Ames committee recommends full awards for four STBG applications

MPO staff told the committee the 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity solicited applications for federal fiscal years 2027–2030 and that applications must be listed in the short-term fiscally constrained plan (AIMS Connect 2050) unless they are maintenance-only projects. Four applications were received — three from the City of Ames and one from CyRide — and staff and the technical committee scored projects on network impact (60%), alignment with AIMS Connect 2050 (25%), readiness (10%) and public involvement (5%).

Staff recommended awarding the full requested amounts to all four projects, saying the projects demonstrated alignment with the MTP and benefit to the network, and that expected MPO formula funds could cover the awards. Projects included transit vehicle purchasing for CyRide, reconstruction work on East 13th and a mill-and-overlay on Duff Avenue. Council members asked whether the STBG awards displaced any short-term projects; staff explained member agencies choose what to apply for and did not identify any projects that were pushed back due to these awards.

The committee moved and approved the resolutions to allocate the STBG funds to the recommended projects.