LINCOLN, Neb. — Supporters of a potential commuter rail service between Lincoln and Omaha recently got some good news from Washington, D.C., the Lincoln Journal Star reports.
Congress has approved a $200,000 grant to help pay for a feasibility study to build such a project.
“It’s an exciting time,” said Dan Lutz of Lincoln, president of ProRail Nebraska Inc., a nonprofit organization that is working with political subdivisions along the proposed rail corridor between the state’s two largest cities.
Lutz said about $70,000 in additional funds is available to fund the comprehensive study, which will be conducted by a professional consulting firm. This money, held in escrow by the State Department of Roads, includes separate $5,000 pledges from Omaha and Lincoln and $1,206 contributed by ProRail Nebraska.
The Nebraska Transit and Rail Advisory Council, an 11-member group appointed by the governor and chaired by Lincoln resident Duane Eitel, will supervise the study.
Supporters said the proposed commuter rail service would use a separate track adjacent to the present Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad trackage through Waverly, Greenwood, Ashland, Gretna, Millard and Ralston en route to downtown Omaha. Eventually, the proposed route would extend past the proposed Omaha Area and Convention Center to Eppley Airfield.
Non-commuters also could use the rail service to visit the Strategic Air & Space Museum, Mahoney State Park and the Henry Doorly Zoo’s Safari and Conservation Park. Shuttle buses would take visitors from a parking lot at Ashland to the three attractions.
Lutz said the commuter train would operate on conventional rail – the same type of track used by freight trains – not high-speed rail or light rail. Inter-city rail passenger trains are allowed by the Federal Railroad Administration to run at 79 mph if track conditions permit.
A public meeting will be scheduled soon to hear comments from citizens and organizations about costs, ridership, right-of-way acquisition, station locations, rolling stock and other components of the study.
The advisory council will meet on March 7 to take the next steps to initiate the study. Results will be reported to the Nebraska Legislature.