Marcus Coenen, AICP, PTP

Marcus Coenen, AICP, PTP is a Senior Planner with the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and a nationally recognized leader in transportation planning, emerging technologies, and data-driven decision-making. With more than a decade of experience across public agencies and private consulting, Marcus focuses on improving safety, advancing innovation, and delivering measurable outcomes for communities.

At the MPO, Marcus leads performance measurement, data analysis, mapping, and travel-demand forecasting, and played a key role in developing the region’s Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. He currently supports the MPO’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2045 through crash analysis and cross-jurisdictional coordination. A defining achievement of his career is the Iowa Data Bike, an innovative bicycle-based data collection initiative that has received national recognition and been replicated by agencies across the country.

Beyond his professional work, Marcus is deeply committed to civic leadership and neighborhood engagement. Marcus has previously served as APA Iowa Treasurer and Vice President, along with serving on the Conference Planning Committee for many years. Marcus has a Bachelor’s Degree in History and a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Iowa.

Des Moines Area MPO, e-mail