HomeMy WebLinkAboutUSDOT - FY23 NAE Project-Specific Agreement - 1.21.20251. Award No.
693JJ32540422
4. Award To
City of Waterloo
715 Mulberry Street
Waterloo, Iowa 50703
Unique Entity Id.: Z6C5NLT82JH3
TIN No.: 42-6005327
6. Period of Performance
Effective Date of Award — April 30,
2027
2. Effective Date
See No. 17 Below
3. Assistance
Listings No.
20.940
5. Sponsoring Office
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Acquisition & Grants Management
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
HCFA-43, Mail Drop E62-204
Washington, DC 20590
7. Total Amount
Federal Share:
Recipient Share:
Total:
$750,000
$0
$750,000
8. Type of Agreement 9. Authority
Grant Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), § 60501; 23
U.S.C. 177, enacted as Pub. L. 117-169 (Aug.
16, 2022)
10. Procurement Request No. 11. Federal Funds Obligated
HEPP250024PR $750,000
12. Submit Payment Requests To 13. Payment Office
See Article 13 of the General Terms and See Article 13 of the General Terms and
Conditions. Conditions.
14. Accounting and Appropriations Data
1560647B50.2022.060NE02500.6601000000.41010.61006600.0000000000.0000000000.00000000
00.0000000000
15. Description of Project
Master planning for possible safety improvements along the corridor and the possible relocation of
an active railroad yard from the downtown to the outskirts of town. Relocating the location of the
train building yard will ease traffic issues through the downtown and increase pedestrian access,
while safety improvements will make the entire corridor safer.
RECIPIENT FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
16. Signature of Person Authorized to Sign 17. Signature of Agreement Officer
62ue j�c r( °h 1 /21 /2025
Signature Date Signature
Name: Quentin Hart Name: Ryan Buck
Title: Mayor Title: Agreement Officer
Date
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
GRANT AGREEMENT UNDER THE
FISCAL YEAR 2023 NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS AND EQUITY PROGRAM
This agreement is between the United States Department of Transportation (the "USDOT") and
the City of Waterloo (the "Recipient").
This agreement reflects the selection of the Recipient to receive an NAE Grant for the
Downtown Waterloo Railyard Relocation and Railroad Crossing Improvement Study.
If schedule A to this agreement identifies a Designated Subrecipient, that Designated
Subrecipient is also a party to this agreement, and the parties want the Designated Subrecipient
to carry out the project with the Recipient's assistance and oversight.
The parties therefore agree to the following:
ARTICLE 1
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
1.1 General Terms and Conditions.
(a) In this agreement, "General Terms and Conditions" means the content of the document
titled "General Terms and Conditions Under the Fiscal Year 2023 Neighborhood Access
and Equity (NAE) Notice of Funding Opportunity: FHWA Projects," dated October 1,
2024, which is available on the RCN website. The General Terms and Conditions
reference the information contained in the schedules to this agreement. The General
Terms and Conditions are part of this agreement.
(b) The Recipient states that it has knowledge of the General Terms and Conditions.
(c) The Recipient acknowledges that the General Terms and Conditions impose obligations
on the Recipient and that the Recipient's non-compliance with the General Terms and
Conditions may result in remedial action, terminating of the NAE Grant, disallowing
costs incurred for the Project, requiring the Recipient to refund to the USDOT the NAE
Grant, and reporting the non-compliance in the Federal -government -wide integrity and
performance system.
ARTICLE 2
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
There are no special terms for this award.
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SCHEDULE A
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
1. Application.
Application Title: Downtown Waterloo Railyard Relocation and Railroad Crossing
Improvement Study
Application Date: 09/28/2023
2. Recipient's Unique Entity Identifier.
See section 24.3 of the General Terms and Conditions; also see page 1, item 4.
