Public invited to provide input on the potential connector routes being evaluated in greater detail

LINCOLN, Nebraska – The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (NRD) and Cass County will host a second round of public meetings for the MoPac East Connector Trail Study on July 30, 2024. Meetings will be held at Round the Bend Steakhouse, 30801 E. Park Hwy, Ashland, NE 68003, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. These meetings will be in an open-house format with no formal presentations. Attendees can visit at their convenience, as both meetings will feature the same information. Meeting materials will also be available on the project website for those unable to attend.

In November 2023, the NRD and Cass County selected JEO Consulting Group and Toole Design to complete a study of potential routes that would connect the MoPac East recreational trail from Elmwood/Wabash to the Lied Platte River Bridge. The study will conclude in December 2024.

The first round of public engagement in March featured community workshops that introduced the study and gathered input to help the Connect MoPac study team develop study goals and identify a focused list of corridors to investigate. After the team’s visit to Cass County in June, these corridors were narrowed down to a list of possible route connections to evaluate further.

These upcoming meetings are the second of three rounds of public engagement planned for the project. Their purpose is to outline the potential routes being evaluated in greater detail and gather community input on how these routes align with the study’s goals. Written comments will be accepted until August 13, 2024.

“Including the community has been essential to balancing stakeholder interests with study goals,” said Will Inselman, LPSNRD Resources Coordinator. 

Nebraska has allocated $8.3 million to complete the trail in Cass County, which connects Lincoln, Omaha, and other communities. The connector trail would also fill one of the Nebraska gaps in the Great American Rail Trail, a trail network that connects the east and west coasts.

“We are excited to share this update and hear feedback on the potential routes identified and evaluated,” said Andrea Gebhart, JEO project manager.  “Since day one of the study, our goal has been to facilitate a transparent process and provide genuine opportunities for public participation. These meetings are the next step in that effort.”

For more information, visit the project website at bit.ly/ConnectMoPac.