In the 2018 Business Record’s Leaders Survey, we asked readers about many topics. Some results and comments were published in the Nov. 30 issue. (You can read them here.) We’re publishing extra results this week in the AM and PM Dailies.

Here’s a question and comments from survey respondents on Greater Des Moines’ projected growth to 1 million residents by 2040. (The Business Record tackled this topic also at a Power Breakfast. See the video here.)

Agree or disagree: Greater Des Moines is adequately preparing for the projected population growth to 1 million in the next 40 years.
Agree: 35.5%
Disagree: 28%
I’m not sure: 35.5%
(Not all respondents answered so the percentages do not add up to 100 percent.)

Readers’ comments:

Brad Blackman, vice president, Henriksen Group
I’m not sure. Everybody is trying, but there is much to be done.

Amber Bryant, account manager, Lessing-Flynn
Agree. I’m seeing great improvements in infrastructure.

Mark Core, educator, East High School
Disagree. The transportation infrastructure is already strained. A doubling of traffic is unimaginable without massive investment in improvements.

Alan Feirer, owner, Group Dynamic
Disagree. Infrastructure, including mass transit, isn’t ready and it doesn’t look like we’re headed that direction aggressively enough. Also affordable housing is needed to handle the growth of all income levels the growth would create.

Tom Flynn, president, Lessing-Flynn
Agree. I feel our local leadership (both public and private sectors) have been forward thinking. I believe there has been an effort in this area to invest in and drive change instead of react to it.

Paul Gibbins, executive director, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Polk
County
I’m not sure. Ankeny is managing their growth well, though I am not sure about the rest of the metro.

Keith Gredys, CEO and president, Kidder Benefits Consultants
Agree. At this time, one of the strengths of the area is there are competitive pressures between the different cities. This has created an atmosphere for long-term planning and creative approaches to attract and retain people as well as planning to accommodate growth.

Todd Kielkopf, president, Kielkopf Advisory Services
Agree. Capital spending by most stakeholders is routinely targeted to growing education, transportation and public services capacities.

Mike Ralston, president, Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Agree. Local governments have strong planning initiatives in place.

James I. Mackay, owner, James Mackay LLC
Disagree. Absent a “unigov” combination of municipalities in the region, it seems sufficient collaboration to pull together the necessary financing is unlikely.

Chris Sackett, managing partner, BrownWinick Law Firm
Agree. I think we are doing all we can. I trust our visionaries and planners and believe they are doing a great job, but a 40-year plan is an ongoing project.

Cory W. Sharp, architect, FEH Design
Disagree. A better focus needs to be taken on the spaces between downtown and the suburbs — there are great opportunities in these areas for revitalization rather than to continue the urban sprawl.

Pat Steele, director, Central Iowa Works
I am not sure we are doing as much as we should in housing, daycare, transportation and education.

Bernie Stone, executive director, Strategic Scouts Consulting
Disagree. Traffic is worse in just two years; the 515 needs to get ahead of this now, not play catch-up in 20 years.

Georgia Van Gundy, executive director and board secretary, Iowa Business Council
I’m not sure. I am not sure what the plans are for this type of growth. Unfortunately it will come at the expense of our rural communities, which will impact the state’s overall economy.

Scott Turczynski, vice president/owner, Heartland Cos.
Disagree. Our main roadways will be inadequate for that type of growth.

Robin Salsberry, president, Prositions Inc.
I’m not sure. Schools, education, the hungry need more and better attention. We need to put more emphasis on education, teachers, and assisting those who need assistance.

Brendan Comito, COO, Capital City Fruit Co.
Disagree. The suburbs are an unplanned disaster. They have too many isolated neighborhoods that force traffic to arterial roads. They would have been better off with a grid street system with a mix of housing, businesses and retail instead of segregating those segments.

Kevin Lentz, president, Performance Marketing Group
I’m not sure. So many things can and will happen in 40 years. As long as there are long-term plans that support long-term vision — based on reasonable assumptions and reasonable and responsible leadership  — Greater Des Moines should be fine