3. Recipient Contact(s).
Tim Andera
Economic Development Specialist
715 Mulberry St. 1 Waterloo, Iowa 50703
P: 319-291-4366
Tim.Andera@waterloo-ia.org
4. Recipient Key Personnel.
Name
Tim Andera
Title or Position
Economic Development Specialist
5. USDOT Project Contact(s).
Ryan Buck
Agreement Officer (AO)
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Acquisition and Grants Management
HCFA-43, Mail Stop E62-310
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20590
202-744-9698
Ryan.Buck@dot.gov
and
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Tim Marshall
Agreement Officer Representative (AOR)
Division Administrator
FHWA Iowa Division
105 6th Street
(515) 233-7300
timothy.marshall@dot.gov
and
John Gibson
Iowa Division Office Point of Contact
Transportation Specialist Operations and Transportation Alternatives Programs
Federal Highway Administration
105 6th Street
Ames, IA 50010
Office: (515) 233-7322
johnnie gibson@dot.gov
and
Kenneth Petty
Director, Office of Planning
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Room E72-330
Washington, DC 20590
6. Payment System.
USDOT Payment System: DELPHI elnvoicing
7. Office for Subaward and Contract Authorization.
USDOT Office for Subaward and Contract Authorization: FHWA Office of Acquisition
and Grants Management
8. Federal Award Identification Number.
See section 24.2 of the General Terms and Conditions; also see page 1, item 1.
9. Designated Subrecipient.
Designated Subrecipient: None
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SCHEDULE B
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
1. General Project Description.
Master planning for possible safety improvements along the corridor and the possible relocation
of an active railroad yard from the downtown to the outskirts of town. Relocating the location of
the train building yard will ease traffic issues through the downtown and increase pedestrian
access, while safety improvements will make the entire corridor safer.
2. Statement of Work.
The Downtown Railyard Relocation and Railroad Crossing Improvement Study aims to conduct
a comprehensive analysis of the current Canadian National (CN) Railway railyard in Waterloo,
Iowa, with a focus on assessing its generational impact on disadvantaged communities. The
study area will be limited to the area between Hwy 63, Newell, Walnut, Independence, and
Linden Ave. This study will identify present barriers created by the existing rail infrastructure,
explore public health and safety solutions, and develop alternatives to address the diminished
quality of life resulting from a history of redlining and segregation that still affects the
community. The study will be conducted in close collaboration with the CN Railroad, local
authorities, community stakeholders, and transportation and engineering experts.
Phase 1: Project Initiation
• Conduct a project kick-off meeting in a location of historical significance and
convenience for those residing in proximity to the project location, including city
officials, CN representatives, stakeholders, community representatives, and
technical experts.
• Define the railyard's impact on the community, project goals, objectives, and
successful implementation criteria.
• Develop a comprehensive stakeholder engagement plan.
Phase 2: Existing Conditions Assessment
• Inventory of existing rail infrastructure within Project area
• Gather historical data on railyard development, redlining, and community
demographics
• Document physical, social, and economic barriers
• Assess the socioeconomic and health impacts of the rail network on
disadvantaged communities
• Identify and assess community concerns related to railyard
• Community impact analysis
• Public health and safety assessment
• Identify environmental contamination of the former site
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Phase 3: Community Engagement
• Public meetings and workshops
• Disadvantaged community outreach
• Gather input and feedback
Phase 4: Planning and Alternatives Analysis
• Identify the functions and capacity required to protect in the CN rail operations
• Identify and evaluate existing CN railroad crossing and railyard site
modifications, safety improvements and enhancements
• Develop conceptual designs for each alternative
o Railyard relocation
o Site modifications enhancements
o Grade -Separated Pedestrian Crossing(s)
• Consider innovative solutions to enhance community access and well-being
• Assess the feasibility, costs, and benefits of each alternative
• Economic impact analysis, including potential for industrial and commercial
growth at relocation site
Phase 5: NEPA Review
• Environmental impact Review
• Public Information Meetings
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SCHEDULE C
AWARD DATES AND PROJECT SCHEDULE
1. Award Dates.
Budget Period End Date: April 30, 2027
Period of Performance End Date: See section 4.5 of the General Terms and
Conditions; also see page 1, item 6.
2. Estimated Project Schedule.
Milestone
Schedule Date
Planned Project Completion Date:
3. Special Milestone Deadlines.
None.
