Is University Avenue/Iowa 934 Project Too Bike-Friendly or Not Enough?

Do you prefer more room for bikes or more room for cars?

Do you like roundabouts?

Do you even use University Avenue/Iowa 934?

Well, even if you don't, many people do use University Avenue/Iowa 934 between Iowa Highway 58 in Cedar Falls to U.S. Highway 63 in Waterloo. And, these are among several options being considered as part of a major upgrade.

During its meeting on Monday evening, Cedar Falls City Council had a public hearing about the concept, which include reducing the road from six to four lanes in many places to make room for bike lanes, adding roundabouts and optimizing traffic lights. Optimized lights would, among other features, work in unison with several traffic lights to provide an uninterrupted path of travel.

The goals is to make it safer and more accessible for a variety of users.

Whether you sounded off at the hearing or not, what do you think? Do you like what you see? Is it worth making some major changes to this connector between Waterloo and Cedar Falls?

The study alone costs $109,000, and there is not price tag on the project yet.

A study released in December cited developing a corridor that is a "Complete Street" as one of the primary goals. "Complete Streets" is a national movement to design roadways that are accessible for all - "bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities."

The study that explored what the goals of the project and possible ways to execute it was led by Iowa Department of Transportation in partnership with Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments and the cities of Cedar Falls and Waterloo.

One draft included three recommendations:

• Reduce number of lanes along the corridor from 6-lanes to 4-lanes with bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, incorporating Complete Streets improvements.
• Reconfigure intersections and incorporate roundabouts in key locations to improve traffic operations, safety and efficiency.
• Add aesthetic treatments, including public art and landscaping, to the corridor.

Another draft has several alternative options for the University Avenue project:

• No Build Alternative — Retain University Avenue/IA 934 as it currently exists.
• Alternative 1 — Retain six lane roadway and optimize traffic signals at intersections. Provide accommodation for pedestrian and bicycle use and corridor aesthetic treatments.
• Alternative 2 — Reduce roadway to four lanes and optimize traffic signals at intersections. Provide accommodation for pedestrian and bicycle use and corridor aesthetic treatments.
• Alternative 3 — Reduce roadway to four lanes and construct roundabouts at intersections. Provide accommodation for pedestrian and bicycle use and corridor aesthetic treatments.
• Alternative 4 — Reduce roadway to four lanes and include either an optimized traffic signal or a roundabout at intersections. Provide accommodation for pedestrian and bicycle use and corridor aesthetic treatments.