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Iowa American Public Works Award_Historic Milwork District Complete StreetsTHE CITY OF kdkri DUT5Ui L al•ameMCaenv 111117 Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2012 Dubuque CONTACTS: Jon Dienst, Civil Engineer (563) 589 -4104 jdienst @cityofdubuque.org www.cityofdubuque.orq NEWS RELEASE Sept. 20, 2012 — For Immediate Release Millwork District Complete Streets Awarded "Project of the Year in Transportation" DUBUQUE, Iowa — The Dubuque Millwork District Complete Streets Project was recently awarded "Project of the Year in Transportation" by the Iowa Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA), an organization that serves professionals in all aspects of public works. The Millwork District Complete Streets Project took top honors in the "Greater than $5 million, less than $25 million" category. Formal presentation of the award will take place at the APWA Iowa Chapter's fall conference awards banquet on Sept. 20 in Iowa City. The Complete Streets Project is a result of the combined efforts of the City of Dubuque Engineering and Economic Development Departments; Portzen Construction, Inc.; and Veenstra and Kimm, Inc. The $7.7 million project was funded in part through a $5.6 million U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant. A $150,000 Iowa Great Places grant from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs helped fund the streetscape portion of the project. The Dubuque Millwork District Complete Streets Project, completed in May 2012, involved the design of streets to facilitate use by a broad range of users, including drivers, public transportation vehicles and riders, pedestrians, bicyclists, older people, children, and people with disabilities. The project included the reconstruction of Washington Street, Jackson Street, Elm Street, 9th Street, and 10th Street in the district as well as street connections to the central business district, Port of Dubuque, and the Washington Neighborhood. It also included the reconstruction of underground utilities, and the installation of concrete sidewalks, pervious pavers in some of the parking areas, and re -use of existing brick pavers in streetscape areas. New curbs and bumpouts were added to improve pedestrian crossings, and new energy- efficient historic street lights were installed, along with locally designed and manufactured benches, bike racks, and receptacles. The benefits of Complete Streets are that they increase the capacity and efficiency of the road network, reduce traffic congestion, improve mobility options, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the general quality of life. Promoting pedestrian, bicycle, and public transportation travel as an alternative to the automobile reduces negative environmental impacts, promotes healthy living, and is less costly to the commuter. # ##