Presentation_NADO 2012 Innovation Award_Smarter Travel Pilot StudyECIA Receives $1.6 million for Smarter Travel Pilot Study; Receives Innovation Award
The East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA) was recently awarded a $1.6 million grant from the
Iowa Department of Transportation's Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program ( ICAAP) to conduct a travel study
in partnership with The Jule, the City of Dubuque, and IBM. ICAAP is funded with Congestion Mitigation Air
Quality (CMAQ) funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
As part of the Smarter Sustainable Dubuque research partnership including the City of Dubuque and IBM
Research, ECIA assisted with Dubuque's Smarter Travel Pilot study to collect anonymous data through
smartphone technology on how, when and where volunteer participants travel within the Dubuque
community. The anonymous, aggregate data collected through the study is currently being analyzed and
the findings will be used by the City of Dubuque its transit partners to develop practices and policies that
incorporate lower -cost and lower- impact travel options within Dubuque. The goal of the research is to
identify options for Dubuque commuters to save money, conserve resources, and improve the environment
through better travel choices.
Additionally, the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation awarded
ECIA a 2012 Innovation Award for its role in the Smarter Travel Pilot Study. Award winners will be
showcased during NADO's 2012 Annual Training Conference to be held October 13 -16 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
NADO is a Washington, DC -based association that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local
governments, communities and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and
comprehensive strategies. The association's Innovation Awards program recognizes regional development
organizations and partnering organizations for improving the economic and community competitiveness of
our nation's regions and local communities.
"ECIA is proud to have been selected to receive the NADO Innovation Award for 2012 and just as proud to
be part of the City of Dubuque's Smarter Sustainable Dubuque partnership and the Smarter Travel Pilot
Study. This study has the potential to change the way transit is operated locally, nationally and even
internationally. Our thanks to the Iowa Department of Transportation for supporting this project and the
partnership with over $1.6 million dollars to move the project forward from the design to the
implementation phase," Kelley Deutmeyer, ECIA Executive Director, stated.
ECIA is committed to working with member governments, their citizens, and others to empower eastern
Iowa communities and enhance the quality of life in the five- county region. Through ECIA membership, local
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Dubuque Metropolitan Arca Transportation Study 1 Eastern Iowa Development Corporation 1
1 Eastern Iowa Regional Utility Services System 1 Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority 1 ECIA Business Growth, Inc. I
1 Region 1 Employment and Training 1 ECIA Regional Planning Affiliation 1 Region 8 Regional Transit Authority 1
1 7600 Commerce Park, Dubuque, IA 52002 1 www.ecia.org 1 ecia @ecia.org
1 563.556.4166 1 Iowa only: 800.942.4648 1 Relay Iowa 800.735.2943 1 f: 563.556.0348 I
governments share resources they could not afford individually. The services and programs provided by ECIA
cover six broad categories: Community Development, Economic Development, Housing Assistance,
Employment and Training, Transportation and Planning, and Transit.