City of Cedar Rapids

42nd Street NE at Seminole Valley Road NE Railroad Crossing Improvements

Key Details:
The railroad crossing near 42nd Street NE and Seminole Valley Road NE is the residents' only access point into the neighborhood west of the railroad tracks. Should a vehicle-train crash cause the closure of this intersection, access to the neighborhood may be blocked. This project is designed to limit the risk of vehicle-train collisions at the railroad crossing through improved signage and additional railroad crossing safety measures.

• Start of Construction: December 7, 2022 (three weeks of work)
• Traffic Impacts During Construction: Minor road shoulder work, no lane closures
• Improvements: New railroad signal (completed by railroad forces), pavement marking, signage, storm sewer, minor pavement work, and grading/restoration

Project Components:

• Railroad Safety Enhancements
• New railroad signals and gate arms at 42nd Street/Seminole Valley Road and Iowa Northern Railroad crossing
• Advanced flashing signage when the crossing signal is activated
• Street Work
• Pavement markings and signage to provide better guidance through the crossing, and minor pavement work.

This small but important project will provide needed safety enhancements at the existing railroad crossing. This project is a joint safety improvement project between the City, Linn County, Iowa DOT Rail Bureau, and Iowa Northern Railroad. The project is being funded with a 90% grant from the Rail Transportation Bureau with matching funds of 5% being provided by the Iowa Northern Railroad and the other matching 5% funds covered by Linn County and the City. 

1st Avenue & CeMar Trail (27th Street - 34th Street)

• Construction: 2020-2021
• Traffic Impacts: Lane reductions will be in effect, with temporary side street closures.
• Improvements: Pavement reconstruction, utilities, pedestrian underpass at the CeMar trail, sidewalk, driveways, streetscaping, traffic signal upgrades, realignment of 27th Street intersection 

Last year, significant progress was made on the pedestrian underpass between 29th Street and 32nd Street. Crews removed the old railroad bridge, constructed temporary travel lanes, and worked on underground utilities throughout the winter. Work has resumed on the construction of the new pedestrian underpass and utility and pedestrian improvements, which will be completed during the 2021 construction season. The work this year will also include realigning the 27th Street intersection to improve sight visibility and reduce crashes. 

2021 Construction at a Glance

• Segment: 27th Street - 28th Street; east side of 31st Street - 34th Street
• Completion of a pedestrian underpass
• 27^th Street intersection realignment to improve sight visibility and reduce crashes
• Modifying on-street parallel parking at 3200 block:  including on-street ADA parking spaces, functional 6’ sidewalk, street trees, brick pavers, and paved area 

• New pedestrian-friendly traffic signals at 27th Street, 29th Street, and 32nd Street
• Sidewalk repairs and ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps at all intersections
• The completion of the ADA-compliant pedestrian path under 1st Avenue, with continuous LED lighting

1st Avenue E (10th Street - 12th Street)

• Construction: 2021
• Traffic Impacts: Single-lane closures (one lane open in each direction). One lane is maintained on Coe Road / 12th Street at all times. Access will be maintained to all businesses and medical facilities.
• Improvements: The project includes pavement repairs, curb, and gutter repairs; sidewalk replacement and ADA improvements; and replacement of traffic signals at 1st Avenue and 12th Street. As part of the project partnership with MedQuarter, aesthetic improvements are also included, such as decorative brick pavers, colored sidewalks, tree planting, and street light upgrades (privately funded).

Edgewood Road NE (Town Centre Way Blairs Ferry Road)

• Construction: 2021
• Traffic Impacts: Lane reductions and temporary side street closures; temporary night closures
• Improvements: Replacing the pavement, modifying the traffic signals, adding pedestrian accommodations, and establishing additional turn lanes at the intersection of Edgewood Road and Blairs Ferry Road. The project's first phase, between Highway 100 and Town Centre Way, was completed in 2020.

Tower Terrace Road Phase 1 (C Avenue to Alburnett Road)

• Construction: Tentative 2021+
• Improvements: A joint project with the City of Marion, the project stretches from C Avenue to Alburnett Road. Preliminary plans for the intersections and roadway extension include a roundabout at Tower Terrace Road and C Avenue, and Tower Terrace Road & Barnsley Lane.  The project is still in the preliminary design phase, with the final design and construction schedule still being finalized based on the timing of funding. Construction on the first phase on the easterly end of the project would start no sooner than 2021. 
• Learn more: Tower Terrace project | Download the most recent open house flyer

Quiet Zone
The City of Cedar Rapids has been studying and working towards implementing a train horn quiet zone along the 4th Street rail corridor through the downtown and NewBo areas for the last several years. Learn more about this initiative. 

Trail Construction

Cedar Valley Nature Trail

• Area: Over the next three years, changes to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail will be underway from J Ave NE to Cedar Lake as permanent flood control comes online.
• Construction: 2020 - 2023
• Improvements: Flood control projects will rework the alignment of the trail and include a separate trail bridge over McLoud Run Creek, an underpass for Shaver Road, and a 15’ wide trail on top of a levee.
• The levee and trail system will include amenities such as a trail parking lot, pedestrian benches, and scenic viewpoints.
• A temporary detour will be in place to bypass this area until the completion of the flood control work.

