Beatrice project included in new federal-state infrastructure agreement

BEATRICE, Neb. - A downtown transportation project in Beatrice could move forward more quickly under a new agreement between Nebraska and the federal government aimed at speeding up infrastructure work.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced Nebraska will take on additional environmental review responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Among the projects expected to benefit is the City of Beatrice’s Court Street Access and Safety Transformation Project.

The plan would re-route U.S. Highway 136 one block south to Market Street, from its current path along Court Street. The process of moving truck and through-traffic out of the downtown corridor is designed to improve safety and create a more pedestrian-friendly business district.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation recently awarded the project a $21 million grant. With the new agreement in place, state officials say efforts to move the project from planning to construction could accelerate.

While a construction timeline has not been finalized, the streamlined process is intended to help cities such as Beatrice deliver quicker improvements.