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Lawmakers reject amendment to restore MoPac Trail construction funds after local route controversy
Summary
The Nebraska Legislature rejected an amendment to return about $2.9 million to the MoPac Trail project after senators said local route controversy and limited state fiscal room counseled against restoring the money.
Senator Adam Duncan offered AM 13‑28 on the floor seeking to restore $2,900,000 that had been cut from funds previously appropriated to help complete the MoPac Trail connector between Lincoln and Omaha.
Sponsor argument: Duncan said the state had already appropriated money to assist planning and preconstruction work for the trail and that pulling the state funds would upend agreements with local partners. He framed the project as economic and recreational infrastructure that has generated private match and local support and said trails produce tourism and community benefits.
Chair and local concerns: Senator John Clements, who represents districts through which the trail runs, said the project had local controversy — landowners raised safety and driveway crossing concerns — and that the county board in one area had paused route approvals. Clements said the budget had many constrained demands and that the committee had left a substantial balance in the project ($5,000,000 after cuts, per his remarks), so he opposed restoring the $2.9 million.
Floor vote and outcome: The recorded vote on AM 13‑28 failed on the floor; the clerk recorded 17 ayes and 27 nays and the amendment was not adopted.
Why it matters: The MoPac Trail is a long‑standing rail‑to‑trail project linking Lincoln and Omaha. Supporters framed the restoration as protecting multi‑year investments and private matches tied to state funds; opponents cited tight general‑fund limits and local route controversy.
Next steps: Duncan said the trail effort will continue; opponents said county route decisions and local negotiations would guide next steps. The Senate did not restore the $2.9 million in the floor vote.
