TAMA-TOLEDO – A local effort to encourage pedestrians to become more active by making intersection crossings safer in the adjoining communities of Tama and Toledo has received $5,000 through a Power of Connection grant jointly administered by ITC Midwest and the Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC).

The twin towns of Tama and Toledo intersect at Highway 30 and Highway 63 overpasses. The intersection of Broadway Street and Business Highway 30 is the only connection between the two cities for pedestrians and active travelers and leads to the community swimming pool. Traffic making a turn onto Broadway does not stop, creating a dangerous pedestrian environment. The communities also have low walkability and biking scores because of minimal pedestrian and biking infrastructure.

The proposed project is to install a crosswalk at Business Highway 30 and Broadway with an additional crosswalk at Broadway and 2nd Avenue. This is the first step to jump-start long-term progress, which was developed through Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Process. The City Councils are committed to developing a plan for sidewalks to provide safe passage between Tama and Toledo.

The Power of Connection grant program, launched in 2019 by ITC Midwest and IRDC, is intended to help fund feasibility studies, strategic planning, and non-construction/equipment elements of a rural project. For the Tama-Toledo project, the funding will be used to offset engineering costs associated with the project.

“By creating a more walkable community through the Tama-Toledo Health Hometown Project, members of the community will have easier access to recreation and movement around the town. This will enable better physical and mental health and improve the overall quality of life in the community,” said Denise Fletcher of the Healthy Hometown Committee. “We are grateful to ITC Midwest and the IRDC for their partnership and for these grant dollars to support our project.”

“Creating a safer pedestrian environment while encouraging more walking and physical activity is a positive step forward for the Tama-Toledo community,” said ITC Midwest President Dusky Terry. “ITC Midwest is proud to support this initiative, which will pave the way for increased interaction and provide additional recreational activities for Tama and Toledo residents.”

Communities eligible for the Power of Connection program must have populations of under 10,000 and be outside of a metropolitan area. Power of Connection grant dollars cannot be used for construction, real estate, or equipment.

For more information about program details, contact IRDC Executive Director Bill Menner at director@iowardc.org or call 641-990-4757.

About ITC Midwest

ITC Midwest LLC is a subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., the largest independent electricity transmission company in the U.S. ITC Midwest operates more than 6,600 circuit miles of transmission lines in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, and Missouri and holds utility status in Wisconsin. ITC Midwest is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and maintains regional operating facilities in Dubuque, Iowa City, Perry, Iowa, and Albert Lea and Lakefield, Minnesota. For further information visit www.itc-holdings.com. ITC is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information, visit www.fortisinc.com.

About the Iowa Rural Development Council

The Iowa Rural Development Council is a non-profit public-private partnership featuring members ranging from federal agencies to utilities, universities and community colleges, and for-profit entities. The Council is a federal Farm Bill-authorized organization that seeks to empower rural communities and bring together partners to advance the interests of rural Iowa.