Businesses say new plan for downtown Lincoln bus stop doesn’t address ‘elephant in the room’

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The StarTran Advisory Board is voting Thursday on a new temporary location for the bus transfer center at 11th and N streets. 

The Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Department plan to move the transfer station at 11th and L streets.

Initially, it was going to take up 11 parking spots, but the city changed the plan to avoid that.

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

Some business owners still aren’t happy with the proposal; they say losing parking spots was the least of their concerns.

“They chose the lowest-hanging fruit,” said Drew Philippi, owner of Group Therapy Bike Tours. “They did not address the main elephant in the room, which is traffic, people and just poor location and how it affects the businesses in the street.”

SEE ALSO: Plan to move 11th Street bus transfer center has Lincoln business owners concerned

The business owners want to take the issue beyond the StarTran advisory board. 

“There hasn’t been enough due diligence on the city’s behalf,” said SaRena Freet, owner of The Hot Mess. “We’re still asking that it gets sent to the city council because of the scope of the project and the time frame that we’re looking at.”  

If it’s approved, the transfer center will stay at 11th and L streets until the city builds a larger transportation hub, which is expected to take three years.