About

ABOUT

ABOUT IPTA

The Iowa Public Transit Association (IPTA) includes 35 public transit systems that provide local transit services in all of the state’s 99 counties. Iowa’s public transit system includes 19 urban and 16 regional systems. Urban systems provide scheduled route service and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-approved paratransit service in larger Iowa communities. Most regional systems offer demand responsive transit services over a multicounty area outside of the larger communities. Transit systems work with human service agencies, and others, to provide coordinated service for transportation in their areas.


Iowans embrace the convenience and enjoy the benefits of public transportation. Operating in all 99 counties, Iowa’s public transit system has provided more than 126 million rides during the past five years. Public transit has an enormous impact on the economic vitality of the people and communities served.

Iowans use public transit in many ways, including:

  • To get to work and contribute to the tax base;
  • To go to school, improve themselves and contribute to the betterment of their communities;
  • To achieve mobility necessary to accommodate medical needs, maintain an independent lifestyle and ensure top quality of life; and,
  • To go shopping for goods and services, supporting Iowa jobs and strengthening local economies


Public Transit Provides Mobility, Opportunities and Independence for Iowans


Are you interested in becoming an IPTA member? Access our Membership Brochure to learn more.


MEMBERSHIP BROCHURE

Mission

The mission of the Iowa Public Transit Association is to unify, advocate, and advance the interests of Iowa transit systems to influence and gain support from government agencies, legislators, and other entities.

It also is our mission to support the professional development and improvement of members and their systems by providing industry information, training, technical assistance and other opportunities for networking, collaboration, and sharing of ideas and best practices.


Purpose

The board of directors’ purpose is to:

  • Direct the activities of the Iowa Public Transit Association
  • Provide leadership
  • Establish priorities and make decisions
  • Represent the diverse interests of our members
  • Be the "engine" or driving force of IPTA
  • Communicate IPTA's mission and activities to members and other entities


Vision

The Iowa Public Transit Association strives to develop and maintain a common vision among its members regarding which decisions, changes and methods of support will best benefit the public transit industry as a whole. We envision IPTA placing more emphasis on working with the Department of Transportation to improve the process of allocating funds and being more involved in DOT decisions that affect public transit

IPTA Bylaws

Board of Directors

Carl Lingen

Executive Director

Iowa Public Transit Association

515-471-1304

Email

Brian McClatchey

Urban Vice President 

University of Iowa – CAMBUS

319-335-8632

Email

Amy Campbell

State Legislative Consultant

The Advocacy Cooperative

515-554-5838

Email

Brock Grenis

Treasurer

ECICOG

319-365-9941

Email

Barb Neal

Legislative Representative

Ames Transit Agency (CyRide)

515-239-5565

Email

Craig Patterson

State Legislative Consultant

The Advocacy Cooperative

515-554-7920

Email

Ed Redfern

Federal Legislative Consultant

202-345-3052

Email


Mark Lander

Rural Vice President 2019

Southwest Iowa Transit Agency

712-243-4196

Email

Amy Fortenbacher

Secretary

Muscatine City Transit

563-263-8152

Email

Randy Zobrist

Director at Large 2018

Riverbend Transit

563-386-1350

Email

Julia Castillo

President

HIRTA

515-309-9281

Email

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where does Iowa’s public transit system operate and how many people use the service?

    Iowa’s public transit system operates in all of Iowa’s 99 counties, and during the past five years, 126 million rides have been provided on the system.

  • Who uses Iowa’s public transit system?

    Who uses Iowa’s public transit system?

    First, it’s important to recognize that Iowa’s public transit system is available to anyone who wishes to use it. One out of every 16 households does not own a vehicle. This means that according to 2010 census data, of the more than 1.2 million Iowa households, nearly 72,000 are without a vehicle. Many Iowans use public transit to get to medical appointments, to go to work and school, and to go shopping for goods and services. Thousands of people depend on public transit for the mobility they need to maintain an independent lifestyle and ensure a top quality of life. Public transit is critical to serving the basic medical, nutritional, social and day-to-day mobility needs of Iowa’s seniors. Nationally, 62 percent of public transit users are female, 31 percent are senior citizens, and 23 percent are disabled. Nearly 40 percent of the country’s transit dependent population – primarily senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and low income individuals – live in rural areas.

