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Consultant recommends removing STA/star-route signs to reduce trucks through downtown
Summary
Fehr & Peers presented a truck-route study showing a high share of through-truck traffic on Lincoln Boulevard and proposed six concepts; near-term priorities include removing STA/star-route blue signs and pursuing Wise Road rerouting for large SPI truck flows, with council direction to pursue sign changes and further follow-up.
The Lincoln City Council heard a truck-route study presented by consultant Fehr & Peers that documented existing truck-route signage, measured truck volumes and proposed near-term and long-term options to reduce truck traffic through downtown.
Consultant John Guard summarized the study's goals: "The purpose of this study is twofold: document existing truck routes and volumes and develop concepts for reducing truck traffic in downtown," he told the council. Data presented showed Lincoln Boulevard just north of McBean Park Drive carries about 14,500 vehicles per day; roughly 8% of those vehicles were trucks in May counts (about 1,160 trucks). A May snapshot found Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) trucks accounted for 41% of downtown truck traffic on the sample day (461 of 1,135 trucks), though most downtown truck traffic was not associated with SPI.
Fehr & Peers offered six conceptual responses (labeled A'F). Concepts ranged from sign changes and permitting to rerouting SPI trucks via Wise Road (Concept B), adding new access to SPI sites, building an east Lincoln bypass, or even new interchanges. The consultants identified three near-term priorities: remove or replace STA/star-route blue terminal signs at either end of town, pursue Wise Road as a rerouting option for large SPI truck trips where feasible, and document steps needed to comply with state truck-route laws (AB 98 and SB 415).
City engineer Ben Kaye said staff believed some existing STA/star-route signs were inaccurate and that replacing or removing them with standard truck-route signs could be implemented quickly. Several council members supported moving forward on sign changes as a "low-hanging fruit" approach and asked staff and the consultant to return with specific sign-change options and follow-up counts (3' and 6'month re-surveys) rather than take a formal vote at the meeting.
The council did not adopt an ordinance or formal truck prohibition; instead, staff was directed to proceed with planning and return with recommendations and potential permitting frameworks for trucks that need downtown access.
