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The Prairie Urbanist

@tpuiowacity

I am a news blog for urbanism, planning, development, and transportation in the Iowa City area.

 Iowa City, IA
theprairieurbanist.com
Joined September 2023
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Photo by The Prairie Urbanist (@tpuiowacity)
I know 2025 is more than halfway over. Here are the things I'm following in Iowa City this year. theprairieurbanist.com/thing…
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Johnson County and local leaders are considering two transit systems for the CRANDIC rail corridor between Iowa City and North Liberty. Are these systems suited to the area's needs? Are there any alternatives? Full overview on our site: theprairieurbanist.com/what-…
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Initial details of the CRANDIC Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study are available via an MPOJC agenda. Initial capital costs for service from North Liberty to Iowa City are estimated at $90mil which far exceeds the cost of a rail system ($49mil in 2019) iowa-city.org/WebLink/DocVie…
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Just please please please consider an electric commuter rail train with an overhead wire. We don’t need buses or batteries, we’ve been doing basic electric trains longer than we’ve had vaccines. It is not hard.
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Iowa City to buy land for affordable housing (Via The Gazette) thegazette.com/news/iowa-cit…
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West Village in Coralville is presented as walkable and people-focused, yet the new development and Coralville's 2016 West Land Use Area Plan are simply a continuation of car dependence and corporate development. theprairieurbanist.com/coral…
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Iowa City Transit ridership eclipses 1.5 million in first year of fare-free program press-citizen.com/story/news…

Iowa City Transit ridership eclipses 1.5 million in first year of fare-free program

Iowa City's fare-free transit has led to a 43% increase in ridership, eclipsing 1.5 million rides in the first 11 months.

press-citizen.com
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Cambus adding electric buses, upgrading facility through $16.4M federal grant press-citizen.com/story/news…

Cambus adding electric buses, upgrading facility through $16.4M federal grant

Cambus will add six electric buses in 2026 and upgrade its facilities in the coming years thanks to $16.4 million in federal grant money.

press-citizen.com
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Battery-operated passenger train from Iowa City to North Liberty possible as soon as 2025 press-citizen.com/story/news… via @presscitizen
Battery-operated passenger train from Iowa City to North Liberty possible as soon as 2025

Battery-operated passenger train from Iowa City to North Liberty possible as soon as 2025

Members of area local governments and the CRANDIC will begin discussions over a battery-operated passenger train in the coming months.

press-citizen.com
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This is what N. Dubuque St. between Church St. and Downtown could look like after a road diet. Made with @streetmix . Read our article: theprairieurbanist.com/opini…
Image from The Prairie Urbanist (@tpuiowacity)
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Last night Iowa City adopted an ordinance requiring drivers to yield to bicycles in crosswalks, following a recent state law update. Clears up legal ambiguity for holding liable drivers who strike bicyclists who are crossing streets with a walk signal.
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we’re going to build public transit and make the highways pay for it
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A road diet reduces the number of travel lanes on a street to improve its safety and value to the community. Iowa City should look at these streets next. theprairieurbanist.com/opini…
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Burlington, VT, a college town of similar size to Iowa City, updated their residential zoning to allow 4 units on nearly all lots and neighborhood commercial uses such as shops, cafes, and bars on key corridor streets. Should Iowa City follow suit? burlingtonvt.gov/cityplannin…
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A new project on E Foster Rd appears to use Iowa City's new zoning rules that expanded allowable townhome types in some of Iowa City's residential neighborhoods. theprairieurbanist.com/devel…
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The 2024 construction season has begun. Read an overview of a few key projects across the Iowa City metro. theprairieurbanist.com/trans…
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Iowa City purchased an empty downtown lot at 21 S Linn St in summer 2023. City staff are beginning to plan for the site's redevelopment. Read below. theprairieurbanist.com/iowa-…
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In November 2023 Iowa City adopted a major zoning reform. Read our in-depth analysis of the amendments below. theprairieurbanist.com/analy…
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A site plan was submitted for a senior housing project on the far eastside of Iowa City. Read below. theprairieurbanist.com/devel…
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Iowa City adopts Accessory Dwelling Unit code update 7-0 after waiving second consideration. An amendment to eliminate owner-occupancy requirements outside the University Impact Area is expected to follow.
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