails.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/10/25/iowa-dot-wants-public-input-to-help-develop-statewide-plan-for-bicyclists-pedestrians/article

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