March 29, 2024

Newton working with DOT on Park and Ride Study

The city of Newton will join in with the effort of the Iowa Department of Transportation on a statewide Park and Ride Study.

The Iowa Park and Ride System Plan will be used to help plan, evaluate and develop a formal statewide system of park and ride facilities, according to the state website.

“To the extent we can help get the word out, elevates Newton’s position in terms of the state investing in a dedicated park and ride commuter lot,” Erin Chambers, director of Newton Planning and Zoning said. “They say Newton is a good candidate.”

A survey is set up at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ParkAndRide2014 for citizens, specifically commuters to answer questions about their travel routines. The short survey consists of questions such as: Do you currently carpool or rideshare to work? Do you believe carpooling opportunities are valued by your community and do you believe it is worthwhile for the state to identify opportunities for additional park and ride facilities in Iowa? The survey, which opened Sept. 2, will be available through Oct. 16.

The state also will be holding seven public meetings throughout the state with the next meeting on Tuesday in Waterloo and Thursday in Council Bluffs. More details about the meeting are provided on the Iowa DOT website.

The city of Newton will undergo a local Park and Ride Study which will be funded through a grant from the regional transportation agency. The local study will give more specific and detailed feedback on local community patterns and possible locations for a Park and Ride lot.

“This study would then pick up where the DOT leaves off in its planning effort, to identify what are the best locations to directly serve Newton citizens. Where are Newton citizens going? Are they going to Des Moines, Marshalltown, Pella? Those are the three we hear most,” Chambers said.

There are already park and ride programs  in place through the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority.

“DART does have van pools that leave Newton to go to Des Moines but also leave Des Moines and come to Newton everyday. They just increased their number of trips to Newton in the last nine months,” Chambers said.

The main objective of the state wide study is to develop a location-specific, priority-based park and ride system that allow for coordinated planning and implementation of park and ride facilities that maintain highway safety, encourage ridesharing and promote energy conservation the website said. They will do this by determining the current need for commuter park and ride services, evaluate the existing system, identify gaps in service and guiding potential system expansion.

Contact Staff Writer Jamee A. Pierson at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com.