The survey was sent out multiple times, in multiple formats (email, physical mailing, etc) alongside invitations to the public forums and with the current Transportation Coalition 5-year plan attached. Kim Bodnar sent a link earlier today to the survey (open until 10/13), public forum recording, and TC 5-year plan. You can find a link to the 5-year plan here which includes a lot of context both in terms of cost benchmarking and priorities as shaped by the TC thus far here:
https://www.lincolntown.org/DocumentCenter/View/104713/2025-30-09-Public-Meeting_FINAL?bidId= On Fri, Oct 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM Sara Mattes <[email protected]> wrote: > I had promised a more complete analysis, with specifics, later. > In the meantime, I will offer some general comments, from 50,000 ft. > Before we engage in any wishful thinking that sets up expectations , only > to the them dashed and alienate folks, we need to begin with some baseline > data. > We need to understand what are real constraints to our future dreams. > Some are legal, some are geographically, some involved topography. > That is well before we discuss financial constraints, or lack thereof. > > Sidewalks/Roadside Paths: > This is a decades old matter…many have grappled with it before, with some > progress made. > Before anyone begins a discussion about WHERE they would like to see more, > they need to know where opportunities might exist, and where they can never > exist. > Past constraints - > 1)Many of the constraints have to do with private property -land needed > for a path would require the acquisition of private land. Some property > owners may not be willing, wither for pay or as a gift, be willing to allow > the construction of a path across their land. Would Lincoln then do a > hostile taking ? > 2) Another constraint is topography- whether the land is public or > private, existing topography-rock ledge, wetlands, slope, road width-some > spots, due to topography do not lend themselves to the creation of paths. > > It would be instructive for all to se a map of all roads in town that > included a color coded overlay-how much land on either side of a road is > public vs private, where topography is problematic, and road widths. > Publication of such a map would allow those invite to answer with some > education to then engage. > Maybe someone will see something others have not-it’s worth a shot. > But let not assume none before have grappled with the and there are not > serious challenges before us-and tht is not even discussing expense. > > Bike Lanes: > Again, a map to guide creative thinking should show current road system, > with road widths and potentials for the SAFE creation of bike lanes. > Remember, major thoroughfares need to accommodate Public Safety vehicles > too. > > Crosswalks: > Creating accessibility is a no-brainer, in most cases. > But, it is a case-by-case review that will require careful design to > assure it is truly safe. > Crosswalks, in general- > Research (at one time, shared with the town) has shown that poorly done > crosswalks endanger lives. They reassure pedestrians while being > “invisible” to drivers, especially, distracted drivers. > Cross walks require specific sight-lines -that is influenced (again) by > topography. > > So, a map of the road system could be coded to demonstrate where > crosswalks could and should go. > Why would you want to invite a citizen to invest is a dream that cannot be > achieved. > Let’s look at that can, and should be done, and prioritize. > > Long before these roads were car-centric, they were cow- and wagon- and > cart-centric. > Some may even predate colonial incursions. > > Most of our roads were existing as unpaved ways, then gravel, and then > paved. > In some cases, widths never changed. > Kerry Glass and Betty Little did extensive work on mapping Lincoln’s > roads, in addition to wiring about the history of the creation of the roads > system. > > You can see how little has changed..and there was a reason. > Private property and topography dictated much then as it does now. > > This not to say we shouldn’t continue to wrestle with these issues. > We should. > Just because past generations did not find solutions doesn’t;t mean others > cannot. > But we should approach it with some background understanding…a survey a > form of voting. > Shouldn’t voters expect some degree of education before going into the > voting booth? > > Keeping challenging the status quo, but with seem backgournd to inform > that challenge. > > As to specific critiques of the questions, I will need to download the > survey and go through it, line by line. > > > > On Oct 10, 2025, at 10:11 AM, Nick Gardner <[email protected]> wrote: > > I'm still confused about what the bias here is. Is it just bias towards > pedestrians and bicyclists, as opposed to the decades of inherent bias in > favor of cars? Lincoln has many roads that have no sidewalks, bike lanes, > or accessible crosswalks, so it makes sense to focus survey efforts on > these clear issues to me. > > -Nick > > On Fri, Oct 10, 2025 at 10:02 AM Sara Mattes <[email protected]> wrote: > >> This survey creates a rationale for concrete proposals, created from >> leading questions and bias, intended or not. >> It creates momentum and expectations. >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Oct 10, 2025, at 9:58 AM, Nick Gardner <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> I don't think hiring consultants for basic early stage surveys like this >> is a good use of money. The survey seems perfectly fine for the task, which >> is identifying resident priorities and identifying possible projects. >> Consultants make more sense when there are actual concrete proposals on the >> table. >> >> -Nick Gardner >> >> On Thu, Oct 9, 2025 at 8:04 AM Sara Mattes <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Certainly. >>> Later today. >>> In the future, Lincoln voters and taxpayers would benefit from employing >>> professionals in constructing important surveys that in involve major >>> policy, zoning and fiscal matters. >>> We have budgeted for consultants and professionals in the recent past. >>> I would urge us to continue in matters such as these. >>> >>> Sent from my iPad >>> >>> On Oct 9, 2025, at 7:54 AM, Rich Rosenbaum <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Sara, >>> >>> Can you be more specific? And indicate how you would change the survey >>> to be less biased? >>> >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM Sara >>> Mattes <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> >>> OK-Can you now address the matter of leading questions and inherent bias? >>>> >>>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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