ABOUT

Public transportation in Nebraska is a vital part of the solution to the state’s economic, energy, and health care challenges through providing an alternative in congested urban areas and serving as a lifeline to rural communities. Every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns.


Nebraska Public Transit is a program administered by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT). NDOT’s Local Assistance Division is responsible for coordinating public transportation activities in Nebraska’s 93 counties and provides technical assistance as requested. NDOT receives money from the Federal Transit Administration and state transportation funds to fulfill requirements set forth by Nebraska Revised Statute 13-1204.


In 2013, NDOT and the University of Nebraska developed a project to assist with improving and promoting public transit across Nebraska. NDOT sponsors the project collaborating with the Nebraska Safety Center at the University of Nebraska at Kearney College of Business & Technology and the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Public Affairs and Community Service.


The team combines experts in the fields of business, safety, technology, research, and public policy to work diligently toward a safer, more efficient, and more reliable public transportation system for everyone. The project focuses on the unique mobility challenges faced by our state’s rural residents, many of whom rely on public transportation as a critical point of access to social and economic resources.


The current, two and a half year portfolio of projects includes:

there are 50 rural transit providers in Nebraska

2022 OPERATING STATISTICS

icon of people with the 2022 operating statistic that there were 573,339 rural passenger boardings in Nebraska
icon of a road with the 2022 operating statistic that Nebraska Public Transit agencies traveled 4,208,070 rural miles
icon of people with the 2022 operating statistic that there were 4,160,876 urban passenger boardings in Nebraska
icon of a road with the 2022 operating statistic that Nebraska Public Transit agencies traveled 5,665,606 urban miles

MOBILITY MATTERS

Transit Challenges, Nebraska Solutions

Mobility Matters is a quarterly newsletter that covers transit topics from the Nebraska Department of Transportation, the Nebraska Association of Transportation Providers, and Wellness information in one digital newsletter. See how important mobility is to Nebraska by reading articles from the newsletters.

STAFF DIRECTORY

Nebraska Department of Transportation logo
NAME TITLE PHONE EMAIL
Jodi Gibson Highway Local Assistance Division Manager 402-479-4337 jodi.gibson@nebraska.gov
Sarah Soula Transit Manager 402-479-4871 sarah.soula@nebraska.gov
George Gallardo Transportation Planner III 402-479-4368 george.gallardo@nebraska.gov
Wayne Masek Transportation Planner III 402-479-4369 wayne.masek@nebraska.gov
June Weyers Federal Aid Administrator III 402-479-3185 june.weyers@nebraska.gov
Lucinda Dowding Federal Aid Administrator III 402-479-3127 lucinda.dowding@nebraska.gov
Linda Langdale Federal Aid Administrator II 402-479-4786 linda.langdale@nebraska.gov
Valda Opp Federal Aid Administrator II valda.opp@nebraska.gov
University of Nebraska at Kearney and Nebraska Safety Center logos
NAME TITLE PHONE EMAIL
Darla Morris Finance Director 308-865-8276 morrisd@unk.edu
Kaitlyn Richardson Rural Transportation Manager/Business Development 402-480-6859 richardsonke@unk.edu
Mitchell Locken Rural Transit Lead Trainer 402-817-2013 lockenm@unk.edu
Marshall Barth Fleet and Office Manager, MSHA Program Manager 308-865-8755 barthmj@unk.edu
Sam Colligan Event Outreach Coordinator | Graphic Designer 402-480-6857 colligans@unk.edu
Ron Wall Rural Transit Trainer wallr@unk.edu
University of Nebraska at Omaha and Center for Public Affairs Research logos

STAFF

NAME TITLE PHONE EMAIL
William Bivin Statewide Mobility Manager 402-570-0491 bbivin@unomaha.edu
Tara Grell Public Communications and Creative Coordinator 402-554-5963 tgrell@unomaha.edu
Clay Stevens Research Software Engineer 402-554-2132 claystevens@unomaha.edu

RESEARCH AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

NAME TITLE PHONE EMAIL
Josie Schafer Director 402-554-2134 jgschafer@unomaha.edu
Morgan Vogel Research Associate 402-554-2133 mdvogel@unomaha.edu
Dena Lund Community Service Specialist 402-554-7533 denalund@unomaha.edu

This website is developed and maintained by the Statewide Transit Initiative conducted by the University of Nebraska on behalf of the Nebraska Department of Transportation supported in part by the Federal Transit Administration. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official view of the Federal Transit Administration.

Share by: