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The MPO
Wants to Know...

While the MPO is not a public transportation provider, we coordinate with the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA), and non-profit transportation providers to plan and improve public transportation.

Developed in 2005 by local business and community leaders, the Transit 2030 Vision Task Force established a vision for the metropolitan area to move on a world-class transportation system that:

          - Invigorates the local economy, reduces reliance on single-occupant vehicles, and                      guarantees the shortest commute to work time of any metropolitan area in America;
          - Plays a proactive role in planning and growing a connected community composed of a                      vibrant downtown Des Moines, thriving neighborhoods, and outstanding suburban                      communities;
          - Enhances quality of life by making it possible for everyone to enjoy all facets of
                     culture, entertainment, and education;
          - Innovates and leads in providing regional and multimodal mobility solutions in a cost-
                     efficient and cost-effective manner; and,
          - Attracts customers by providing safe, convenient, accessible, clean, affordable, and
                    comfortable service.

Working through the Public Transportation Roundtable's Transportation Advisory Group (TAG), the MPO annually develops a Passenger Transportation Plan (PTP). The need for the PTP arises from the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the federal transportation reauthorization bill that calls for an increased effort in the coordination of transportation services. As a result, the Iowa Department of Transportation requires metropolitan planning organizations and regional planning agencies to develop a PTP annually.

The PTP requires an inventory of existing transportation services and providers, an assessment of unmet transportation needs, and the development of projects to address identified needs. Funding amounts and sources for any transit projects to be included in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) first must be included in the PTP, along with justification for each element. The MPO collaborates with the Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance (CIRTPA) to develop a PTP encompassing the larger eight-county central Iowa area.