  • How does the use of public transit help with an individual’s household expenses?

    The average household spends 18 cents of every dollar on transportation, 94 percent of which covers the purchase, operation, and maintenance of a personal vehicle. Public transportation provides an affordable alternative to maintaining a personal vehicle.

  • Is there a significant economic impact to Iowa from public transit services?

    Yes! The estimated direct economic benefit of public transit services in Iowa is $33.4 million. Indirect benefits increase the impact times three for a total annual economic benefit of more than $100 million.

  • How is Iowa’s public transit system funded, and is funding adequate?

    Beyond nominal user fees, funding for Iowa’s public transit system comes from a combination of state and federal sources. Secured through a portion of new car sales, state funding continues to be extremely volatile, with year-to-year variances of $1.6 million (ranging from $9.5 million to $11.1 million). Despite the significantly higher costs of doing business, Iowa’s share of gas tax-based federal funding for public transit operational costs has received only small increases during the past five years. During recent years, federal capital funding support in Iowa averaged approximately $15 million. Yet, the new transportation law passed by Congress slashes that support to approximately $5 million annually. During this same period, fuel expenses increased by 60 percent, wages kept pace with living costs, and health insurance rates increased by 8 to 15 percent. Vehicle capital costs also continue to grow by 5 to 10 percent each year as a result of inflation and required additions to meet federal clean air standards. Additionally, in the fiscal year 2011, Iowa received only 0.95 percent ($7.1 million) of the total funds available through the State of Good Repair competitive grants for bus replacement.

  • What are the Iowa legislative priorities for the Iowa Public Transit Association?

    At the local level, the state-regulated transit levy for urban areas has remained at 95 cents/$1,000 valuation since 1991, and there is no levy for counties to support rural operations. 


    The Iowa Public Transit Association believes the following actions are needed to address public transit needs:

    1. New state legislation that creates stable, ongoing funding sources for rural and urban public transit systems;
    2. Increased local funding to ensure Iowans in all 99 counties have access to public transit services, new buses, and reasonable transportation expenses; and
    3. A strong, collaborative approach by elected officials and related state agencies to secure more federal funding.
  • What are the key priorities at the federal level for the Iowa Public Transit Association?

    The Iowa Public Transit Association is pursuing additional state funding, as well as new and additional resources at the local level. Additional federal support also is necessary. 


    The following federal actions are needed to address public transit needs:

    1. Establishing a new five-year surface transportation reauthorization act to deliver funding support, stability, and sustainability for public transit systems;
    2. Adopting a formula-driven bus replacement program that acknowledges and addresses the high cost of bus replacement and provides the necessary federal support to effectively address these needs;
    3. Identifying and employing new/additional stable and dedicated funding for public transportation, including the inclusion of a gas tax increase (included in 2011 federal priorities) and support for the legislation at the federal and state level for Internet sales tax;
    4. Enacting an FY 2014 Appropriation Bill in a timely manner to accommodate transit system planning and service implementation. With the Fiscal Year 2013 Appropriation bill still pending, we must operate under the constraints of a Continuing Resolution until late March 2013; 
    5. Revising charter regulations to enable local transit systems to address community needs not currently being met by registered charter providers.
  • What is the average age of the bus fleet, and how does it align with federal standards?

    Due to the implications of significant variances in state and federal funding, more than half (54 percent) of Iowa’s public transit bus fleet exceeds the federal standard for useful life. The cost to eliminate outdated buses in Iowa is currently $88 million. With an additional $85 million required to maintain Iowa’s bus fleet over the next five years, update costs through 2018 total $173 million. Stable funding is needed to ensure a transportation fleet that is safe and fuel-efficient.

  • What are the environmental benefits of public transportation?

    The environmental benefits of public transportation are substantial. As an alternative to private autos, public transit reduces U.S. gasoline consumption by 4.2 billion gallons and cuts the nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons – the combined equivalent of New York City; Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, and Denver completely eliminating the use of electricity.

