Overview

Why do we need an RTSD?

January 10, 1968 Lincoln Evening Journal

Railroad crossings can be dangerous if they are not properly protected with signals, crossing arms and other materials. Between 1952 and 1968, 55 died, 57 were injured and 115 property damage accidents occurred between trains, cars and pedestrians in the Lincoln area. These shocking statistics indicated the need for railroad crossing protection.

How was the RTSD created?

In 1971, Nebraska Legislature authorized Railroad Transportation Safety Districts (RTSD) for 25 years, and later authority was extended indefinitely. This legislation allowed any Nebraska county with a primary or first class city (pop. 5,000+) to have an RTSD. Individual RTSDs must be formed by a resolution of City Council(s) and County Commissioners. The RTSD Board of Directors consists of 3 City Council Members for each city with a population greater than 5,000, and three County Commissioners. If more than one city is participating in the RTSD, each City Council Member gets one vote and each County Commissioner gets two votes to maintain equal voting between city and county.

The City of Lincoln and Lancaster County are the only eligible City/County entities in Nebraska taking advantage of the benefits of an RTSD. There are 28 counties and 32 cities eligible for an RTSD in Nebraska.

What does the RTSD do?

The Lincoln/Lancaster County RTSD identifies crossings in need of work, prioritizes projects and conducts studies to plan future work.

Initially, the main priority was to provide protection for the 90 major crossings in Lincoln. At the time the RTSD was established in 1971, almost all were at grade crossings. Another initial concern was the development of a long term plan for subsequent work. Five Corridors were identified for improvements. For more information about the Five Corridors, please visit the Initial Projects section of the website.

RTSD funded projects are included in the Capital Improvement Program under "Streets and Highways". Unless there is an immediate safety concern, projects are completed consistent with the plan. Projects are contingent upon available funding.

The RTSD has the authority to purchase railroad right-of-way, acquire land (by purchase or eminent domain) for railroad purposes, receive title of property and enter into contracts and agreements. RTSD funded projects must follow strict regulations. In addition to compliance with existing government regulations, each major project must have a positive cost/benefit ratio.

How is the RTSD Funded?

RTSDs may levy property taxes (through the County Board) to a maximum amount of $.026/$100. For a $150,000 home, the RTSD tax amount would be about $40.00 per year. During the first 25 years, RTSDs could borrow money and issue general obligation bonds to fund projects, however, this authority was not extended in 1995. Each year, the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County RTSD raises $4,000,000. RTSD funds are exclusively for improvements to railroad/car/pedestrian safety and cannot be appropriated elsewhere.