Ames City Council considers almost 78 miles of new paths and bikeways. Here's what to know

The city of Ames may be rolling along with almost 78 miles of new paths and bikeways.

A final draft of the city's Walk Bike Roll Bicycle and Pedestrian plan, created by city staff and Toole Design was presented to the Ames City Council on Tuesday, April 16.

The $101.9 million proposal intends to make Ames "a place where walking, biking, and rolling are safe,enjoyable, convenient, and available to everyone." The plan, which was also created with input from two citizen advisory committees, asks the city to encourage alternative transportation by investing in better bikeways, crossways, and sidewalks,

The Ames City Council did not take formal action on Tuesday regarding the final draft. It will appear on a future city council agenda as an action item.

What changes are in the city's bike plan?

New shared-use pathways and widened routes make up a majority of the proposed 77.7 miles. The Walk Bike Roll Bicycle and Pedestrian plan suggests improvements to 108 crossings and 15 sidewalks as well.

Most of the changes are on major city streets like Lincoln Way, Grand Avenue and Duff Avenue.

Adam Wood, a city-hired consultant and senior planner at Toole Design, said many of the city's bicycle and pedestrian accidents happen on those streets.

“This plan was very much intended to be, and is, something that builds upon the existing plans and policy of the city of Ames and of the community,” Wood said.

The proposal also includes new wayfinding guidelines. Wood said Toole Design aims to improve signs and directional cues, making navigation easier for cyclists and pedestrians.

How would the city cover the cost of the bike plan?

Pathways and bikeways account for $74.6 million of the bike plan's total cost. New crossings and improvements are estimated to cost $22.5 million, and additional sidewalk work would total $4.8 million.

The City of Ames annually dedicates funding to "high-priority" transportation infrastructure projects. Starting in fiscal year 2025, the city will commit $1.3 million per year, adding $100,000 annually for the next five years.

Plan organizers believe the city could cover the cost in a 15-to-20-year span if they focus on high-priority projects totaling $18.8 million.

Collaborating toward a common goal

The Walk Bike Roll Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan has been in development since the summer of 2022.

A citizen advisory committee and a technical advisory committee partnered to create a digital biking map.

The city held an open house in November to showcase its initial plans.

Wood said the plan generated input from more than 500 people. Feedback largely consisted of requests for more funding as well as a desire for separate paths or bike boulevards instead of painted bike lanes. Residents also pinpointed specific locations in town that they felt needed upgrades.

The drafted Walk Bike Roll Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan reflects the diversity of cyclists in the community, Wood said.

"What I find very exciting and simultaneously challenging about planning for biking as a form of transportation is there’s such a huge variability in terms of who’s doing it, how fast they can bike and how steep of hill they can go up," Wood said. "All of those factors, there’s much more variability there than there is in planning for traffic, or even walking."

Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.