Lincoln Awarded $11.7M Federal Grant for West “O” Safety Improvements

Lincoln Awarded $11.7M Federal Grant for West "O" Safety Improvements

Published on October 30, 2026

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird today announced the City of Lincoln has been awarded an $11.7 million U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) implementation grant to make significant safety improvements along West "O" Street. The federal funding will support a $14.6 million project along nearly 1.8 miles of West "O" Street between Northwest 22nd and Third streets. The City will provide $2.9 million in local matching funds.

"This $11.7 million federal award gives us an extraordinary opportunity to improve safety along one of Lincoln's most important transportation corridors," Mayor Gaylor Baird said. "By investing in West 'O' Street, we can continue our work to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injury crashes while supporting businesses, encouraging redevelopment, improving accessibility, and strengthening this important entryway into our city."

Mayor Gaylor Baird thanked Nebraska's congressional delegation for supporting the City's grant application, including U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts and U.S. Representative Mike Flood.

"This project is going to make Lincoln safer and help prevent the devastating crashes we've seen over the years," Senator Fischer said. "I'm proud to have urged DOT to make this a priority, and I look forward to seeing the new improvements."

"This award is great news for our capital city. I was glad to work with Senator Fischer and the Administration to secure this funding," Senator Ricketts said. "Addressing these infrastructure concerns will strengthen the Lincoln community and improve safety. Together, we are continuing to build the Good Life."

"Strong infrastructure and safer roads are key to Lincoln's continued growth," Representative Flood said. "I was glad to work with Mayor Gaylor Baird and her team to help secure $11.7 million in federal funding for improvements along West 'O' Street through the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program. This investment will address several safety concerns along a 1.8-mile stretch of road, and I look forward to seeing the project get underway."

The West "O" Street award brings Lincoln's total competitive funding secured from the U.S. Department of Transportation through discretionary grant programs authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs to over $100 million. Previous competitive grant awards include $23.6 million for the Multimodal Transportation Center, $66.7 million for the 33rd Street and Cornhusker Highway Intersection Improvement Project, and $400,000 for an SS4A planning grant.

Over a recent five-year analysis period, four of Lincoln's 78 traffic fatalities occurred within the project area. The corridor supports about 19,000 to 22,000 vehicles daily and serves freight traffic, transit riders, businesses, industrial properties, social service providers, and surrounding neighborhoods.

"This grant gives us the resources to address safety challenges along West 'O' Street with improvements designed to prevent the most serious crashes," said Liz Elliott, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Director. "These investments will reduce conflict points, improve traffic flow and provide safer, more predictable travel for drivers, pedestrians, transit riders, freight operators and emergency responders."

Planned improvements include four multi-lane roundabouts at Northwest 20th Street, Capitol Beach Boulevard, Roundhouse Drive, and U.S. 6/Sun Valley Boulevard; raised medians and access management improvements throughout the corridor; a dedicated turn lane at Northwest 16th Street; pedestrian crossings and refuge islands; and additional multimodal safety improvements.

The City will engage key stakeholders and community members throughout the design, pre-construction, and construction process to ensure the project addresses local needs, reflects public input, and advances the City's goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries along the West "O" Street corridor.

The improvements were identified through crash history, traffic, and operational analysis, roadway conditions, and the Safe Streets Lincoln Vision Zero Action Plan. Federal Highway Administration safety data indicate the proposed countermeasures can reduce crashes by about 39% to 42%, depending on the improvement.

The City's analysis estimates that over 20 years, the project could prevent about 25 fatal or serious injury crashes and 146 additional injury crashes. The project is estimated to generate about $78 million in total safety benefits over that period.

The grant advances Safe Streets Lincoln, the City's commitment to the national Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The Lincoln City Council formally adopted the Safe Streets Lincoln Vision Zero Action Plan in March 2026.

For more information about Safe Streets Lincoln, visit lincoln.ne.gov/SafeStreets.