Feasibility of an Iowa Urban Service Bureau TR-761

With over 900 cities in the state, the level of communication regarding urban public works issues is lacking. The Iowa Chapter of the American Public Works Association provides information through their conference programs and a limited list serve. The Iowa League of Cities also addresses municipal administrative activities. However, no organization is set up to communicate and deal with street issues and other urban public works activities in Iowa. The research plan would involve evaluating the value of an urban service bureau to determine if it is feasible along with potential logistics and costs of implementing such a program. The study would: (1) Conduct a search to determine if any other states have similar organizations. (2) Develop and send electronic questionnaire to all cities to determine the interest in participating in an urban service bureau. Questionnaire will also request feedback on potential services the urban service bureau could provide. (3) Identify potential costs and funding alternatives. (4) Establish draft goals and objectives for an urban service bureau. (5) Establish draft operating guidelines and policies. (6) Evaluate the potential of working with the ICEA Service Bureau, the SUDAS program, or forming an independent organization. (7) Identify a “major mission” for the urban service bureau of specific value to cities that could influence acceptance and funding of the program. (8) If the urban service bureau is determined to be viable, establish a phase 2. Phase 2 would finalize the goals and objectives, establish a funding mechanism, and all elements needed to actually implement the urban service bureau program. Task 1 - Project Management: Conduct project management activities throughout the duration of the project. Work with a technical advisory committee (TAC) and provide project updates on a quarterly basis. Task 2 - Determine Interest: Conduct a search to determine if any other states have similar organizations. Determine the interest in participating in an urban service bureau through a statewide electronic questionnaire to all cities. Task 3 - Determine draft program elements: (1) Identify potential costs and funding alternatives. (2) Establish draft goals and objectives for an urban service bureau. (3) Establish draft operating guidelines and policies. (4) Evaluate the potential of working with the ICEA Service Bureau, the SUDAS program, or forming an independent organization. (5) Identify a “major mission” for the urban service bureau of specific value to cities that could influence acceptance and funding of the program.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $3400
• Contract Numbers:

  Add 672

  TR-761

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Managing Organizations:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Center for Transportation Research and Education
  2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700
  Ames, IA  United States  50010-8664
• Project Managers:

  Goetz, Vanessa

• Principal Investigators:

  Wiegand, Paul

• Start Date: 20181001
• Expected Completion Date: 20190930
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Feasibility analysis; Plan implementation; Public works; Urban areas
• Geographic Terms: Iowa
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01682036
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Iowa Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: Add 672, TR-761
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 26 2018 3:26PM