The Iowa Department of Transportation, Tuesday, presented the Iowa Transportation Commission with the draft Fiscal Year 2014-2018 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program. The Program reflects Iowa’s multi-modal transportation system through inclusion of investments in aviation, transit, railroads, trails and highways. A major component of the Program is the highway program, which documents programmed investments in the Primary Highway System for the next five years.
For FY 2014-2018, approximately $2.6 billion is forecast to be available for highway right of way and construction. The highway section was developed to achieve several objectives. The Commission’s primary investment objective remains stewardship (i.e., safety, maintenance, modernization) of Iowa’s existing highway system. More than $1.1 billion is programmed from FY 2014 through FY 2018 for modernization of Iowa’s existing highway system and for enhanced highway safety features.
The highway section also includes significant interstate investments on Interstate 29 in Sioux City, I-29/80/480 in Council Bluffs, and I-74 in Bettendorf/Davenport. Portions of the investments address stewardship needs. Another highway programming objective is developing and constructing capacity and system enhancement projects. The multiyear corridor improvement projects include: U.S. 20 Woodbury County from east of Moville to Correctionville , and Iowa 196 Sac County.
The draft Program is posted and available for public comment on the Iowa DOT’s website www.iowadot.gov/program_management/five_year.html. The Commission is currently scheduled to consider approval of the Program at its meeting June 11 in Council Bluffs.