On First: Recent Episodes
Ashley Kruse
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. Starting with the history of 1st Avenue (a former rail line), we zoom in on the project, talk with the experts, hear from the stakeholders, and divulge plans for trails, transit, and redevelopment. Tune in to each episode to find out who’s “On FIRST” with Ashley and Brandon.
In this episode, Brandon and Ashley talk with Elizabeth Hunter from Snyder & Associates and Vincent Martorello from the Parks and Recreation Department about the FIRST AVE trail design and construction process.
On November 10, 2022, FIRST AVE received a Laurels Award from Omaha By Design for Access and Mobility. We recorded some sound bites from the ceremony including our co-host and Chief of Staff, Brandon Garrett's acceptance speech. Enjoy!
In this episode, Brandon and Ashley talk with Deb Lewis, Trails & Guest Services Specialist with the City of Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau.
Brandon and Ashley talk with Chris Gibbons about the West Broadway Corridor Plan and First Ave.
Brandon and Ashley talk with Scott Dobbe, Executive Director of Omaha by Design, about people-centered design and the future of First Ave.
In this episode, Brandon travels to Indianapolis and Carmel, Indiana with Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) and about 30ish Omaha-area experts. While experiencing the local transportation infrastructure, Brandon talked with several of our local experts about their takeaways and the future of First Ave.
In this episode, Brandon and Ashley talk with Stephen Osberg, Director of Transportation & Urban Development at the Greater Omaha Chamber.
Brandon and Ashley talk with Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh about Omaha's recent streetcar announcement and how Council Bluffs plans to connect.
For the first episode of On First Season 2, Ashley and Brandon recap Season 1 and provide a preview of what's to come in Season 2.
In this episode of On First, Brandon and Ashley talk with Mike Helgerson, Executive Director of Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) about First Ave.
In this episode, Brandon and Ashley talk with local historian, Dr Richard Warner, about the good ole days along Lincoln Highway and West Broadway.
In this episode of On First, Brandon and Ashley talk with Council Bluffs City Council Member, Mike Wolf about First Ave
In this episode of On First, Brandon and Ashley talk with Kevin Belanger from Rails to Trails. Did you know the First Ave trail will be part of the Great American Rail Trail?
Haley Weber is a Planner for the City of Council Bluffs Community Development Department. In this episode, Brandon and Ashley talk with Haley about the First Ave project.
This mini-episode takes place at the First Avenue Groundbreaking ceremony and features remarks from Brandon Garrett, Mayor Matt Walsh, and President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation, Brenda Mainwaring.
Brandon and Ashley take a trip to Thomas Jefferson High School to talk with Principal, Dr. Dania Freudenburg about First Ave.
Brenda Mainwaring, President, and CEO of Iowa West Foundation talks with Brandon and Ashley about First Ave and some history behind the railroad.
Adam Wood, a Senior Planner at Toole Design, talks with Brandon and Ashley about the Transit Alternative Analysis for First Ave.
Vincent Martorello, Parks and Recreation Director, talks with us about the trail and what First Ave means to the CB Parks Department.
Drew Kamp, President and CEO of the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce talks with us about what First Ave means to the future of Council Bluffs.
Mike Geier from Snyder and Associates and Doug Bisson from HDR talk with us about the trail design process for First Avenue.
Ashley and Brandon sat down with Pete Tulipana, President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation, before his retirement. Pete describes his vision of FIRST AVE and talks about his involvement thus far.
City of Council Bluffs Communications Officer, Ashley Kruse, and Community Development Director, Brandon Garrett, talk with Mayor Matt Walsh about the First Ave project.