July – October 2026
Existing Conditions, Needs, and Vision
- Review trails and bike routes across all six communities
- Meet with local leaders and conduct field reviews
- Build a shared vision and identify future needs
Corridor MPO Regional Trail & Bikeway Plan
Help Shape the Future of Regional Trails and Bikeways
Creating a shared vision for better trails, stronger connections, and healthier communities.
Take the Survey
Study Overview
Connecting Great Places is a regional trail and bikeway plan for the Cedar Rapids area, focusing on Ely, Fairfax, Hiawatha, Marion, Palo, and Robins.
The plan will assess existing trails and bikeways, identify opportunities for improvement, and create a shared vision for expanding and enhancing connections for residents, visitors, and communities. Building on previous bicycle and trail planning efforts in Cedar Rapids and Linn County, the study will be developed with input from residents, community leaders, and local partners.
The plan is led by the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which coordinates transportation planning and investments across the Cedar Rapids region.
What is a Trail?
A trail, or shared use path, is a paved route separated from traffic for walking, biking, and rolling. Some trails follow roads, while others have their own alignment.
What is a Bikeway?
A bikeway is any route that is designed exclusively for people biking or meant to be shared with people biking. This includes trails, shared roads, and all kinds of bike lanes.
What Informs the Plan
The Connecting Great Places plan will be informed by community feedback, existing plans, existing and desired trail and bikeway routes, and other information about how people use the trail and bikeway network. This includes conversations with community leaders and local partners, as well as data on how people travel and use trails.
Review of trail and bikeway plans
Resident input on trails and bikeways
Guidance from the project committee
On-site reviews of biking conditions
Building from Past Plans
Previous plans identified shared community goals, including:
- Create a continuous regional trail network
- Connect key destinations and cities
- Close sidewalk and trail gaps within communities
- Expand multimodal transportation options
- Improve safety for all users
- Support quality of life, recreation, and economic development
Previous Plans Reviewed
- Cedar Rapids and Linn County Trails and Bikeways Plan
- Corridor MPO Trails and Bikeways Pavement Management Plan
- City of Cedar Rapids Comprehensive Trails Plan
- City of Ely Comprehensive Plan
- City of Fairfax Comprehensive Plan
- City of Hiawatha Comprehensive Plan
- City of Hiawatha Trails Master Plan
- City of Hiawatha – Robins Road Corridor Study
- City of Marion Comprehensive Plan
- City of Marion Master Trails Plan
- City of Palo Comprehensive Plan
- City of Robins Comprehensive Plan
- Linn Mar Safe Routes to School Plan
- Safe Routes to School Marion Independent School District
Communities Involved
This plan will focus on the cities surrounding Cedar Rapids: Ely, Fairfax, Hiawatha, Marion, Palo, and Robins. Corridor MPO is working closely with these communities to understand how trails and bikeways are used and how they could be improved in the future. Coordination meetings, field review of bikeways, and community engagement activities will occur in each community during the planning process.
Explore the Cedar Rapids and Linn County Trails and Bikeways Plan
Completed in 2025 and updated in 2026, this separate plan outlines recommendations for trails and bikeways across Cedar Rapids and Linn County.
Project Schedule
Stage 1
Stage 2
November 2026 – March 2027
Future Network, Tools, and Priorities
- Combine community input with technical findings
- Hold focused listening sessions in each community
- Define the future network, tools, and priorities
Stage 3
April – June 2027
Recommendations and Concepts
- Refine recommendations for future connections
- Develop a priority route concept for each community
- Gather community feedback and finalize the plan
How to get Involved
Public input is essential to this plan. Throughout the process, Corridor MPO will provide multiple opportunities for residents to share their ideas and feedback.
Take the online survey
Share your experiences and priorities.
Submit an online comment
Send feedback through the project website.
Join a listening session
Discuss needs and ideas in your community.
Visit a community pop-up
Meet the team locally in Spring 2027. Details soon.
Community Input Survey
Corridor MPO is developing a Regional Trail and Bikeway Plan for Ely, Fairfax, Hiawatha, Marion, Palo, and Robins in Linn County, Iowa. The Plan will guide future improvements to the trails and bikeways that serve these communities. Potential improvements could include updates to trails, bikeways, and intersections.
To help us create this plan, we’d like to hear about your experiences and preferences with how you use trails and bikeways around Ely, Fairfax, Hiawatha, Marion, Palo and/or Robins. All questions are optional.
Take SurveyInteractive Map
Help us plan improvements to the trails and bikeways in Ely, Fairfax, Hiawatha, Marion, Palo and/or Robins.
Add your comment to the map below for a location where you think trails could be improved, feel unsafe, or an idea you have seen (locally or somewhere else) that you would like implemented.
Questions or concerns? Fill out the form below.
To provide additional comments or ask questions about this Plan, complete the comment form.
