The city’s new Multi-Modal Transportation Center (MMTC) will start construction next year. Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) is inviting residents to learn more about the project at an open house Thursday, March 28th.
The MMTC will be the permanent home of the StarTran transit system and offer additional amenities including electric scooters, BikeLNK bikes, bathrooms, sitting area for riders and more — slated to be located on the southside of the city-county building on 9th and “H” Street.
The event will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the “F” Street Community Center, 1225 “F” Street. Attendees will be able to learn more about the preferred location and preliminary designs of the new center, which is expected to complete construction in 2027.
This public invitation comes on the heels of the controversial relocation of the downtown StarTran transfer center from 11th and “N” Street, near the Gold’s building construction site, 2-blocks south to the old Settells Printing building on 11th and “L” Street. The relocation would be temporary until the MMTC finishes construction.
Before the relocation was unanimously approved by the Star Tran Advisory board, area businesses and residents voiced opposition to the temporary site, citing concerns over traffic, safety, lack of public restrooms, and the subtraction of 11 parking stalls from the 11th Street business strip. LTU hosted a series of open houses on the relocation, seeking to reconcile the public’s unease.
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- Current StarTran Transfer Center on 11th and “N” Street.
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- The vacant Settell’s Inc. on the corner of South 11th and “L” Street. (Chase Porter, KLIN News)
In a compromise, the city adapted the temporary transfer center’s layout to move two bus stops from South 11th Street onto “L” Street along the south curb of the Carriage Park Parking Garage, eliminating an impact on available parking stalls.
Additionally, LTU Director Liz Elliot told the StarTran Board the city would install better area lighting, general security cameras, contract a cleaning service to keep the temporary center clean, and are looking into installing one or two container-style bathrooms at the new stop outfitted with cameras and small sinks.
City Councilman James Michael Bowers has expressed intentions to appeal the StarTran Board’s unanimous approval, to continue community engagement in the project. This may set up the City Council to weigh in and approve (or disapprove) the relocation.
Members of the StarTran team will be available to answer questions and offer information related to the multi-modal transportation center schedule at the March 28th open house. No formal presentation is planned.
For more information on this public open house or the Multi-modal Transportation Center, visit lincoln.ne.gov/MMTC.
Map for the proposed new MMTC. (Lincoln Transportation and Utilities)