This document summarizes the role and impact of Regional Planning Affiliations (RPAs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in Iowa. It notes that RPAs have been operating in Iowa for over two decades, administering transportation planning and public transit systems across the state through Iowa's 17 Councils of Governments. The document highlights statistics on RPA committee membership and meetings that demonstrate their role in public engagement. It also provides examples of planning documents and projects produced through RPA involvement as well as their role in programming funds like Transportation Alternatives Program dollars. Overall, it argues that RPAs have provided value through regional decision making, new project development, and intergovernmental collaboration on transportation issues.

1. Presentation to
RPO America
December 2014

2. IARC Members

3. Iowa RPAs & MPOs

4. Iowa COGs & Transportation
 Administer RPAs (17/18)
 Administer MPOs (5/9)
 Transportation Planning
 Economic Development
 Technical Assistance to Local Gov’ts
 Administer Public Transit Systems (10/16)

5. Iowa COGs & Public Transit

6. RPAs Have Been in Iowa for Two Decades!
 RPA System was devised under ISTEA and fully operational
by the mid-1990s.
 Pooled FAS, FAUS, & some state funds into regional pots
controlled by local boards.
 Regions were locally-determined, and generally reflect pre-existing
planning districts.
 All COGs chosen to be RPA administrators.
 System relatively unchanged through TEA21, SAFETEA-LU,
and MAP-21.
 Gradual increased responsibility for RPAs.

7. Have Two Decades
Produced Quantifiable
Value?

8. RPAs = Improved Public Engagement
 23 FTEs Deployed Throughout Iowa
 233 Members of RPA TAC Committees
 248 Members of RPA Policy Committees
 357 Committee Members (Transit, TAP)
 287 Meetings Held Annually

9. RPA Planning Documents Produced
 Transportation Planning Work Program (TPWP)
 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
 Public Participation Plan (PPP)
 Transportation Improvements Program (TIP)
 Passenger Transportation Plan (PTP)

10. RPAs = Unique Regional Projects

11. RPAs = Best Practices

12. A look at how the funding
shakes out…

14. Planning
1.8%
STP-E
0.1%
State
3.2%
Transit
1.0%
RPA STP Programming
State
1.1%
Transit
0.8%
Planning
1.1%
Transit
0.3%
Planning
1.2%
State
4.6%
State
0.9%
Transit
0.3%
State
0.8% Transit
Planning
1.0% Planning
1.2%
0.9%
94.0% 93.1%
93.9%
97.9%
97.1%

15. Iowa DOT TAP Program
Transportation
Alternatives Program
Alternatives Program
$10,241,972
$10,241,972
50% Available to
Any Area of the State
$4,433,578
to
Area of State
$4,433,578
Recreational
Recreational
Trails
$1,374,817
$1,374,817
50% Required
must used MMPPOOss RRPPAAss TTMMAAss
Discretionary Discretionary for
for
Statewide Awards
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
Distributed By By Population
Population
(can be used for for any eligible
activity e.g. highway, bridge, TAP,
activity e.g. highway, bridge, TAP,
transit, etc.)
transit, etc.)
$3,433,578
$3,433,578
50% Required
Distribution by Population
(must be used for TAP)
$4,433,578
$4,433,578
Note: TAP funded only with appropriated funds. Does not include a
transfer from other programs to match historic levels.
FY2012 Total = $13,537,443
This scenario = $5,433,578 assured plus additional TAP projects selected

16. RPA TAP Programming

17. RPA TAP-Flex Funding
City/County
$965,131
Ethanol Facility in Northern Iowa
TAP
$526,615
Ethanol Facility in West Central Iowa
TAP
$698,831 City/County
$870,948
FFY2014 FFY2015

18. Iowa’s RPA Investment Results
 Regional decision-making for and discussion of a variety
of transportation modes
 Project discussion beyond the benefitting public entity or
its nearby jurisdictions
 Engagement of new populations in the Federal funding
investment process
 New projects brought forward
 Intergovernmental collaboration
 Locally-determined special projects (e.g. sharing, studies)
 Administration costs hover around 1%

19. TThhaannkk YYoouu!!
Rick Hunsaker
Region XII COG
Carroll IA
712.792.9914