Community input sought for Regional Transportation Plan

Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) is updating the Passenger Transportation Plan (PTP) for the region consisting of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties in northeast Iowa. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that this region’s PTP be updated every five years. The current plan was adopted by the Upper Explorerland Transportation Policy Board in Spring of 2018.

The Passenger Transportation Plan provides the basis for efficient and effective passenger transportation, and for future operations, maintenance and service development. The PTP identifies where there may be duplication of services resulting in scheduling and funding inefficiencies, as well as potential gaps in services and unmet transportation needs for this region’s residents and visitors. The plan includes a description of the region’s existing conditions, identifies current passenger transportation challenges and coordination issues, anticipates potential future needs, and explores various strategies for addressing those challenges and needs.

The current Passenger Transportation Plan is available to view on UERPC’s website, uerpc.org/transportation. To ensure that the updated PTP reflects the needs and goals of the people who live in and visit this region, the public is invited and encouraged to complete an online survey about passenger transportation in the northeast Iowa region. The survey only takes about five to 10 minutes to complete, and responses will be kept anonymous and confidential. The data collected will only be used in aggregate.

All residents and visitors of the five-county region are encouraged to complete the survey, regardless of whether they utilize transit or ride services. All feedback is important and valued. The survey can be accessed at tinyurl.com/bdfy6y7s or by using a smart phone to scan the QR code accompanying this article. Members of the public can also request a paper copy or copies of the survey by contacting Aaron Detter at adetter@uerpc.org or 563-382-6171.