33rd and Cornhusker Improvement Project

The BNSF railway currently carries an estimated 48 trains daily on the double-track mainline railroad through northeast Lincoln, resulting in at least 3.5 hours per day that each of the at-grade railroad crossings at N. 33rd Street and Adams Street are blocked to vehicular traffic. Combined, these two crossings have one of the highest exposure ratings and crash rates in Nebraska.

Project Area Map Project 3D Renderings

The Railroad Transportation Safety District (RTSD) is leading the project and partnering with the City of Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Department to make travel in this vicinity safe and efficient for all transportation types. The first step in doing so was the Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study, which evaluated environmental constraints and potential transportation improvements.

Railroad Transportation Safety District (RTSD)

The Railroad Transportation Safety District, or RTSD, is a political subdivision that was created by the Nebraska legislature in 1971. The RTSD provides funding for railroad safety related projects throughout Lincoln and Lancaster County. More info on the RTSD

Before making a major financial investment in the transportation improvements, the RTSD and the City of Lincoln want to make sure that improvements in this area also fit the needs of the future of northeast Lincoln by creating a community-consensus built Subarea Plan and Cornhusker Highway Corridor Enhancement Plan.

The environmental review and preliminary engineering phases are nearing completion, followed by final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction.

Project Goals

Improve Safety: Eliminate or reduce the conflict points between trains, vehicles, crossing pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Reduce Delays: Reduce delay for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists crossing the rail corridor.

Reduce Congestion: Accommodate existing and future traffic (Year 2040) to reduce congestion along roadways crossing the rail corridor.

Improved Mobility: Improve mobility across the rail corridor in north Lincoln.

Better Connection: Improve multi-modal connectivity in north Lincoln for vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and bus transit.

Estimated Project Task Timeline

Updated January 2025

Preliminary Plan
Not Final - Subject to Change Project schedule graphic Schedule PDF (PDF, 3MB) This timeline graphic illustrates the overall project development tasks through construction and is subject to change based on project priorities or funding constraints.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why is this project needed?

Our goal is to provide a safe and efficient transportation system and infrastructure. Data shows that six fatalities and three disabling injuries have occurred in crashes between BNSF trains and motor vehicles or pedestrians since 1987 at the North 33rd Street and Adams Street crossings. Currently, 48 trains travel the BNSF tracks on a daily basis, and approximately 21,000 motor vehicles cross the BNSF tracks at these two crossings combined. The current daily railroad crossing exposure rating (daily trains multiplied by daily vehicles at the two crossings) is approximately 1,313,000 potential crashes per day between trains and motor vehicles. The exposure rating is expected to increase as rail freight movements in the United States are projected to increase by 37% over the next 25 years.

Congestion and delays due to passing trains block both roads for approximately 3.5 hours each day. Alternative routes across the BNSF Railway corridor in the study area, primarily North 27th Street, are becoming increasingly congested and are projected to see increased traffic volume over the next 25 years. In addition, there are no sidewalks or shoulders for pedestrians or bicyclists at either crossing. Facilities for connectivity between alternative travel modes (bus, bicycle and pedestrian) do not meet the existing or future (2040) needs of Northeast Lincoln, as identified in the City of Lincoln/Lancaster County MPO’s Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

What is the purpose of the project?

The purpose of the project is to identify and evaluate potential transportation improvements in the north portion of Lincoln, with specific attention along the rail corridor between North 27th and North 48th streets.

Improvements are intended to:

Improve safety along the rail corridor by eliminating or reducing the potential conflict points between trains and other transportation modes (vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists);
Reduce delay for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists crossing the rail corridor;
Accommodate existing and future traffic (Year 2040) to reduce congestion along streets crossing the rail corridor;
Improve mobility across the rail corridor in north Lincoln; and
Improve multimodal connectivity in north Lincoln for vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and bus transit.

What will the project cost and how will it be funded?

The current cost estimate is $120 million at the anticipated time of construction in 2028. The project will be funded through a variety of sources in addition to the RTSD, including state, federal and railroad sources. The project was awarded up to $66.7 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2025. Additional funding includes $25 million from the Nebraska Department of Transportation, $17 million from the RTSD, and $5 million from BNSF Railway.

The Lincoln on the Move program (LOTM) allocates 1.5% to the LTU/RTSD partnership to enhance the North 33rd and Cornhusker Highway railroad intersections. LOTM will dedicate $1.5 million in six years and another estimated $2 million if LOTM continues.

For more information on Lincoln on the Move, visit lincoln.ne.gov/LOTM

Who is the RTSD and how are they funded?

The RTSD is a political subdivision that was created specifically to fund railroad crossing safety projects by the Nebraska legislature in 1971. The cause for this legislation was an alarmingly high rate of fatalities in train-to-vehicle/pedestrian collisions. The RTSD provides funding for railroad safety related projects throughout Lincoln and Lancaster County. The cooperation between the City, County and Railroad keeps administrative costs low and sets aside funding for qualifying projects through the collection of tax dollars.

For more information, visit lincoln.ne.gov/RTSD

Will there be opportunities for the public and those affected by the project to meet with the project team?

There have been multiple opportunities for the public and others affected by or simply interested in the project to provide feedback to the project team through public information open house meetings. In addition to these meetings, the project team has hosted over 100 meetings with stakeholder groups and business and property owners. Public information updates have also been shared on the project website.

How does this project relate to the flood study being conducted for Deadmans Run?

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in cooperation with the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District and the City of Lincoln, completed a feasibility study to evaluate and address flooding problems along Deadmans Run, a 6-mile long tributary to Salt Creek that runs through the study area. The study looked at ways to reduce the flood risk along Deadmans Run. The study was primarily focused on the area between Cornhusker Highway and North 48th Street. Upon completion of the study, additional analysis was completed which resulted in a modified study design that includes detention basins to hold excess water and an improved channel section at key locations to improve the flow of water. The flood control project is currently being designed with construction planned prior to construction of the North 33rd & Cornhusker project. Since this stretch of Deadmans Run travels through the North 33rd Street and Cornhusker Highway area, the North 33rd & Cornhusker project will be in coordination with the Deadmans Run project to make sure that any transportation system improvements are compatible with the flood control improvements.

More info: Deadmans Run Flood Reduction Project

How does this project relate to the Antelope Valley Project? is this an extension or Phase 2 of that project?

Although the project is adjacent to Antelope Valley, it’s not an extension of that project. As part of the Planning phase, the project team considered current infrastructure and potential future transportation improvements identified in the Long Range Transportation Plan when developing the Subarea Plan.

What is the City of Lincoln’s role in this project?

Staff from the City of Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Department provide administrative and technical support for RTSD projects. Roger Figard serves as the Executive Director for the RTSD and Kris Humphrey with the City of Lincoln serves as the RTSD Project Manager for the transportation improvements as well as the Deadmans Run projects. The City Planning Department oversaw the Planning phase of the project.

The City partnered with the RTSD to secure the largest grant in City history, an award from the U.S. Department of Transportation for $66.7 million in 2025 for the North 33rd & Cornhusker project.

The Lincoln on the Move program (LOTM) allocates 1.5% to the LTU/RTSD partnership to enhance the North 33rd and Cornhusker Highway railroad intersections.