Tower Terrace Road continues to be a priority

Tower Terrace Road is a significant transportation arterial and commercial corridor across the northern part of our metropolitan region. 2040 traffic projections suggest daily volumes of 12,000 vehicles per day (near Highway 13) to 34,000 vehicles closer to Interstate 380. It is a project that has and will continue to mandate a high level of collaboration and joint strategy between regional planners, four municipalities, Linn County, the State of Iowa, and private stakeholders.

Recent media coverage incorrectly suggests this project has become a reduced priority due to dollars being defunded from one future section of Tower Terrace Road. The reality is that four municipalities agreed to reallocate these dollars to a portion of the corridor that has a more immediate funding need. The section from Alburnett Road to C Avenue between Cedar Rapids and Marion is currently being designed and in need of this funding in order to see it to completion. Private development, including a new Hy-Vee store at C Avenue in Cedar Rapids is already being planned in that area. We're excited to see this new construction over the next several years.

As representatives of private development and local government, we applaud the visionary leaders of our region who remain committed to completing this significant arterial. Its benefits are for everyone. In partnership with the Marion Economic Development Corporation, Hiawatha Economic Development Corporation, Robins Economic Development Initiative, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, and other private stakeholders we stand ready to support this project in any way we can.

We are now meeting regularly with regional planners to assess ways we can support future planning and funding strategies. We recently requested the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization complete an economic impact study to better illustrate the regional benefits that Tower Terrace Road will produce. We're meeting with representatives from the Iowa Department of Transportation and working to influence the development of a true regional strategy to completing the corridor. In fact the DOT is now re-evaluating the I-380 interchanges at both Boyson Road and Tower Terrace Road which could add additional positive movement on this long anticipated connection.

Momentum continues to build for Tower Terrace Road. Pockets of development are already popping up along completed sections in Hiawatha and Marion. We're excited to see the progress now being made and thank our regional leaders for their continued support.

Nick Glew, President, Marion Economic Development Corp.

Jon Dusek, Chair, Hiawatha Economic Development Corp.

Dean Helander, Chair, Robins Economic Development Initiative

Dee Baird, President, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance

Chad Pelley, Ahmann Properties, Cedar Rapids Development Representative

' Comments: Nick@medcoiowa.org