COUNCIL ACTION FORM

MULTI-MODAL DOWNTOWN TRANSIT HUB STUDY - SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

In September 2025, the City applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program for funds to plan a Multi-Modal Transit Hub in Downtown Ames. The hub would combine a transit center, parking structure, and a visitor welcome center on the City-owned parking lots behind Main Street, between Kellogg Avenue and Clark Avenue. The hub is intended to improve access to Downtown and transportation safety by coordinating the parking structure and transit center with pedestrian, bicycle, and transit connections to Main Street, Tom Evans Plaza, and The Linc.

The City was awarded a $500,000 RTA grant (Award No. 69A6212650036) for this planning work. The grant pays 100% of eligible costs, and no local match is required. The grant agreement was signed on July 30, 2026. The period of performance runs from August 24, 2026, through August 23, 2029.

The City will use the grant to hire a consultant for a financial feasibility (parking revenue/expenditure) study and conceptual design.  The grant requires that the DOT review the Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation before it is issued. Prior to sending the RFP to the DOT, staff is asking City Council to review the draft scope of services and provide input. 

NEEDS EVALUATION:

The study has two parallel paths that both start from a shared needs evaluation. The needs evaluations will consider the current and 20-year parking demand. The grant application estimated the inclusion of 500 parking spaces in the future facility, but the study will set the final size. The evaluation would consider parking usage and turnover in parking stalls to understand utilization rates. The needs evaluation will consider times when Iowa State University is in session. The evaluation will also consider how people reach Downtown by transit, walking, and biking, to ensure that the structure supports safe access to the area.

The needs evaluation would also engage the public and ask participants to consider how they interact with the parking system downtown and their needs and experiences. Additionally, questions will be asked to determine how far respondents are willing to walk for parking, how multimodal priorities can improve their use of the downtown area, etc. The evaluation would also target adjacent business and property owners to gather their input on the downtown parking system and needs that their customers experience. 

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN:

Following the needs evaluation, the first of the two parallel paths of the study includes the conceptual design. This would include sizing a parking structure based on the needs evaluation and public input, including tying into the existing area surrounding Tom Evans Plaza, a potential railroad pedestrian bridge crossing to the Linc development, safe pedestrian, bicycle, vehicle, and transit circulation, multimodal integration, and minor design alternatives. This would be a high level conceptual design and is intended to provide illustrative solutions to the needs evaluation. 

Additionally, the conceptual design would include enough technical study to identify impediments to the project from moving forward. This covers geotechnical work, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, and coordination with the Union Pacific Railroad.

Included in this path would be time for public input regarding the conceptual design. Additionally, staff would seek input directly from adjacent businesses and property owners. Following the public input, the results would be reported back to the City Council for its input and further direction before finalizing the conceptual design.

PARKING RATES AND FINANCES:

The second path would include an evaluation of the current downtown parking system both with and without the proposed structure. The parking rates would be evaluated on costs to maintain the system over the long term, including directing funding that would cover future resurfacing and reconstruction. There would be several rate options developed and presented depending upon how future replacement of surface lots and future maintenance of the parking structure would be financed. The proposed parking rates would include the necessary funding to construct, operate, and maintain the parking ramp. 

Rates will be presented that will be intended to shift users into the structure. This would also free surface lots and curb space to improve transit, pedestrian and bicycle access. The rates evaluation will also look at other options such as paid parking later into the evening hours and time of use variable rates that can fluctuation based upon demand. The intent is to provide flexibility in the design of rates to best fit the needs of the City. 

Proposed parking rates would be included in the public input during review of the conceptual design. Staff would again engage adjacent businesses and property owners. Following the public input, the results would be reported back to the City Council along side the input from the conceptual design. 

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT:

The scope of work includes a Downtown stakeholder group formed from downtown business and property owners (quarterly meetings), an online survey held while Iowa State University is in session, and two public open houses (during need evaluation and presentation conceptual design and rates).

The conceptual design and funding levels will be presented together, so participants can weigh the improvements against what they would cost. The survey and open houses will ask directly which funding level the public is willing to support.

The general public will be surveyed twice for input. First during the needs evaluation, and secondly during the presentation of conceptual design and rate structure.

CITY COUNCIL CHECKPOINTS:

This Council Action is intended as the first checkpoint for the City Council to provide direction for the Multi-Modal Downtown Transit Hub Study. Staff intends at least three checkpoints with the City Council: the needs evaluation (February 2028), the design and fees after public input (November 2028), and the final report (April 2029).

SCOPE OF WORK:

The draft scope has ten tasks, which match the Project Management Plan the City submitted to DOT:

NEXT STEPS:

Pending City Council approval of the scope of services for the RFP, staff will seek DOT approval prior to issuing the RFP to prospective vendors. The consultant will be chosen through qualifications-based selection. Price will not be scored. The City will then negotiate a not-to-exceed fee with the top-ranked firm. DOT must review the negotiated contract, and City Council must approve it. Target dates include:

• DOT review of the RFP: November–December 2026
• RFP issued: January 2027
• Proposals due: February 2027
• City Council contract approval: April 27, 2027
• Notice to proceed: May 3, 2027
• Final report: May 2029

1. Approve the scope of services for the Multi-Modal Downtown Transit Hub Study Request for Proposals as drafted by staff.
2. Approve the scope of services with changes directed by City Council.

The draft scope follows the grant application and guidelines as outlined by the US DOT's staff.  It is intended to identify the current conditions and project the future needs of the Multi-modal Transit Hub including transit and multi-modal access and safety.  Additionally, the study will propose parking rates that are necessary to fund and operate the Downtown parking system. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as noted above.