Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley contacted Iowa City Mayor Matt Hayek regarding efforts to eliminate Metropolitan Planning Organizations for cities with populations under 200,000.

Under current federal law, cities with a population of 50,000 or more are designated a Metropolitan Planning Organization. Iowa City, with only 67,862, could potentially lose the designation.

Metropolitan Planning Organizations are federally funded transportation policymaking organizations that benefit communities by planning roadways.

Hayek conveyed interest in creating grandfather laws to protect existing Metropolitan Planning Organizations such as Iowa City if the 200,000 threshold goes into effect.

In his letter, Grassley stated he would keep Hayek’s expressed concerns in mind as the legislative process continues.

— by Asmaa Elkeurti