Tips for those visiting downtown C.R.

For all those people who want to visit downtown Cedar Rapids, I offer some tips:

If you are traveling from the south, do not use Second Street SE. That was blocked off many years ago when they built the Ground Transportation Center, a building they no longer want to use as it was designed.

If you are traveling from the east, do not get in the habit of using Second Avenue SE because they plan to close it soon.

If there is a train blocking your traffic on any of the avenues, do not get in the habit of using Third Street to access A Avenue NE because they plan to expand the U.S. Cellular Center, and it will no longer be accessible to traffic. That will leave only one street to access A Avenue from the south. Hopefully, the emergency service vehicles will be able to get through to St. Luke's. Westsiders should plan your need for an ambulance according to the train schedules.

If you are planning on finding convenient parking, don't even think about using the most desirable parkade on First Street SE. They will be tearing that down soon because that land is too valuable to be a parkade.

After all, the downtown needs to be the place people want to come. Just don't bring your car.

Dan LeGrand

Cedar Rapids