The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is asking area residents to share their input on which local transportation projects they would like to see funded. According to a news release, 28 projects are under consideration, including roads and bridges, transit buses and trails. More than $42 million has been requested in a competitive grant process from the Surface Transportation Block Grant program and from the Surface Transportation Block Grant Set-Aside Program. Combined, the programs only have about $14 million available, which means not all projects will be funded. Both grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and administered by the MPO. Residents can read more about the projects on the MPO website, and leave comments on the site through March 26. The projects are scored on how well they meet goals established in Mobilizing Tomorrow, the region’s long-range transportation plan. Recommendations will be based on those scores and public input, and will be presented to the MPO Policy Committee for review in April and again in May for approval. Awarded grants will be allocated in federal fiscal year 2025.