Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cedar Rapids public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
5 issues in roads with high priority
Mount Vernon Road SE reconstruction
A streamlined tax-exemption district along Mount Vernon Road SE from 10th to 44th Street to jump-start redevelopment of 87 underused properties.
O Avenue NW levee and Greenway transition
A $2.78 million contract will raise O Avenue over the Time Check levee — funded partly by ARPA money the council redirected years ago. O Avenue closes during construction.
Cedar Rapids Transit FY27 funding application
The city is asking the state for about $7.2 million to keep buses running and replace aging vehicles — money that covers roughly 40% of transit's operating budget.
2026 Street Construction Contracts
Council adopted plans for roughly $8.2 million in projects: Blairs Ferry sidewalk infill, a one-way-to-two-way conversion near Coe, citywide milling and curb repair, sewer replacements, and a sewer extension serving the Google/QTS data center sites.
42nd Street NE pavement reconstruction
Neighbors strongly objected to a possible roundabout at 42nd Street and Georgia Avenue, calling it a nightmare on a residential street serving Xavier High School. Staff said the intersection will start as a stoplight and no final design is decided.