All aboard: Lincoln City Council unanimously approves move of bus transfer center

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The relocation of the downtown Lincoln bus transfer center is a done deal.

On Monday, the Lincoln City Council voted 6-0 to move the bus stop from 11th and N streets to 11th and L streets.

Council members said the plan was improved after talks between the city and upset business owners.

“We have a plan before us that has some really impactful compromises,” Councilman Brodey Weber said.

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

The Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Department said the move was necessary because construction near the current location made it unsafe for riders.

But businesses near the new location worried that the move would bring an influx of people to a place with no public restrooms. They also didn’t want to lose parking spots.

The city has tweaked the plans to address those concerns.

LTU Director Liz Elliott said there will now be a couple bathrooms at the new location.

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

The StarTran Advisory Board approved the project in February.

But Councilman James Michael Bowers appealed the decision after area business owners raised concerns.

Bowers said Monday that his goal was to continue the conversation about the project, and that has been accomplished.

“It just made sense to have more transparency, more accountability for this,” he said. “And those are always good things to have in government.”

SEE ALSO: Lincoln mayor previews new $32 million transportation center

The transfer center will eventually move again — to the city’s new transportation hub.

That $32 million facility is expected to be completed in 2027.