FIRST AVE Project

1st Avenue, a former railroad corridor, is a 66’ wide right-of-way stretching from I-29 in the west to Indian Creek in the east. It is one block south of West Broadway and represents an opportunity to link downtown Council Bluffs with downtown Omaha and all points in between. 

Roughly 30% of Council Bluffs residents live within a half-mile of 1st Avenue. The corridor is lined with businesses along West Broadway, destinations such as Thomas Jefferson High School and Cochran Park, and numerous opportunities for mixed-use and multi-family residential redevelopment.

“FIRST AVE” is an acronym that stands for Furthering Interconnections, Revitalization, Streetscapes, Transportation, and Aesthetics for a Vibrant Economy.  This webpage is where we post pertinent information and plans related to the efforts in this important corridor. 

FIRST AVE Podcast: Tune in to hear what’s happening along 1st Avenue in Council Bluffs, Iowa. City of Council Bluffs Communications Officer Ashley Kruse and Community Development Director Brandon Garrett explore the transformative project and share everything from the specific details to the big picture vision for the future.

FIRST AVE Interactive Map: Check out the online, interactive map that presents the layers of analysis developed for the First Ave Transit Alternatives Analysis project. Additional layers will be added as they become available.

FIRST AVE Development Proposals and Opportunities

FIRST AVE Media Coverage

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FIRST AVE Additional Information

Presentations

Historical Society of Pottawattamie County Speakers Series (July 2021)

MidAmerican Energy Foundation Award presented for the FIRST AVE Project (May 2021)

Council Bluffs Community School District Board Meeting (Jan. 2021)

Advisory Committee Meeting (Dec. 2020)

City Council Study Session (Sept. 2020)

Planning Commission Meeting (Sept. 2020)


Advisory Committee Meeting (Aug. 2020)


Advisory Committee Meeting (July 2020)

Mode Shift Omaha (June 2020)

Advisory Committee Meeting (June 2020)

Advisory Committee Meeting (May 2020)

Advisory Committee Meeting (April 2020)


Transit Alternatives Analysis Stakeholder Presentation (March 2020)


Advisory Committee Meeting (Jan. 2020)


Transit Alternatives Analysis Stakeholder Presentation (Dec. 2019)


Advisory Committee Meeting (Dec. 2019)


City Council Study Session (Sept. 2019)

FIRST AVE Kick-off Meeting (Feb. 2019)