CeMar Trail 

• Area: When complete, the CeMar Trail will provide a connection from Cedar Lake to Marion
• Completed Segments: Bike lanes currently connect Cedar Lake to Daniels Park, and work has already been completed to continue the trail connection alongside the Mount Mercy University Athletic Complex and further east toward 29th Street NE
• 2020 Improvements: H Avenue NE from Cedar Lake Loop Trail (west of Shaver Road) to Oakland Road. 6-foot wide sidewalks, on-street bike lanes, stormwater drainage improvements, and ADA enhancements.
• 2021 Improvements: The final segment will be completed in 2021 and will include a pedestrian underpass at 1st Avenue E between 29th Street and 32nd Street, where it will connect with Marion’s segment near Mt. Calvary Cemetery

Cherokee Trail 

• Area: The Cherokee Trail will connect the Ellis Trail and Downtown to neighborhoods and destinations on the far west side including Jacolyn Park, Cherry Hill Park, and Morgan Creek Park near Highway 100.
• 2020 Improvements: E Avenue NW, from the Morgan Creek Park entrance to Stoney Point Road; continues south from Stoney Point Road to Cherry Hill Park. Trail, pavement, and pedestrian/sidewalk upgrades.
• 2021-2022 Improvements: Between Cherry Hill Park and Cherokee Park. 
• Completed: Trail work connecting Morgan Creek Park to Cherry Hill Park, including a section of trail thru Cherry Hill Park, has already been completed.

• Area: When complete, the Lindale Trail would extend from C Ave NE to the intersection of 51st St NE and Center Point Rd NE, where it would intersect the Cedar River Trail segment of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. 
• 2021 Improvements: Between Council St NE and C Ave NE, south of Blairs Ferry Rd NE.
• Completed: Currently, the trail is complete from C Ave to Boyson Park in Marion, where it connects to the northern end of the CeMar Trail.  

Edgewood Road Trail

• Area: East side of Edgewood Road, from Ellis Road NW to the Cedar River bridge
• Construction: 2020 - 2021
• Improvements: The 10’ wide trail also incorporates sidewalk and ADA improvements
• Traffic Impacts: Periodic lane reductions on northbound Edgewood Road
• Completed: The segment from O Avenue to Ellis Road NW was completed in 2019, which included traffic signal and sidewalk/ADA improvements for trail access
• Future Segments: Future segments will extend the trail from the Cedar River Bridge to Glass Road NE and eventually to Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Boyson Rd, and County Home Rd

Sac and Fox Trail Extension 

• Area: The Sac and Fox Trail Extension will ultimately connect the Sac and Fox trailhead at East Post Road SE with the CeMar Trail at 20th Street NE.
• 2021 Improvements: An off-street trail segment will be completed during construction on Cottage Grove Avenue SE from 1st Avenue to Forest Drive.

Recently Completed Road Projects

Bowling Street SW (50th Avenue to Wilson Avenue)

• Construction: 2020 - 2021
  
• Traffic Impacts: Lane reductions during the 2021 construction season
• Improvements: Improvements last year included upgrades to the CRANDIC railroad crossing between 49th Avenue Drive SW and 43rd Avenue SW (new street crossing, new rail signal, and trail/sidewalk crossing upgrades. This year, construction will focus on pavement improvements on Bowling Street SW, between 50th Avenue SW and Wilson Avenue SW. In addition to pavement repairs, Bowling Street SW will also be converted from four lanes (two lanes in each direction) to three lanes (one lane in each direction with a dedicated center turn lane). This layout results in fewer rear-end crashes and improves safety by providing a shared middle turn lane for drivers making left-hand turns, without impacting traffic flow.

1st Avenue East (6th Street - 10th Street)

• Completed: 2020
• Partnership with the MedQuarter (streetscape and aesthetic improvements privately funded)
• Public Improvements: Asphalt, curb, gutter, sidewalk, and ADA improvements, new or modified traffic signals at 7th St, 8th St, and 10th St, two new northbound lanes on 8th Street for easier I-380 access
• Private Improvements: Decorative brick & concrete parkway pavers, tree planting beds, decorative parking lot screening, street light upgrading, landscaping, and benches

1st Avenue East (2nd Street - 5th Street)

• Completed: 2020
• Improvements: Raised medians for pedestrian refuge; flashing pedestrian signals; additional pushbuttons in the center median for those crossing too late in the cycle; decorative fencing, landscaping, and parking restrictions to reduce unsafe mid-block pedestrian crossings; trail and crosswalk moved from the west side of the railroad tracks to the east side

Williams Boulevard and Dean Road SW 

• Completed: 2020
• Improvements: Roundabout installed to address the history of crashes. Learn more about the Williams and Dean project

• Years of Construction: Spring 2018 – 2019 
• Construction cost: $7.4 million, City-funded portion of the project is 24%
• Improvements: Additional travel lanes, additional turn lanes, traffic signals with pedestrian push-buttons, and stormwater management.
• Learn more: Collins Road project

• Completed: 2019
• Construction Cost: $1.8 million
• Improvements: Pavement reconstruction, ADA-compliant sidewalks, on-street bike lanes, and streetscape improvements meeting the goals of the MedQuarter Parkway Improvement Plan.