The Iowa Transportation Commission approved $5.3 million in Statewide Transportation Alternatives Set-aside Program grants at its Tuesday meeting.
The program supports projects that expand the state’s multimodal transportation system, provide safe routes to school, have a statewide or multiregional impact, or enhance tourism. Grants are awarded annually and are awarded to cities, counties, school districts, or other eligible organizations.
Approximately 20 percent of funding is for safe routes to school projects, and the majority of funding is distributed to Iowa’s metropolitan planning organizations and regional planning affiliations for the selection of local projects.
Awardees are:
The Central City Pedestrian Bridge was awarded $1.4 million, and the Iowa Safe Routes Partnership, through the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments, was awarded $312,002. Both are safe routes to school projects.
The Pottawattamie County Conservation Board was awarded $1.9 million for the Great American Rail Trail: Weston to Underwood project.
The Summer Street – Dankwardt Park Connector Trail in Burlington was awarded $750,000.
Camanche Trail Extensions was awarded $500,000.
The University of Northern Iowa Tallgrass Prairie Center was awarded $447,956 for UNI Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management.
The commission also awarded $3.06 million for three RISE program projects. The program funds the construction or improvement of roads and streets.