Lincoln Initiates Construction on New Transportation Hub
The city of Lincoln took a significant step forward in its transportation infrastructure development on Tuesday by commencing construction on the StarTran multi-modal transportation center. Valued at $33 million, this new facility is projected to be operational by spring 2028.
Situated between Ninth, 10th, G, and H streets, the site was acquired from Lancaster County for $3.3 million. The transportation hub will feature 18 bus bays and host StarTran’s administrative offices and public meeting areas. Additionally, the center will offer access to bikes and scooters, enhancing the city’s transportation options.
The current bus transfer center, located at 11th and L streets, is only a temporary setup, providing limited amenities for commuters. The journey towards establishing a permanent transportation center began in 2004 with a comprehensive City Multimodal Transportation Study.
Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Director Liz Elliott stated that after two transit development plans and a feasibility study in 2020, the current site was selected, and construction is now underway. Initially, the preferred location was identified on the southern half of a block along M street, between Ninth and 10th Streets. However, Elliott noted that the decision was reassessed to minimize impacts on vehicular traffic.
“The other locations that we looked at often involved having to take up lanes of traffic, so this spot is able to pull everything within the block and not impact the vehicular traffic either,” Elliott explained, adding, “So there’s not a negative impact.”
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird emphasized the project’s potential to alleviate traffic congestion and highlighted the financial support made possible by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In 2022, StarTran received a $23.6 million grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program.
The total funding of $26.3 million will be further supplemented by a $9 million grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, with additional funds sourced locally and from federal formula allocations as per LTU.
Despite the benefits, the project does pose challenges, including the loss of parking spaces for drug testing and employee parking on the south side of the County/City building. Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner expressed safety and operational concerns at a County Board meeting in June, highlighting potential risks to the Justice and Law Enforcement Center.
In response, Gaylor Baird defended the decision, citing the new location’s efficiency and return on investment. Liz Elliott echoed these sentiments, noting, “The location’s proximity to City Hall and the Lincoln Police Department will provide additional safety, along with planned security, and will make accessing our government resources easier for our community.”
Elliott also pointed out that over 80% of StarTran riders are based in the downtown area, underscoring the strategic placement of the new transportation hub.
