Huge Jack Needed!

West Omaha, Sarpy and Nebraska metro counties.

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Coyote
City Council
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Huge Jack Needed!

Post by Coyote »

This is huge Jack:
Road expenses head uphill

A report released Thursday places a $371 million price tag on the cost of catching up with needed major road improvements in the Omaha area.

The eye-popping figure is new, but it reflects a problem that drivers and public officials already know well: Street work has not kept pace with residential and commercial development.

There are streets with two lanes that should have four, and those with four lanes that should have six.

An additional $2.1 billion in street improvements is needed before 2025 to handle projected growth in traffic and population, according to the study by HDR Engineering Inc. in Omaha.

"We can't mask this," said Matt Tondl, HDR senior vice president. "We are behind, and we know it."

The $94,000 study assesses the current and future road needs of Douglas and Sarpy Counties and the cities of Omaha, Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Ralston and Elkhorn.

About half of the local cost of both existing and future work is for street improvements in Omaha and just outside the city.

HDR developed the list of road projects by examining current and projected traffic and population levels.

Some of the work has been previously identified by local governments in their road plans.

The Omaha area has fallen behind because there is a $30 million annual gap between money spent on major road work and the amount needed to keep pace, the study says. The annual gap would grow to an estimated $42 million by 2025.

"It shows that the current funding stream is not going to get it done," Tondl said. "There is a gap, and it's significant."

Local governments in the Omaha area are collectively spending an average of about $35 million annually on major road work, according to HDR.

The study was commissioned by the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, which does regional planning, with support from local governments.

The report identifies possible funding sources for road work including fees paid by developers and increases in property and fuel taxes.

Another possible source is a tax that companies and businesses would pay based on their number of employees.

Pete Festersen, an aide to Mayor Mike Fahey, said the city is aware of the need to catch up with street work and stay ahead of future development.

Festersen said bond funds and possible increases in federal highway money are among sources Omaha would tap for immediate projects.

He said the city hopes to take a plan to the City Council by the end of the year that involves developers paying fees to help fund road improvements.

Paul Mullen, MAPA executive director, said he hopes that developers realize they must play a role in providing streets than can handle the additional traffic that follows the construction of new homes and businesses.

One of the Omaha area's key selling points is that it overall remains a fairly easy place to get around, he said. Catching up with road work and staying ahead of development will help keep that.


Current widening needs:
36th Street between Capehart and Cornhusker Roads
72nd Street between L Street and Interstate 80
108th Street between Fort and Ida Streets
168th Street between Harrison and Pacific Streets
Q Street between 156th and 180th Streets


Widening needs by 2025:
36th Street between Platteview and Capehart Roads
60th Street between Q and Harrison Streets
84th Street between Highway 370 and Schram Road
120th Street between West Maple Road and State Street
168th Street between West Dodge Road and Blondo Street
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eomaha
County Board
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Post by eomaha »

While the Chinese are re-tracing our path to the moon and beyond ... Americans will be paving/re-paving the roads to our sprawling neighborhoods. :cry:
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Zephyr
Human Relations
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Post by Zephyr »

Ah, that's pocket change. Colorado needs $167 billion over the next 25 years for its roads. Metro Denver's FasTracks initiative, which should pass next week, will bring in an extra $4.7 billion for transit improvements over the next 15 years.
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

I don't know about everyone else, but I believe the city left out about 2 dozen other road widening projects that also need to be worked on.
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