Iowa Public Works Service Bureau

Over the past year, a study to determine the interest in developing a public works service bureau in the state of Ohio was conducted. The premise is that a public works service bureau would provide a mechanism of communication and information exchange regarding emerging issues as well as to improve efficiency of public works operations. Following positive responses to a questionnaire sent to all cities with a population of at least 250 people, the organizational structure and costs associated with a public works service bureau was examined. The recommended organizational structure calls for development of a service bureau within the umbrella of the Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS) program at Iowa State University. Permanent funding for the service bureau is proposed as an off-the-top allocation of 1/8 of 1% from the city portion of the Road Use Tax fund. That funding mechanism would mirror the type of funding of the Iowa County Engineers Association Service Bureau. PHASE 2 CONCEPT It is likely to take the better part of two years to successfully complete a legislative change and the required administrative processes to set up the service bureau street construction funding. Therefore, interim financing for startup activities is critical. The Phase 2 proposal would involve establishing the Iowa Public Works Service Bureau within the SUDAS program by initiating the activities identified in the approved recommendation from the feasibility study (IHRB Project TR-761). The recommended actions include a two-year startup. The first year of Phase 2 involves expanding SUDAS staff to include a webmaster/programmer and a subcontractor to work on the initial database applications. As that work is being accomplished, SUDAS staff will initiate discussions with involved organizations and their members about support for the proposed legislative change to establish the off-the-top allocation from the Road Use Tax Street Construction Fund. The second year of Phase 2 would involve the addition of a second programmer in order to expand database applications. In addition, a major focus will be working with the Governor’s office and the legislature to pass the Road Use Tax off-the-top allocation to create the permanent funding source. Establish the Iowa PWSB website, market the service bureau to cities throughout the state, initiate and populate database applications, and modify the Road Use Tax law to establish a public works service bureau fund through designation of a 1/8 of 1% off-the-top allocation.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $880,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  TR-794

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Iowa Department of Transportation

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

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010

  Iowa Highway Research Board

  Iowa Department of Transportation
  800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Project Managers:

  Goetz, Vanessa

• Performing Organizations:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Institute for Transportation
  2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700
  Ames, Iowa  United States  50010-8664
• Principal Investigators:

  Wiegand, Paul

• Start Date: 20210301
• Expected Completion Date: 20260228
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administrative procedures; Infrastructure; Planning and design; Public works; Public works departments; Transportation
• Geographic Terms: Ohio
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01945650
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Iowa Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: TR-794
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 12 2025 7:00PM