4. Prerequisite Dates.
Milestone
September 30, 2026
Date
Added to Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
November 14, 2024
Added to Statewide Planning Work Program
Not required
Added to Statewide Transportation Improvement
Program (STIP)
November 14, 2024
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SCHEDULE D
AWARD AND PROJECT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
1. Award Amount.
NAE Grant Amount: $750,000
2. Federal Obligation Information.
Federal Obligation Type: Single
3. Approved Project Budget.
Eligible Project Costs
Total
NAE Funds: $750,000
Other Federal Funds: $0
Non -Federal Funds: $0
Total: $750,000
4. Approved Pre -award Costs
None. The USDOT has not approved under this award any pre -award costs under 2
C.F.R. 200.458.
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SCHEDULE E
CHANGES FROM APPLICATION
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING SCHEDULE E: Describe all material differences
between the scope, schedule, and budget described in the application and the scope, schedule,
budget described in schedules B—D. The purpose of this schedule E is to clearly and accurately
document the differences in scope, schedule, and budget to establish the parties' knowledge and
acceptance of those differences. If there are notable changes in aspects of the Project other than
scope, schedule, and budget (e.g., recipient changes), those changes should also be described.
See section 3.1 of the General Terms and Conditions.
Scope: No Changes
Schedule: No Changes
Budget: No Changes
Other: No Changes
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SCHEDULE F
NAE PROGRAM DESIGNATIONS
1. Capital Construction or Planning Designation.
Capital -Planning Designation: Planning
2. Regional Partnership Challenge Grant
Regional Partnership Designation: No
3. Economically Disadvantaged Community Designation.
Economically Disadvantaged Community Designation: Yes
4. Funding Source.
Funding Source: General Fund
5. Security Risk Designation: Low
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Reserved.
SCHEDULE G
NAE PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT INFORMATION
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SCHEDULE H
CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACTS
1. Consideration of Climate Change and Environmental Justice Impacts.
The Recipient states that rows marked with "X" in the following table are accurate:
x
The Project is a planning project and incorporates consideration of climate
change and environmental justice impacts. (Identify how the planning project
incorporates consideration of climate change and environmental justice
impacts in the narrative below.)
The Project directly supports a Local/Regional/State Climate Action Plan that
results in lower greenhouse gas emissions. (Identify the plan in the supporting
narrative below.)
The Project directly supports a Local/Regional/State Equitable Development
Plan that results in lower greenhouse gas emissions. (Identify the plan in the
supporting narrative below.)
The Project directly supports a Local/Regional/State Energy Baseline Study
that results in lower greenhouse gas emissions. (Identify the plan in the
supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient or a project partner used environmental justice tools, such as the
Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), USDOT's Equitable
Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer, or the EPA's EJSCREEN, to
minimize adverse impacts of the Project on environmental justice communities.
(Identify the tool(s) in the supporting narrative below.)
X
The Project supports a modal shift in freight or passenger movement to reduce
emissions or reduce induced travel demand. (Describe that shift in the
supporting narrative below.)
The Project utilizes demand management strategies to reduce congestion,
induced travel demand, and greenhouse gas emissions. (Describe those
strategies in the supporting narrative below.)
The Project incorporates electrification infrastructure, zero -emission vehicle
infrastructure, or both. (Describe the incorporated infrastructure in the
supporting narrative below.)
The Project supports the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
(Describe that support in the supporting narrative below.)
The Project promotes energy efficiency. (Describe how in the supporting
narrative below.)
The Project serves the renewable energy supply chain. (Describe how in the
supporting narrative below.)
The Project improves disaster preparedness and resiliency (Describe how in the
supporting narrative below.)
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X
The Project avoids adverse environmental impacts to air or water quality,
wetlands, and endangered species, such as through reduction in Clean Air Act
criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases, improved stormwater management, or
improved habitat connectivity. (Describe how in the supporting narrative
below.)
The Project repairs existing dilapidated or idle infrastructure that is currently
causing environmental harm. (Describe that infrastructure in the supporting
narrative below.)
The Project supports or incorporates the construction of energy- and location -
efficient buildings. (Describe how in the supporting narrative below.)
The Project includes recycling of materials, use of materials known to reduce
or reverse carbon emissions, or both. (Describe the materials in the supporting
narrative below.)
The Recipient has taken other actions to consider climate change and
environmental justice impacts of the Project. (Describe those actions in the
supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient has not yet taken actions to consider climate change and
environmental justice impacts of the Project but, before beginning construction
of the Project, will take relevant actions described in schedule B. (Identify the
relevant actions from schedule B in the supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient has not taken actions to consider climate change and
environmental justice impacts of the Project and will not take those actions
under this award.
