Carpool Lanes?

[mrsticka]

Do you think I-80, I-680 and I-480 will ever have carpool lanes? They're usually the far left lane and labeled with a diamond.

[daveoma]

I can totally see Omaha having HOV lanes. I think these would be particularly usefully on the west dodge expressway.

[Omababe]

Do we REALLY have enough traffic to make them worthwhile?

I've always regarded Omaha as having essentially zero regular traffic congestion.

My commute, however, is basically crosstown in the western part of the city. Depending on circumstances, like if I'm picking up anyone, I'll do 80/680 or else the local streets. I rarely see any major tie-ups.

I do hear what you're saying. Much of the traffic is single-passenger pickup truck, van, or SUV.

[Dundeemaha]

MAPA's long term planning mentions allowing buses on the shoulder, maybe dynamic shoulders for carpooling as well would be a more efficient solution.

[daveoma]

Do we REALLY have enough traffic to make them worthwhile?

I've always regarded Omaha as having essentially zero regular traffic congestion.

My commute, however, is basically crosstown in the western part of the city. Depending on circumstances, like if I'm picking up anyone, I'll do 80/680 or else the local streets. I rarely see any major tie-ups.

I do hear what you're saying. Much of the traffic is single-passenger pickup truck, van, or SUV.

West Dodge is backed up everyday during evening rush hour, isn't it?

[mrsticka]

Omaha does get traffic congestion. Especially during rush hour. Maybe not nearly as bad as Seattle, but it does get congestion. 3 years ago, I was in Omaha picking up my brother and niece at Eppley and on my way there, I encountered some rush hour traffic on I-80 at L Street and I-680.

[Omababe]

You do get pockets of congestion, like on Harrison going east from 180th. in the morning, but Omaha does not have any of the block after block after block of multi-lane streets crawling from stoplight to stoplight or expressways that are stop and go for miles!

[cdub]

If anyone got caught up last night, thats what real traffic looks like. Took me an hour to get from downtown to 108 and Q as both 80 and L were a mess. If we get to that level consistently we might get some carpool lanes.

[mrsticka]

108th and Q? I used to live near there.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Do you think I-80, I-680 and I-480 will ever have carpool lanes? They're usually the far left lane and labeled with a diamond.

Omaha is just a hair away from being a 1 million metro in population. Yes, there is indeed traffic congestion along the interstate and within the major street arteries of the city during certain times..no question about that. Is Omaha Seattle in this regard? No. But it is growing to the point where HOV lanes could definitely be part of Omaha's future within the next 5-10 years...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[mrsticka]

Yes, you're right. Omaha is not Seattle. Seattle is much worse. The first time I encountered rush hour traffic in Omaha was in April 2001. I was surprised. I couldn't believe Omaha had gotten that big. This was on I-80 at the 42nd Street exit (451).

[Busguy2010]

One curious stretch that I always see a traffic jam at is eastbound Dodge in front of UNO always between 5 and 6. Traffic crawls through there every time I drive it.

[mrsticka]

I once suggested Dodge should've been built as 7 lanes (3 east, 3 west and a center turn) between 30th and 72nd. But it wasn't met well.

[iamjacobm]

I once suggested Dodge should've been built as 7 lanes (3 east, 3 west and a center turn) between 30th and 72nd. But it wasn't met well.

Tearing down millions in property value to move people west faster is a bad move.

[Busguy2010]

I once suggested Dodge should've been built as 7 lanes (3 east, 3 west and a center turn) between 30th and 72nd. But it wasn't met well.

I think Dodge should have been configured like that. If only our earliest settlers knew what kind of city Omaha would become, it would have been a no-brainer done deal. I don't think anybody is suggesting we try to make that happen today.

This Dodge BRT would be a lot more useful if that were the case. We could easily take a lane for transit in that situation.

[mrsticka]

I once suggested Dodge should've been built as 7 lanes (3 east, 3 west and a center turn) between 30th and 72nd. But it wasn't met well.

I think Dodge should have been configured like that. If only our earliest settlers knew what kind of city Omaha would become, it would have been a no-brainer done deal. I don't think anybody is suggesting we try to make that happen today.

This Dodge BRT would be a lot more useful if that were the case. We could easily take a lane for transit in that situation.

I certainly wasn't. I merely suggested they should've done it that way back in the 60's when Omaha was growing out that way.

[BRoss]

This Dodge BRT would be a lot more useful if that were the case. We could easily take a lane for transit in that situation.

I disagree with taking a lane from Dodge for BRT. That would not be a wise move. Since it is stuck at five lanes, we need as much for car traffic as possible. I was talking to Tuna yesterday about how BRT would have been a much better idea on any other street than Dodge. It just doesn't have the capacity for it.

[Dundeemaha]

Turn the 5 12' lanes in to 6 10' lanes. Problem solved.

[choke]

Turn the 5 12' lanes in to 6 10' lanes. Problem solved.

I agree. It seems like those are pretty cushy lanes on Dodge. Lot's of elbow room compared to Leavenworth at least.

[BRoss]

Turn the 5 12' lanes in to 6 10' lanes. Problem solved.

I agree. It seems like those are pretty cushy lanes on Dodge. Lot's of elbow room compared to Leavenworth at least.

It's also a highway and they may not be able to make the lanes smaller per federal guidelines.

[Dundeemaha]

Turn the 5 12' lanes in to 6 10' lanes. Problem solved.

I agree. It seems like those are pretty cushy lanes on Dodge. Lot's of elbow room compared to Leavenworth at least.

It's also a highway and they may not be able to make the lanes smaller per federal guidelines.

Definitely not federal restrictions, though I think Nebraska guidelines require 11ft. That should be changed if so.

It's super dense but this doc is why I think it 11ft min (PDF) Nebraska Minimum Design Standards : Counties, Municipalities, State (2008)