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Mayor releases report on road design standards

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 02:56:10 pm CDT

Mayor Chris Beutler released a road design task force report that recommends the city consider simplified and less costly designs for some road projects in order to stretch available funds.

Beutler created the technical task force on road design standards late last year to look at the city’s current standards and propose changes.

City Public Works and Utilities Director Greg MacLean was a member of the task force. He said some roads planned to be four lanes may need to be phased in.

Story Photo
Chris Beutler

The task force also recommended the city continue to aggressively pursue new revenue sources for road construction.

“Safety was a top priority for the task force,” MacLean said. “We concluded that in some cases, changes may cause driver inconvenience or increased travel time, but they did not decrease safety.”

The task force also recommended:

* Continuing support for the Rural to Urban Transition Streets or RUTS program.

* Delaying the construction of turning lanes or storm sewers on some projects in order to build more streets.

* Striking a balance between construction costs and future maintenance expenses.

The task force included city staff and community members with expertise in development, road construction, engineering and planning. A complete list of members is in the final report, available on the city Web site at lincoln.ne.gov.

“We will now begin implementing the task force recommendations on those projects where they are appropriate and do not compromise safety,” Beutler said in a press release. “They will help us reach our goal of building new roads to provide for future growth and new jobs.”


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Comm UnSense wrote on May 15, 2008 3:43 pm:
" Stop putting a stop light at every corner. "

 mitchy_v wrote on May 15, 2008 3:44 pm:
" Lincoln has design standards??? "

 Chris wrote on May 15, 2008 4:24 pm:
" Are we sure we need to aggressively pursue new revenue sources to build more roads? How will gas prices effect the amount of vehicle travel 10 years after they are built? Maybe we need to think about alternate modes of transportation and denser development. "

 STRETCHING wrote on May 15, 2008 4:39 pm:
" Want to stretch available dollars for streets? stop wasting money on trails and walkway bridges. "

 Jan wrote on May 15, 2008 5:58 pm:
" How about we stop building roads until we have fixed the ones we have. This is the only city I've lived in (7 different states) that has dirt roads in the middle of the city. What is that all about? "

 Bill wrote on May 15, 2008 8:05 pm:
" Let's fix the roads we have now and demand the reasons for all of the potholes be denied to contractors when new road construction does begin at some later date. "

 Kathy Wiens wrote on May 16, 2008 11:43 am:
" Wheel tax was origionally designed to help pay for road work, I feel it should be taxed on Lancaster County Employee Checks, not on license registration, that way, all commuters that work in Lancaster County and use the roads, help pay up-keep expenses.
I also strongly suggest we do not use the same contractors over and over again, especially when substandard work has been done.
How about using Prison inmates to do road work, it would decrease our costs, allow inmates to work and earn money, and train for a job upon release. "

 dewboy wrote on May 16, 2008 5:22 pm:
" Beginning to sound and look like we are stuck with another DUD out of the legislature for mayor. How about FIRST fixing the streets that are 50 to 70 years old. Could it possibly be our esteemed mayor is catoring to campaign donors. I only hope we have another ONE termer. Quit wasting the Wheel Tax (make it COUNTY wide)and fix esisting roads first. Require ALL city employees to reside within city limits "

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