2. Supporting Narrative.
Waterloo is taking big steps to address environmental challenges and combat climate change. By
moving the railyard to a better location, we'll reduce downtown congestion and train idling,
leading to lower emissions and better air quality. This change will also make traffic smoother,
reducing fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions from idling cars.
The potential redevelopment of the Smokey Row Triangle and a new industrial site in the
Northeast Industrial Area will promote sustainable practices, like eco-friendly designs and
energy -efficient infrastructure, along with green spaces. The study will also explore the
possibility of turning the old railyard's area into a green space, which will not only improve
downtown's appearance but also help the environment by capturing carbon, controlling erosion,
collecting rainwater, and providing a habitat for wildlife and pollinators.
This study is a significant step toward a more eco-friendly and sustainable future for Waterloo. It
aligns with our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and build a resilient community in
the face of climate change.
The Canadian National Railway (CN) Railyard in Waterloo, Iowa, occupies a prominent location
within the heart of the city. Situated just north of the downtown area between East 4th St and
Martin Luther King Jr. Dr, the railyard spans a considerable expanse of land, characterized by a
labyrinth of rail tracks and infrastructure. This central position continues to have a significant
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impact on the surrounding area, most notably the neighborhoods north to Donald St and east to
North Elk Run Rd. The railyard and connecting tracks are surrounded by residential
neighborhoods to the north and east, a commercial district to the west, and the East High School
complex to the south.
The current location of the railyard has had a detrimental impact on neighboring residential
property values. The noise and air pollution, safety concerns, the aesthetics of industrial
facilities, and constant movement of trains detracts from the appeal of the neighborhood and
reduces the desirability of living nearby. As a result, prospective homebuyers and renters often
perceive these areas as less attractive, which has led to a decline in residential property values
near the railyard. The average residential property value in this area stands at $57,015, a notable
58% lower than the city-wide average property value of $136,590. This substantial disparity in
property.
In 2018, a study and subsequent article by 24/7 Wall Street ranked Waterloo, Iowa, as the worst
city in the United States for Black Americans to reside. This conclusion was reached through a
comprehensive methodology that assessed race -based disparities in socioeconomic outcomes
across metropolitan areas. The findings were stark: "No U.S. metro area has larger social and
economic disparities along racial lines than Waterloo -Cedar Falls, Iowa." Black residents in the
metro area earned only 46.8 percent of what their white counterparts earned and faced
significantly higher unemployment rates. The black unemployment rate stood at a staggering
23.9 percent, well above the national black unemployment rate (13.3 percent) and was the
second highest among all U.S. metro areas. In contrast, the white unemployment rate in the area
was 4.4 percent, below the national white unemployment rate of 5.9 percent and one of the
lowest nationwide.
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Schedule I
Equity And Barriers To Opportunity
1. Efforts to Improve Equity and Reduce Barriers to Opportunity.
The Recipient states that rows marked with "X" in the following table are accurate :
x
The Project is a planning project and incorporates consideration of racial equity
and barriers to opportunity. (Identify how the planning project incorporates
consideration of racial equity and barriers to opportunity in the narrative
below.)
A racial equity impact analysis has been completed for the Project. (Identify a
report on that analysis or, if no report was produced, describe the analysis and
its results in the supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient or a project partner has adopted an equity and inclusion
program/plan, or has otherwise instituted equity -focused policies related to
project procurement, material sourcing, construction, inspection, hiring, or
other activities designed to ensure racial equity in the overall delivery and
implementation of the Project. (Identify the relevant programs, plans, or
policies in the supporting narrative below.)
X
The Project includes physical -barrier -mitigating land bridges, caps, lids, linear
parks, and multimodal mobility investments that either redress past barriers to
opportunity or that proactively create new connections and opportunities for
underserved communities that are underserved by transportation. (Identify the
relevant investments in the supporting narrative below.)
The Project includes new or improved walking, biking, and rolling access for
individuals with disabilities, especially access that reverses the disproportional
impacts of crashes on people of color and mitigates neighborhood bifurcation.
(Identify the new or improved access in the supporting narrative below.)
