The Iowa Transportation Commission recently approved the $4.3 billion fiscal year 2026-2030 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program crafted by the Iowa Department of Transportation.
The agency's multimodal transportation system entails project investments in aviation, public transit, railroads, trails and highways over the next five years based on the forecasted availability of state and federal funding.
In a statement, Iowa DOT said that the commission "prioritizes investments" that improve the safety and condition of existing state highways and bridges; thus, its FY 2026-2030 program includes approximately $3.8 billion for highway and bridge improvements.
The agency said significant investments in bridges were made over the last 19 years, dropping the number of poor condition bridges on the state highway system from 256 in 2006 to 26 in 2025. Concurrently, the FY 2026-2030 program includes nearly $1.6 billion of additional bridge investments.
Other state departments of transportation across the country are working on similar infrastructure investment plans for their respective regions.
For example, the North Dakota Department of Transportation is soliciting public feedback — both online and in person — for its "Transportation Connection Update: 2025-2050" long-range plan, which will help guide the state's transportation policies and investments for the next 25 years.
"Every North Dakotan, in every part of the state, deserves a transportation system that works for them," said Ron Henke, North Dakota DOT director, in a statement. "Updating ‘Transportation Connection' gives us the chance to incorporate public input as we shape a transportation future that's safe, reliable and well-connected for everyone."
