Updated as of August 2025
Purpose
A public participation plan is essential for a public transit agency because it ensures that community voices are meaningfully included in decision-making processes. Through structured engagement, CAMBUS can better understand the many needs, priorities, and concerns of riders and stakeholders.
CAMBUS’ public participation plans are designed to provide the university community and the general public with effective access to public transit services and provide a variety of methods for receiving and considering public comment.
This public participation plan is a “living” document that is updated periodically to reflect current and effective practices for soliciting and considering public participation.
Communication channels for public feedback
The public is encouraged to provide feedback on CAMBUS services through the following channels:
CAMBUS website: The University of Iowa Parking and Transportation Department website provides a form for submitting electronic feedback to CAMBUS staff on the “Contact Us” page. The “Contact Us” page also includes contact information for the CAMBUS management team. https://transportation.uiowa.edu/contact-us
Email: CAMBUS maintains a general email account, cambus-transit@uiowa.edu. The public may submit inquiries, ask questions about services, or provide service feedback.
Phone call: Community members may call the CAMBUS dispatcher at 319-335-8633 to provide feedback on services. All feedback is documented and forwarded to the CAMBUS management team for response and consideration.
Public meetings and public hearings: CAMBUS uses the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC) public participation plan regarding public meetings and public hearings. More information on this plan is found below.
Title VI policy
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the Federal law that protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of their race, color, or national origin in programs that receive Federal financial assistance. In regard to the policy, any person who believes they have, individually, or as a member of any specific class of persons, been subjected to discrimination by the Cambus program, may file a complaint with the Cambus manager, 242 WCTC, Iowa City, Iowa 52242; by telephone (319) 335-8632, or by email at cambus-transit@uiowa.edu.
ADA policy
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity and access for persons with disabilities. Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination under the ADA based on their disability may file a complaint with the CAMBUS Manager, 242 WCTC, Iowa City, Iowa 52242; by telephone (319) 335-8632, or by email at cambus-transit@uiowa.edu within 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination.
Public meetings and public hearings
As a recipient of federal funding, CAMBUS is required to provide the public with the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed major service changes or proposed fare changes. For these types of proposed changes, CAMBUS utilizes the MPOJC public participation plan.
When a public meeting or hearing is held
CAMBUS will use its public participation plan when considering modifications to routes and schedules, other transit planning projects, or fare changes, including:
Annual proposal of transit Program of Projects
Revisions, amendments and updates to the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP)
A new service area is established
Elimination of service to an area
A major reduction involving 25% or more of the route miles of the system
Any change to the CAMBUS fare structure
Today, all CAMBUS services are fare-free
Accessibility statement
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact CAMBUS manager Mia Brunelli in advance at mia-brunelli@uiowa.edu.