The Project includes new or improved freight access to underserved
communities to increase access to goods and job opportunities for those
underserved communities. (Identify the new or improved access in the
supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient has taken other actions related to the Project to improve racial
equity and reduce barriers to opportunity. (Describe those actions in the
supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient has not yet taken actions related to the Project to improve racial
equity and reduce barriers to opportunity but, before beginning construction of
the Project, will take relevant actions described in schedule B. (Identify the
relevant actions from schedule B in the supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient has not taken actions related to the Project to improve racial
equity and reduce barriers to opportunity and will not take those actions under
this award.
2. Supporting Narrative.
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One of the community's most perilous and disruptive railway crossings lies a mere six city
blocks away from East High School, frequently causing delays that can stretch for hours. Equally
common is the students' perilous choice to risk their well-being by either crawling under or
climbing over these halted rail cars, all in a desperate attempt to arrive at school on time.
Technically, this act is labeled as "trespassing" by the railroad. However, for these students, the
only alternative is to wait for an indeterminate amount of time until the trains move on, or to
backtrack and find another route. The closest alternative route involves a half -mile detour to the
US Hwy 63 overpass. No pedestrian overpasses currently exist at East 4th St and the railroad
line.
In 2023, East High School enrolled a total of 988 students, out of which 60% belonged to
minority communities, and 72% faced economic disadvantages. Notably, the school's graduation
rate stood at 87% which falls considerably below the state median. There are 665 homes situated
in historically impoverished areas north of the railyard, with East 4th St serving as the most
direct route to East High School. Within these homes reside 266 high school students, with a
staggering 91% belonging to minority groups. These students, on average, were late to school
22% more often than the district's average. While it's challenging to precisely quantify the
impact of blocked railroad crossings on these statistics, a clear correlation exists between these
obstructions and school attendance.
Federal requirements for locomotive air brake testing, aimed at safety, have created a significant
obstacle for residents in accessing essential services they need for success and survival. These
challenges continue to affect the descendants of strikebreakers who came to the "Promised Land"
and still live in deteriorating homes and neighborhoods. These areas have lost value compared to
less integrated parts of the community, contributing to the generational wealth gap. Additionally,
the facilities these residents are dependent on receive subsidies and enjoy "Special Legal
Congressional Status," while the homes in the Smokey Row Triangle area cannot qualify for
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding due to the negative environmental, social, and
economic impacts of the nearby railyard. The railroads seem to operate without facing any
repercussions for obstructing vital links to education, employment, healthcare, and opportunities,
exacerbating the fragmentation within the community.
Consequently, we witness neighborhoods grappling with blight, insufficient investment in
suitable housing, persistent poverty, restricted access to opportunities, and a national ranking as
one of the areas with the lowest quality of life for Black Americans.
3. Community Engagement Activities.
Community Engagement activities for the Planning project will include public meetings and
workshops, and disadvantaged community outreach to gather input and feedback. The City will
also utilize social media to engage the community in public meetings and workshops.
For decades, the Waterloo CN Railyard and East 4th St crossing have been safety and access
problems for the community. Recognizing the urgent need for improvement, the City of
Waterloo and the Black Hawk County MPO have made it a top priority. In the past five years,
we've worked closely with the community and formed valuable partnerships to address these
challenges in an underserved area. We've received strong support for this project, including
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endorsements from organizations like the Walnut Historic Neighborhood Association and We
Care Neighborhood Association, which are nearby.
We plan to continue this collaboration by engaging the community and gathering input, insights,
and concerns from residents, organizations, and stakeholders. Our commitment to working
together highlights our dedication to improving safety and accessibility in this underserved area.
4. Activities to Safeguard Affordability.
Not Applicable
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SCHEDULE J
LABOR AND WORKFORCE
1. Efforts to Support Good -Paying Jobs and Strong Labor Standards
The Recipient states that rows marked with "X" in the following table are accurate:
x
The Project is a planning project. (Identify in the narrative below the extent to
which, if any, the planningproject incorporates consideration of good -paying
jobs and strong labor standards.)
The Recipient or a project partner has adopted the use of project labor
agreements in the overall delivery and implementation of the Project. (Identify
the relevant agreements and describe the scope of activities they cover in the
supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient or a project partner has adopted the use of local and economic
hiring preferences in the overall delivery and implementation of the Project,
subject to all applicable State and local laws, policies, and procedures.
