City of Lincoln hears from public on plan to move 11th Street bus transfer center

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The City of Lincoln held an open house Wednesday to give the public a chance to share their thoughts on moving the StarTran transfer station at 11th and N streets.

Dozens attended the meeting to learn about the project and voice their concerns.

The Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Department is temporarily moving the station to 11th and L streets because of ongoing construction.

But some bus riders are wondering if the move is worth it.

Richard Schmeling said riders will still face the same problems at the new location, like the lack of restrooms.

“The area that’s going to be used will be just a canopy area,” he said. “The building that is there apparently has no electricity and no running water, so that means no restrooms.”

Kathy Ashley, another rider, agrees with the city’s decision, saying the next phase of construction at the current location won’t be safe for bus riders.

“There will be supply trucks coming in and cranes,” she said.

LTU said the city looked at over a dozen possible locations. It said 11th and L streets was the only place that met all of the requirements.

One of those was that there needed to be room at least six buses at once.

“We also needed to make sure that we are providing covered waiting space,” LTU Director Elizabeth Elliott said.

SaRena Freet, a business owner near the new location, said L Street from 10th to 12th streets will be reduced by a lane for at least three years.

“That is going to be a very big problem with traffic,” she said. 

The city will host a second open house on Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the F Street Community Center.