York News-Times Reprint
Written by Parker Garlough
The controversial trail from near the fairgrounds to the interstate is again moving forward after the York City Council approved changes.
The Project Access York trail design was changed in response to public hearings in 2024: Where Nebraska Avenue narrows, the trail will be constructed off the road so that traffic isn’t restricted. Additionally, lighting may be added, depending on the cost.
Project Access York is a pedestrian trail that is planned to stretch from near the fairgrounds to the Interstate 80 interchange area. Much of the funding for the project comes from a $15.6 million federal grant the city was awarded in 2022.
The City Council voted Thursday to approve the preliminary plan. The Nebraska Department of Transportation will make final edits, then bid the project.
The process will hopefully begin in October, City Administrator Sue Crawford said.
Companies that bid on the project will be asked to provide a second estimate that includes trail lighting. Having both bids will allow the city to decide whether including the lighting is financially feasible.
During public hearings, concerns were raised about the visibility of the trails.
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| Sue Crawford |
“We never know the full cost until the bids come back, but the projected opinion of cost is such that it looks like we could likely include lights and still meet our … original budget,” Crawford said.
Project Access York has been controversial, and in 2024 some impacted landowners urged the city to alter the trail route or to reject the project entirely. That includes Brandon and Amy Lehman, who have been consistent critics of the project.
In a public hearing about the plans, Amy Lehman described an agreement Mayor Barry Redfern had signed with the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the project. The council had approved his signing of a similar contract with the Nebraska Department of Transportation, but the USDOT agreement was not brought before the council, Lehman said.
“We have not had any concerns raised by Nebraska Department of Transportation about our compliance, and they are the ones who are helping to manage our compliance,” Crawford said.
Crawford explained further in a written statement: “Occasionally, due to the lag time that occurs waiting for the federal government paperwork, an administrative signature (mayor or city administrator) is requested so that progress on the project can continue in the meantime.”
Lehman also criticized the project’s cost-benefit analysis, saying “economic impact — this is things like retail spending, sales tax revenue and increased jobs” contradicted USDOT standards and should not have been included.
The federal officials reviewed the cost-benefit analysis and approved it with those aspects included, Crawford said.
“The analysis does contain factors that an engineer might not consider to add,” Crawford wrote. “However, as a policy analyst and administrator of our city, I included factors that matter to our community, like sales tax revenues. I have a Ph.D. in policy analysis and taught benefit-cost analysis for over 20 years.”
Doreen Lopez voted no on approving the plan, saying she needed more time to consider concerns raised by constituents. Council members Tony North, Scott VanEsch, Jeff Pieper and Jeff McGregor voted yes. The motion needed a fifth yes vote to pass, so Redfern served as the tiebreaker. Council members Jennifer Sheppard, Stephen Postier and Jerry Wilkinson were absent.
The city also approved a $658,582 agreement with the Nebraska Public Power District to relocate some power lines near the interstate in order to accommodate the trail. The funds will be reimbursed using the Project Access York grant.
