Council denies resolution, 13th Street project moves forward

On Monday, a resolution against the 13th Street project failed 6-0 at the Lincoln City Council.
The project would change the road between South Street and Lincoln Mall from four lanes to three, including a turn lane in the center, and two bike lanes on the sides.
Supporters say it would improve safety.
Last week, it looked liked it was going to happen. But city council member Roy Christensen, concerned over the traffic flow, introduced a resolution that would keep 13th Street as it is.
It wasn’t popular at Monday night’s hearing, especially after a crash had happened earlier in the day at 13th and E streets.
"I’m not sure why there’s a city council resolution to stop an important safety project," said Amy Hochstetler of the Near South Neighborhood Association. "Anything that we can do to make things safer for buses, pedestrians, kids trying to walk to school or people driving would be a great thing."
Others said it’s crucial to have a middle turn lane.
"Of all the streets where there’s a middle turn lane, that has served us very well for many decades," said Pat Anderson Sifuentes of NeighborWorks Lincoln. "And we saved a lot of money by not widening those streets and we saved a lot of neighborhoods."
Others said the 13th Street project makes sense, but suggested the city consider its bike lane layout.
"If we put the bike lanes along the curbs on both sides, which is what’s proposed, the buses have to pull to the curb to pick up and discharge passengers," said Richard Schmeling of Lincoln. "That’s going to put the buses into the bike lanes."
The project will go forward as planned and they hope to have it done by winter.