Expansion of regional public transit sought

The Urban Affairs Committee heard testimony Feb. 26 on a bill designed to expand mass transit in Nebraska’s larger cities.

LB492, introduced by Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne, would adopt the Regional Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. It would allow a municipality or group of municipalities within a metropolitan statistical area to create a regional metropolitan transit authority or join an existing one. The transit authority would be governed by a seven-person board and would have the power to issue revenue bonds.

Under the bill, an existing transit authority that serves one or more municipalities within the same metropolitan statistical area could connect to a RMTA. An ordinance to create or join a RMTA would require a two-thirds vote of the governing authority of each municipality involved.

Wayne said he introduced the bill after constituents told him that long gaps in bus schedules can mean that missing a bus turns into missing work.

“The fact of the matter is that if you miss a bus [in Omaha] and another bus doesn’t come for another two or three hours, your work day is gone,” Wayne said. “We’ve got to have a public transportation system that works, not just [for] those who have the ability to call an Uber, but for those who don’t.”

Greg Youell, Executive Director of the Omaha-based Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, testified in favor of the bill. He said the population of MAPA’s four-county region would reach 1.2 million by 2050. All those people need jobs, he said.

“A regional transit authority will provide a framework to improve transit service and better connect unemployed and underemployed people to training and jobs,” Youell said.

Jerry Janulewicz, Grand Island city attorney, also testified in support of LB492. He said the bill would benefit Grand Island and neighboring towns.

“This would be an organization, much like an airport authority, that would have board members with a laser focus on public transit and how best to provide services and expand services,” Janulewicz said.

Also testifying in support was Stephen Osberg, the director of transportation development for the Greater Omaha Chamber. Osberg said expanding transit services would help create a greater sense of place and help businesses attract employees.

“This is about getting people where they need to be for work, education, recreation and shopping regardless of where they live,” Osberg said.

Dustin Antonello of the Lincoln Independent Business Association testified against the bill. He said LB492 would create a government entity with the power to raise property taxes and take property through eminent domain.

“At a time when the Legislature is focused on solving the property tax crisis in Nebraska, it does not make sense to allow for the creation of another government body with the power to levy property taxes,” Antonello said.

The committee took no immediate action on LB492.