(Describe the relevant provisions in the supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient or a project partner has adopted the use of registered
apprenticeships in the overall delivery and implementation of the Project.
(Describe the use of registered apprenticeship in the supporting narrative
below.)
The Recipient or a project partner will provide training and placement
programs for underrepresented workers in the overall delivery and
implementation of the Project. (Describe the training programs in the
supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient or a project partner will support free and fair choice to join a
union in the overall delivery and implementation of the Project by investing in
workforce development services offered by labor-management training
partnerships or setting expectations for contractors to develop labor-management
training programs. (Describe the workforce development services offered by
labor-management training partnerships in the supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient or a project partner will provide supportive services and cash
assistance to address systemic barriers to employment to be able to participate
and thrive in training and employment, including childcare, emergency cash
assistance for items such as tools, work clothing, application fees and other
costs of apprenticeship or required pre -employment training, transportation and
travel to training and work sites, and services aimed at helping to retain
underrepresented groups like mentoring, support groups, and peer networking.
(Describe the supportive services and/or cash assistance provided to trainees
and employees in the supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient or a project partner has documented agreements or ordinances in
place to hire from certain workforce programs that serve underrepresented
groups. (Identify the relevant agreements and describe the scope of activities
they cover in the supporting narrative below.)
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The Recipient or a project partner participates in a State/Regional/Local
comprehensive plan to promote equal opportunity, including removing barriers
to hire and preventing harassment on work sites, and that plan demonstrates
action to create an inclusive environment with a commitment to equal
opportunity, including:
a. affirmative efforts to remove barriers to equal employment
opportunity above and beyond complying with Federal law;
b. proactive partnerships with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office
of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to promote compliance
with EO 11246 Equal Employment Opportunity requirements;
c. no discriminatory use of criminal background screens and
affirmative steps to recruit and include those with former justice
involvement, in accordance with the Fair Chance Act and equal
opportunity requirements;
d. efforts to prevent harassment based on race, color, religion, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin;
e. training on anti -harassment and third -party reporting procedures
covering employees and contractors; and
f. maintaining robust anti -retaliation measures covering employees
and contractors.
(Describe the equal opportunity plan in the supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient has taken other actions related to the Project to create good -
paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and incorporate strong
labor standards. (Describe those actions in the supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient has not yet taken actions related to the Project to create good -
paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and incorporate strong
labor standards but, before beginning construction of the Project, will take
relevant actions described in schedule B. (Identify the relevant actions from
schedule B in the supporting narrative below.)
The Recipient has not taken actions related to the Project to improving good -
paying jobs and strong labor standards and will not take those actions under
this award.
2. Supporting Narrative.
This project holds the potential of boosting workforce development and economic
opportunities for several reasons. The proposed site's strategic placement would enable the
expansion of rail services near Waterloo's Northeast Industrial Area. In 2019, the Black
Hawk County MPO collaborated with AECOM to conduct a feasibility study aimed at
alleviating congestion and improving the condition of the current over -the -road freight traffic
originating from US Highway 20, 63, and 218, along with other routes. This study identified
various alternatives that would address rail freight access and congestion issues near the
preferred relocation site. The Northeast Industrial Park, home to Tyson, John Deere,
Ferguson Supply, Ryder Logistics, among others, would, if awarded, synergize with the
railroad analysis and Northeast Industrial Park Bypass Study, creating a vast industrial site
capable of accommodating thousands of acres of development.
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Equally important is the potential for revitalizing the once -thriving business districts in
Smokey Row. Reinvesting in this historic triangle holds the potential to fortify the
community and foster cultural integration. This district represents the last remaining
commercial area within the original city plat that has not seen investment in five decades,
offering the prospect of once again becoming a vibrant extension of the downtown district.
The City of Waterloo and State of Iowa are committed to the further implementation of
competitive labor standards. Sustainable development and community resilience relies
heavily on considerations and collaboration in attaining businesses that adhere to fair and
equitable labor standards. As such, one of the goals of this planning study is to consider ways
to identify and strengthen local and state level policies that would encourage and support the
creation of jobs suited for long term success and positive community impact.
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