  • How does bus transportation compare to other forms of transportation when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions?

    Buses account for only 1 percent of all transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions in Iowa.

  • Can I reduce my own personal carbon footprint by taking public transit?

    Absolutely! According to the American Public Transit Association, an individual who switches his/her commute to public transit can reduce a household’s carbon emissions by 10 percent and up to 30 percent if a second car is eliminated.

  • If I use public transit instead of a personal vehicle, how many gallons of gas a year would be saved, on average?

    Access to bus and rail lines reduces driving by 4,400 miles per hour household annually, according to an American Public Transit Association study. This equates to an individual household reduction of 223 gallons per year, which can be great savings and adds additional money into your personal budget for other household expenses.

  • Does public transit play a key role in supporting Iowa’s workforce?

    Yes! More than 1,600 Iowans work in the public transit industry, and providing access to transportation services enables all businesses to recruit and retain employees from a larger labor pool, which is critical in a tight labor market.

  • Are the operating hours of Iowa’s public transit system aligned with the needs of Iowa’s workforce?

    While Iowan’s public transit system helps thousands of people get to work, expanding system hours is necessary and is an area of emphasis for the Iowa Public Transit Association. There are 428,000 Iowans (or 30 percent of our population) employed in business sectors that traditionally run second and third shifts which have business hours that run after 7 p.m. and/or are open for business on Sundays. The majority of small urban area systems and many of the large urban area systems end their service day between 6:30-7 p.m. and do not operate on Sundays. Adequate funding is the cornerstone of being able to provide expanded services that align with a diverse workforce.

  • How does public transit contribute to Iowans’ earning potential?

    Public transit is essential for Iowans that do not drive, cannot afford a car, or need to reduce their transportation expenses. Through safe, reliable, and affordable transportation, these Iowans are able to become part of Iowa’s workforce. However, their ability to compete for evening, overnight, and weekend employment opportunities is limited due to the public transit system’s limited or non-available service hours after 7 p.m. and on weekends. There are 334,000 Iowans living people the federal poverty level.  These Iowans would have better access to jobs and lower transportation expenses through expanded passenger transportation service. The Iowa Public Transit Association continues to seek additional funding so that service can be expanded for Iowans.

  • How does public transit contribute to a healthier population for Iowa?

    Public transit is critical to serving the basic medical, nutritional, social, and day-to-day mobility needs of Iowans. This is particularly true for the state’s senior population. Iowa ranks No. 1 in the nation for the number of residents 85 and older and No. 5 nationally for people 65 and older. Iowa’s senior segment grows by approximately 5,000 more individuals each year. Unfortunately, 11 percent of Medicaid patients have missed medical appointments due to unreliable transportation. That’s more than 33,000 missed appointments each year, according to the Iowa Statewide Passenger Transportation Funding Study (December 2009). Public transit provides Iowans of all ages with access to various state-sponsored programs – maximizing the impact and success of important initiatives ranging from early childhood development to eldercare human services support.

  • How does public transit support Iowa’s rural communities?

    More support is needed for public transit systems in rural Iowa. Nearly 40 percent of the country’s transit-dependent population – primarily senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals – live in rural areas. Public transportation services in smaller communities and rural areas help revitalize downtown districts, support new businesses, and generate additional employment opportunities. According to the American Public Transportation Association, a higher percentage of rural transit trips are related to medical purposes. In addition, the percentage of people with disabilities is slightly higher in rural areas than in urban areas.

  • The urban population is growing, while the rural population is declining – what does this mean for Iowa’s public transit system?

    While Iowa still has a robust rural population, the Iowa Passenger Transportation Funding Study shows that during the past 60 years, Iowa’s population is shifting from rural and smaller communities to our state’s medium and larger urban areas. With the trend toward growth to larger communities, there is a higher demand for expanded fixed bus routes, paratransit services, and higher levels of public transit services. Extensive and growing urban market public transit needs compete for limited transit support due to existing funding methods at the federal, state and local levels.

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