HASTINGS — The Hastings city council reviewed their one- and six-year street improvement plan that was presented at their meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Lee Vrooman, City of Hastings Director of Engineering, presented the proposed plan to the city council and reviewed projects that were in progress or had been completed.
Some of those included M St. paving district and the Nebraska Department of Transportation traffic signal project.
Asphalt resurfacing projects that are in progress or completed include 7th St. – Chestnut to Crane; Crane Ave – 5th to 7th; 3rd and 4th Streets – Eastside Blvd. to California; Turner Ave. – 12th to 13th; Lexington Ave. – 7th to 9th and W. 5th St. – Baltimore to Saunders.
Another project Vrooman mentioned is quiet railroad crossings.
To date the Pine and Hastings Ave. construction has been completed, while the Lincoln Denver and California Ave. are under contract. Construction has started on Lincoln Ave.
For Colorado and Elm Ave., the design will be completed and bid in 2025 with construction anticipated to be complete in 2026.
Upcoming projects, Vrooman mentioned included the 12th St. corridor improvements, which includes restriping and improvements from Hastings Ave. to Baltimore Ave. to create a dedicated turn lanes at Burlington.
There will also be intersection improvements at Laird and Crane Ave. to create left turn lanes.
Vrooman also mentioned the Burlington Northern Sante Fe pedestrian crossing and the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) planning grant.
“The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact,” per the USDOT website.
On June 26, 2024, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $1.8 billion in awards from the RISE grant for 148 projects around the country.
Vrooman said Hastings has a chance to apply for the grant and the funds, if awarded to the community, could increase the scope of the project from a pedestrian crossing to something more substantial.
Another study on the table is the for 33rd St. and Osborne Dr. West and East.
Support for development projects include Cedar Ave. – D St. to the dead end; Lochland Meadows 17th Addition and Elm Meadows.
Vrooman also noted the Central Hastings drainage improvement design which is being funded by a Federal Emergency Management Agency – Nebraska Emergency Management Agency grant. The plan includes storm sewer improvements from A St. to F St. to help mitigate flooding in the area.
Future projects Vrooman spoke on included the Hastings Southeast project, which would require a significant future cost sharing requirement. The scope of the work includes a roundabout at the Elm and South St. intersection.
There is also a planned three lane design in the area which will be bid fall of 2025 and construction will take place in 2026-27.
Another future project is the 12th St. corridor improvements which includes a roundabout at 12th St. and Marian Road.
After review, the Hastings city council approved the one and six year street improvement plan.
