Iowa City moving closer to eliminating long train-inspired waits on First Avenue

IOWA CITY - Many Iowa City residents have spent at least one afternoon stuck in standstill traffic on First Avenue, waiting on a train.

But with bids soon to open on the city's roughly $11 million streets project, First Avenue drivers and passers-by alike will eventually be able to avoid the train entirely, by going under the tracks.

On Monday the Iowa City Council will vote to set a public hearing later this month on the First Avenue Grade Separation Project, which would lower First Avenue between Friendship Street and Muscatine Avenue and raise the Iowa Interstate Railroad tracks to create a railroad bridge.

The goal is to create seamless traffic flow along First Avenue.

Ron Knoche, Iowa City Public Works Director, said the project was initially bid once in 2007, but had to be postponed for a number of issues, particularly after the 2008 flood added a list of other projects to the city's needs list.

'Over the last couple of years we finally got things back on track to where we're about to start taking bids in March,” Knoche said.

If approved, a construction contract will be awarded later in March, with construction beginning in April. A two-year effort, work on the project will not be completed until Fall 2016 and will be funded through Federal Surface Transportation Program proceeds, Traffic Safety Improvement Program funds, General Obligation bond dollars, and a contribution from the Iowa Interstate Railroad.

Despite the lengthy project, Knoche said First Avenue should remain open through the bulk of the construction.

Those who live and work in the area are already getting excited for the increased traffic flow, including Southeast Junior High School Principal Matt Degner.

Degner said when the congestion caused by the tracks can create headaches for bus drivers or parents picking up or dropping off their children at the nearby school

'I think we're really looking forward to the completion of that project,” he said. 'There will be some transition time when the work is going on but long term it will be nice for the traffic flow there.”

Pat Sexton, a retired Iowa City principal secretary who is helping out at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2301 E. Court St., said she is no stranger to how big of an impact the trains can have on local traffic.

'First Avenue does get highly congested when the trains come through,” Sexton said. 'The main things is the traffic, it just backs up for several blocks on both sides of the tracks.”

Knoche added that the intersection can also pose challenges for emergency vehicles.

'Obviously any time you can eliminate an at-grade crossing with a railroad and a street, it's going to be safer,” he said.