Council considers paying to put Seventh Street SE power lines underground; could be early expense of new Medical District

CEDAR RAPIDS – The city's proposed Medical District appears ready to cost taxpayers money.

The City Council is considering spending $124,336 as the additional cost required to put electrical lines underground along Seventh Street SE from A Avenue NE to Eighth Avenue SE.

According to a city staff report to the council, Interstate Power and Light Co. needs to install a new transmission line along Seventh Street SE, and putting it underground would cost the city less now than to do it later. The city has agreed it would pay the extra cost to move lines underground, the staff report notes.

The staff report goes on to note the city has a proposed streetscape project along Seventh Street SE in conjunction with the newly created Medical District.

The district is proposed to stretch for a few blocks either side of 10th Street SE between the two hospitals.