Mid City Trail

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skinzfan23
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Mid City Trail

Post by skinzfan23 »

Council approves Mid-City Trail
The western portion of this trail would hook up with the current River’s Edge Park/Iowa Riverfront Trail that allows trail users to go back and forth between Omaha and Council Bluffs on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge over the Missouri River, Council Bluffs Parks Director Larry Foster said.
It would also provide a more convenient and safe pedestrian connection to and from the riverfront, Foster said. The main portion of this second phase of the Mid-City trail would run along the proposed First Avenue, currently an old railroad bed, just south of West Broadway.
To the west, it would go under Interstate 29/480 to hook up with the river trail and go under the Broadway Viaduct on the east to hook up with the existing Mid-City Trail. Traveling along First Avenue, the trail would go through the Thomas Jefferson High School campus between South 27th and South 25th streets.

The trail would be of concrete 10 feet in width, he added. Lighted post-like fixtures, known as bollards, along with rest benches and landscaping are also part of the project.

An engineer’s cost estimate for this project is $955,726, with $714,000 coming from the Iowa Department of Transportation. The remaining amount is coming in the city’s capital improvement projects.
The IDOT is in charge of the construction bidding process, since it’s the primary funding source, Foster said. The timeline will also be in the hands of the state agency.
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skinzfan23
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Re: Mid City Trail

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City planners ready to head down the trail
The City of Council Bluffs is now collecting bids for Phase 1 of the long-discussed trail on the former railroad right-of-way that runs through the First Avenue Corridor, according to a city official.

The paved trail, expected to cost $6.5 million, will stretch 1.8 miles from 16th Street to 35th Street, linking with existing trail stubs on both ends, he said. Funds from the Iowa West Foundation are expected to cover about half of that.

Phase 1 includes the section from 25th Street to 35th Street, and Phase 2 will be the part from 16th to 25th Streets, Garrett said. The cost of Phase 1 has been estimated at $3 million to $3.5 million. Construction is expected to begin sometime this spring.

The trail pavement will be made up of a 10-foot-wide swath of asphalt bordered by two-foot concrete shoulders, taking up just 14 feet of the 66-foot-wide easement, Garrett said. The asphalt will provide a continuous smooth surface for bicyclists, runners, those riding in strollers or wheelchairs and other users. It will run along the south edge of the space, and the rest will feature grass and other landscaping.

Every three or four blocks, users will come to a plaza with benches, bicycle racks and, eventually, public art, he said. There will be a total of seven plazas, including three that are 100 feet long and four that are 60 feet long. The larger plazas will be sited near the intersections of 16th, 25th and 35th Streets.
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ita
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Re: Mid City Trail

Post by ita »

Nice looking trail project. I like the plazas every few block; we always need more public spaces for the community to meet each other. Thanks for the update!
ita
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Re: Mid City Trail

Post by ita »

Trail connecting Council Bluffs, Omaha downtowns making headway
The first phase of a new major corridor that travels through downtown Council Bluffs and connects to downtown Omaha is nearly complete.

The FIRST AVE project broke ground on Earth Day this year, fitting its initiative to promote forms of transportation through Council Bluffs other than traveling by car.

“This will make a very critical connection for our metro,” says Brandon Garrett, the Community Development Director for the city of Council Bluffs. “This will be the way you can get from the Bob Kerry bridge and downtown Omaha through Council Bluffs and to downtown Council Bluffs.”

The 14-foot-wide pedestrian and bike trail will run from 35th to 16th streets when it’s completed at the end of next year. Phase one constructed the trail from 35th street to 25th street. All that’s left to do is landscaping.

While offering a new way to cross town, the trail also connects the thousands of residents who live near it easier access to other forms of transportation, like city buses.

“About 30% of Council Bluffs’ population live within a half-mile of the FIRST AVE trail, so we’re hoping they’ll take advantage of commuting to work or to school or the grocery store, or even a coffee shop for a cup of coffee,” says the city’s communications director, Ashley Kruse.
I also checked out an interactive map CB is hosting. They outline a potential streetcar/multimodal trail alignment with a bridge just south of I-480 that would connect with this First Ave trail. This fits with ConnectGo's plan for a multimodal bridge in the identified area.

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skinzfan23
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Re: Mid City Trail

Post by skinzfan23 »

I have driven by this trail numerous times and it looks great.
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Brad
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Re: Mid City Trail

Post by Brad »

skinzfan23 wrote: Wed Nov 17, 2021 4:53 pm I have driven by this trail numerous times and it looks great.
Sure does. When I had it in that one Grow Omaha video it are really flooded, but they got it all fixed and finished up, its nice. Cant wait until its finished all the way down to downtown CB..
ita
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Re: Mid City Trail

Post by ita »

Pedestrian, bike trail through Council Bluffs to downtown Omaha nears completion
Marlo Lundak
The final phase of the FIRST AVE trail through Council Bluffs is weeks away from being complete.

The trail is a 14-foot wide pedestrian and bike path that runs from near downtown Council Bluffs at 35th street to 16th street, where it then connects to an existing trail, that leads to the entrance of the Bob Kerry bridge and downtown Omaha.

It runs between West Broadway and 2nd Ave, and it broke ground in April 2021.

Phase one was completed at the end of last year. Phase two, constructing the trail from 16th to 25th streets, will be complete by the end of next month.
...
30% of Council Bluffs residents live within a half-mile of the trail, according to city officials.

The trail is lit the entire way and can be used at all hours of the day and night. When it’s done, there will be five plazas along the trail with bences, art, water fountains, public bike racks, and even small public library kiosks.
...
“All of the redevelopment opportunities along the way as the commercial and industrial areas slowly start to convert to multi-family and mixed-use,” Garrett adds.

Some redevelopment along the trail has already begun, Garrett says, starting with Cochran Park, which is getting a full makeover.

“Last year we constructed the baseball field, the tennnis courts will be converted to futsol, which is mini socccer, and pickleball,” Garrett says. “There is a playground under construction thanks to both the city and a generous donation from Powertech, and our basketball court is going to be rehabbed as well.”
Big year for urban core trails. First Ave and North Omaha trails are and were completed this year. We need more of course, but we can build off this momentum in the years to come.
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skinzfan23
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Re: Mid City Trail

Post by skinzfan23 »

That is a great looking trail.
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nativeomahan
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Re: Mid City Trail

Post by nativeomahan »

That’s great news for exercise enthusiasts.
ita
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Re: Mid City Trail

Post by ita »

nativeomahan wrote: Mon Oct 10, 2022 4:01 pm That’s great news for exercise enthusiasts.
It could be a viable transportation alternative as well. I hope some of the planned developments around First Ave start coming off the ground.
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Re: Mid City Trail

Post by ita »

https://www.ketv.com/article/council-bl ... -autopilot
The laughter and smiles, a clear vision of Council Bluff's newest staple.

"One of the neighbors came up to me and said that he has seen more activity in this park in the recent weeks since it's opened than he has within the last number of years," said Vincent Martorello, Council Bluffs Parks and Recreation director.

It's nestled in a bustling part of the city, right between 21st and 22nd streets. Cochran Park, the recent site of a long overdue transformation.

Outfitted with a new playground, pickleball courts, and a baseball field, all sitting on three acres of land.

"Improving the quality of life and attractiveness of the city of Council Bluffs," Brandon Garrett, Council Bluffs chief of staff, said.

And sitting adjacent is the First Ave. Trail.
...

And it leaves the door open for future modes of transportation.

"Run congruently with the streetcar. And so, on the other side of this trail system is another 30 feet that would accommodate a streetcar running East, West on West Broadway," Mayor Matt Walsh said.
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