Dubuque Secures $1.3 Million for White Street Bike Track

Dubuque has secured more than $1.3 million in grant funding for a planned two-way bike track along White Street. This project is aimed at making it easier for cyclists to travel through downtown and connect with the area's growing trail network.

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According to a recent press release, the city received a $905,000 Transportation Alternatives Program grant through the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study and another $398,936 through the Iowa Department of Transportation's State Recreational Trails Program. Construction is expected during the 2028 season, with completion anticipated in late 2028 or early 2029.

Credit: City of Dubuque Governement YouTube Channel

The planned bike track would run along the west side of White Street from Fifth to 19th streets. The 10-foot-wide route would give cyclists dedicated space to travel in both directions, alongside the existing sidewalk.

The project would connect existing bike lanes on Ninth and 10th streets with a trail segment under construction along Pine Street. It would also improve access to several local and regional trails, including the Bee Branch trails, North End Trail, Heritage Trail, Chaplain Schmitt Island trails, and Mississippi River Trail.

Those connections plan to make biking easier, connecting travel between downtown Dubuque and recreational areas without having to navigate as many gaps, currently found in the network.

The project is part of a broader plan to improve and revitalize the Central Avenue and White Street corridor. The multi-modal plan was adopted by the Dubuque City Council in January of 2025 to provide as a long-term guide for the area's redevelopment.

Dubuque is among the many Iowa cities looking at ways to make streets more accessible for the people who live there. Dedicated bike routes can help cyclists, and walkers, feel safer and provide more transportation options. However, with any changes to street layouts, questions arise about parking, traffic, and access to the area businesses.

Honestly, the impact the changes have will depend on how well the new route fits into our everyday life. The goal is to create more connected bicycle paths, giving people another alternative for traveling downtown, exploring local trails, and reaching our recreational hot spots.