City to Invest $44 Million in Street Improvements for 2023
Published on March 02, 2023
Mayor highlights investments across the community
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Liz Elliott, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) Director, today discussed significant community-wide improvements for the 2023 construction season that will result in $44 million in street investments from September 2022 to September 2023.
Investments include 20 projects to improve streets, sidewalks, and bridges. The funding increases the City’s total street investment from 2019 to 2023 to $211 million. During that time, the City improved 141 lane miles of residential streets, and 123 lane miles of arterial streets. Additional federal funding will provide improvements to 52 StarTran bus stops and other locations that serve transit riders.
Whether transporting workers to jobs, children to schools or first responders to emergencies, well-maintained streets are critical to all Lincoln residents, Mayor Gaylor Baird said.
“Investing in streets across our community and within our neighborhoods is vital to growing economic opportunity, enhancing public safety, and supporting our high quality of life here in Lincoln,” said Mayor Gaylor Baird. “With the support of our residents, we are investing in streets at historic levels. Our investments are improving our existing streets and constructing new ones that grow Lincoln.”
Director Elliott provided an overview of numerous upcoming projects including street improvements in the Capitol View, University Place, and Indian Village neighborhoods. Safe streets, intersections as well as modern underground infrastructure is always a priority for LTU, Elliott said.
“Lincoln’s street infrastructure is vital to connect our community to their loved ones, friends, businesses, entertainment, parks, and more,” said Elliott. “It’s also how StarTran transit riders get to their destinations safely, efficiently, and comfortably.”
Projects scheduled for 2023 include:
- Improvements to 21 lane miles of residential streets
- Improvements to 23 lane miles of arterial streets
- Nearly six miles of sidewalk improvement projects
- Improvements to 52 bus stop locations, including 45 new bus stop benches, five new bicycle racks, two new bus stop shelters, and two new cement pads.
- Lincoln Water System and Lincoln Wastewater System plans 16 improvement and growth projects that include 14 miles of pipeline across the city.
Jeff Noordhoek, CEO of Nelnet, said that the company’s 3,000 local employees rely on streets to get to work, provide services to their customers, and assist with development projects across the City.
“Investments in Lincoln’s infrastructure support the essential and positive role that business plays in our community,” Noordhoek said. “Infrastructure investments pay off across Lincoln by lowering transportation costs, elevating worker productivity, increasing safety, and growing our economy.”
Shea Svoboda, Advisory Committee on Transportation (ACT) member, said that he sees major progress across all quadrants of the city and applauded the City for its dedication to investing in Lincoln’s infrastructure.
“Whether you’re driving, biking, or scootering, to work, school, church, or a great local restaurant, good city streets improve the quality of life for Lincoln residents,” said Svoboda. “The city’s commitment to continuous improvement is one of the many reasons I choose to call Lincoln home.”
Near South resident Cathy Wilken said she and her neighbors enjoy the positive impacts of street projects in her historic neighborhood as well in others.
“We see families buying and reinvesting in their homes, neighbors driving and walking safely and conveniently to their church, our parks, the grocery store and so many other places, thanks to the investments made in our neighborhood,” Wilken said.
For more information on LTU projects, visit lincoln.ne.gov/projects.