Beatrice officials review Lincoln Street Corridor phases, costs

BEATRICE – A seven-phase approach to improve the Lincoln Street corridor between 5th and 22nd Streets in Beatrice is projected to cost about $11.6 million. Each phase ranges from about $1 million to $2 million.

Those estimates are from a consulting firm which provided their report and recommendations to the mayor and city council at a Monday night work session.
"I feel like as soon as we put these things on paper, within about six to twelve months, they're off by eight percent, then fifteen percent...and then another year, its twenty five percent. You all know that. You see it in your bids, nothing's getting any cheaper. I would probably focus on some of those intersections and things to fix and get right....and then fill back in as you can."

Lonnie Burklund of J-E-O Consulting Group says key safety improvements might be a good place to start…such as realigning the 6th and Lincoln intersection.
"When you're sitting there, east-west...kind of looking directly at someone, partially head-on or you're kind of shadowed in the wrong direction. Thirteenth Street is another intersection along the middle of this section of the corridor where the city's got pavement markings....as you go through there, you kind of have to make a jog....you're sort of lined up into oncoming traffic."

One option would be to remove the outside westbound turn lane at 6th and Lincoln…..along with adjusting a mid-block pedestrian crossing straight north of the Gage County Courthouse, moving it to 7th and Court.

Burklund says J-E-O recommends a four-way stop sign short-term solution at 19th and Court…with moving to a mini-roundabout arrangement in the future.
"If things happen there and you want to save a little bit of coin...and plan and phase a little bit, you've probably got some time. A roundabout, by far, shows the most favorable level of operations. But, all-way stop control was a pretty decent strategy, for some time."

Also discussed was parking availability and trail or pedestrian access. Officials say the greatest need for streetside parking appears to be between 14th to 16th….with a second stretch, from 16th to 19th. Some homes have alley access but others do not.  City Councilman Ted Fairbanks asked how communities accomplish such expensive undertakings and what might be initial priorities. Burklund says anything safety related should likely come to the top.

"Whole intersections at a time, or avoiding an intersection by thinking temporary traffic control. You bite off a two and three block phase. Maybe there's part of it that's more rehab and the reconstruction is simpler because there's not as much utility work or underground items to address."

Last year in March and May, public open house events were held on the Lincoln Street corridor topic at Lincoln Elementary School. The presentations drew a total of more than 90 people, who offered more than 100 comments and 80 comments through a web survey. The consulting group reviewed crash data along Lincoln Street, vehicle and pedestrian counts and traffic control measures.

"What we heard, really, at the public open houses was that people definitely were more curious about trail, and east-west, facilities along there. Even if that facility (Lincoln Elementary School) goes away, you've got lots of other stuff coming further east. I don't see those counts, going down."

Regarding the financing of improvements, Burklund said “there are a lot of things going on right now…a lot of grants to chase.” City officials are examining possible outside sources of support for corridor projects.