- Home
- Government
- City Departments
- Engineering
- Major Projects
- Central Ave. & White St. Corridor Study
Central Ave. & White St. Corridor Study
The City of Dubuque hired Bolton & Menk to complete a corridor study to evaluate Central Ave. and White St. from 4th St. to 22nd St. The corridor study built upon past planning efforts to provide a more detailed analysis of existing conditions, develop innovative, people-centric concepts, identify a preferred corridor alternative, and create an implementable project plan that will enhance the corridor through improved safety and accessibility features, connected community spaces, opportunity for economic development and reinvestment in surrounding neighborhoods, and overall improved quality of place.
Multi-Modal Alternative
On Jan. 21, 2025, the City Council adopted the Central Ave. & White St. Corridor Traffic Study Summary Report and the multi-modal focused design alternative, marking a major step forward in improving safety, equity, connectivity, and economic development in the area. The summary report and multi-modal alternative will serve as the City's guide and long-term master plan for the redevelopment and revitalization of the corridor, in conjunction with the previously adopted Central Ave. Corridor Streetscape Master Plan.
The Multi-Modal Alternative balances the needs of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians while fostering a vibrant streetscape that supports local businesses and community life.
- Central Ave. and White St. remain one-way with two lanes
- Parking is removed on one side of Central Ave. and White St.
- A wider sidewalk one Central Ave. allows space for landscaping and outdoor dining opportunities
- A two-way cycle track on White St. provides a bike route that spans the entire length of the corridor
Multi-Modal Design Concept: Central Ave.
Multi-Modal Design Concept: White St.
Traffic Study Summary Report
The summary is a technical report that documents the analysis, conceptual design layouts, planning-level cost estimates, and preferred alternative conceptual design.
The recommended budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, which runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, includes funding for this initiative through FY2030. The recommended budget will be considered by city council for final approval by April 30, 2025. The following timeline is based on the recommended budget.
| Timing | Phase/Section | Location | Description | Cost |
| 2025-2026 (FY26) | Design Work & Property Acquisition | Multiple | Design for future project phases and property acquisition related to off-street parking creation | $1.4 million |
| 2026-2027 (FY27) | Phase 1: Pavement Restriping | Entire Corridor | Pavement restriping of entire corridor in preparation for transition and construction | $330,000 |
| 2027-2028 (FY28) | Section 1 Improvements | 14th St. - 17th St. | Prep work for 14th St. Railroad Overpass including side streets between Central and White. Work will be completed on east side of White St. for the cycle track. | $1.76 million |
| 2028-2029 (FY29) | Section 2 Improvements | 17th St. - 20th St. | Work will be completed on the east side of White St. up to 19th St. and then the full corridor up to 20th St. This includes the full corridor on Central Ave. All side streets between Central and White will have all improvements completed in this phase, with the exception of the 18th St. plaza. | $1.78 million |
| 2029-2030 (FY30) | Phase 3: Cycle Track | West side of White St. | Installation of full cycle track along west side of White St. from 5th St. to 19th St. and additional improvements from 17th St. to 20th St. | $2.9 million |
Phases Beyond FY30
FY31 and beyond will require $14 million in additional investment to complete 20th St. to 22nd St. and 4th St. to 14th St. on Central Ave. and White St.
| Phase/Section | Location | Description | Cost |
| Section 3 Improvements | 20th St. - 22nd St. | Improvements to the full corridor in this section, including side streets between Central and White | $2.1 million |
| Section 4 Improvements | 13th St. - 14th St. | Work on intersections and streets related to 14th St. railroad overpass. Work on east side of White St. with anticipated completion of cycle track soon after. | $2.05 million |
| Section 5, Phases 4, 5, & 6 | 4th St. - 14th St. | $8.85 million |
1. The City Council adopted the Central and White Traffic Study Summary. What’s next?
The study summary includes recommended improvements and a general implementation and phasing plan for the corridor. To proceed with the recommended improvements, the City Council must allocate funding through the budget process or seek grant funding opportunities to support the design phase of the project. If funding is secured, the City will issue a bid to select a firm to create the preferred multi-modal design for the corridor. Having design plans ready ensures the project is shovel-ready when funding is identified, allowing for a faster transition to construction.
2. Will there be public input opportunities during the design phase?
Yes. During the design phase of the project, the awarded firm will engage the public and key stakeholders. The feedback collected from residents, schools, the freight community, and businesses along the corridor will be used to create the final design. In addition, the final design must be approved by the City Council.
3. What is a cycle track?
The multi-modal design includes a cycle track on White St. that spans the length of the corridor. A cycle track is a bike lane that provides a designated space for cyclists physically separated from vehicle traffic. The consultant recommends a 10 ft. two-way cycle track at sidewalk level on the west side of White St. from 4th St. to 19th St.
The cycle track design includes an optional mid-block crossing near Steeple Square between 15th St. and 16th St. The proposed crossing will connect cyclists and other non-motorized travelers to 16th St. and the Bee Branch trail system, Kerper Blvd., and Chaplain Schmitt Island.
The White St. cycle track would serve as a transportation facility, not just a recreation facility, connecting users from where they live to areas of work and commerce.
4. How will the Central and White corridor improvements impact the proposed 14th St. overpass?
The Building Bridges to Equity and Employment (B2E2) Project, which includes the 14th St. overpass and improvements on Elm St. and 16th St., is currently in the design phase. B2E2 Project consultant AECOM and Bolton & Menk worked closely together throughout the Central Ave. and White St. Corridor Study. Bolton & Menk’s recommendations in the traffic study summary report take into consideration the future B2E2 improvements. Together, both projects will improve safety and mobility in Dubuque’s downtown urban core.
5. What is the status of the proposed pedestrian plaza at 18th St. on Central Ave.?
The Central Ave. Corridor Streetscape Master Plan includes a pedestrian plaza at 18th St. on Central Ave. The plaza, referenced as the “Central Commons” in the streetscape master plan, is designed as a pedestrian hub to be used as a park and event space serving as the general core of the corridor.
During the corridor study, Bolton & Menk took into consideration the recommendations in the master plan and included the pedestrian plaza in their traffic analysis. The proposed plaza will be considered and further explored during the design phase of the project with additional opportunities for public input.
News & Updates
Sign up to receive project updates and future public input opportunities directly to your inbox or phone!