The Iowa Department of Transportation released its update to the Iowa Public Transit Long Range Plan, after 18 months in development.
The plan reflects the current operating environment, the department said, as well as the current needs of Iowa’s public transportation system. Included in the assessment was research into the historical trends in demographics and passenger transportation usage, forecasting into future projected needs and strategies to address possible challenges.
A number of findings within the plan will impact the success of public transit in the state, the department said.
For one, public transit will have to overcome some challenges to achieve its potential, despite the use of older transit vehicles, a limited pool of qualified drivers, perceptions of overcrowding on transit vehicles, and changes in technology, such as ride-hailing and automated vehicles.
Additionally, the state’s rural transit regions will continue to see a decrease in population and an increase in the age of its rider, while its urban transit regions will see an increase in population growth and density, which provides a challenge to ensure all of the state’s residents have adequate access to public transportation.
The plan also looked at the economics of public transit, as well as the importance of ensuring public transportation access for essential segments of the economy by ensuring a reliable transportation system continues to provide service despite outside influence, as shown by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The department said it will now transition its planning process to an implementation process by expanding on its partnerships with key stakeholders to guide investment amongst the state’s 35 public transit systems and support the state’s vision of adequately “rightsizing the system.”