Robert Ashby

Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director R. Todd Ashby has been recognized with a national leadership award for his work to establish the forthcoming Des Moines Transload Facility. The Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) named Ashby as the 2015 recipient of the Ronald F. Kirby Memorial Award for Outstanding Individual Leadership. Ashby was nominated for the award by the Urban Land Institute Iowa (ULI). "I'm humbled and honored by the award and would like to say the entire MPO organization deserves credit," Ashby said. "I am fortunate to work with so many bright and passionate people on our volunteer committees and on the MPO staff." Once complete, the Transload Facility will serve businesses within an estimated 150-mile radius of Greater Des Moines by connecting the trucking network to the rail network. The Transload Facility is expected to open in 2016. Ashby was singled out for this recognition because of his behind-the-scenes leadership in fostering an idea into action. "Todd Ashby went beyond identifying an innovative solution to a problem that was not being addressed elsewhere -- he stepped up to the plate and delivered," said Larry James, Jr., chair of ULI. "But for his efforts, the project might never have happened."