ORBT - Omaha Rapid Bus Transit

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 10:15 pm

S.O.Boy wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2020 2:02 pm They say this will double the ridership of the #2 route.

Who said?
Last time they reported, the 2 had almost 1,800 boardings per day. And they are removing route 2, so I guess you mean they said that this would be double the ridership of the 2.

S.O.Boy · Post by **S.O.Boy** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 12:03 am

Busguy2010 wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2020 10:15 pm
S.O.Boy wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2020 2:02 pm They say this will double the ridership of the #2 route.
Who said?
Last time they reported, the 2 had almost 1,800 boardings per day. And they are removing route 2, so I guess you mean they said that this would be double the ridership of the 2.

https://www.ketv.com/article/all-10-orb ... a/30897011#

stadsborgare · Post by **stadsborgare** » Fri Apr 17, 2020 10:09 am

Originally, they were going to delay work on some downtown stations because they didn't want construction to get in the way of the College World Series, swim trials, etc. - but since that concern is obviously gone now, they are doing the work.

Here is one at 10th & Douglas, work progressing...

ita · Post by **ita** » Fri Apr 17, 2020 10:46 am

stadsborgare wrote: Fri Apr 17, 2020 10:09 am Originally, they were going to delay work on some downtown stations because they didn't want construction to get in the way of the College World Series, swim trials, etc. - but since that concern is obviously gone now, they are doing the work.

Here is one at 10th & Douglas, work progressing...

Their most recent newsletter alluded to start possibly seeing the platforms installed in May. It seems like they are moving right along.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Fri Apr 17, 2020 1:17 pm

stadsborgare wrote: Fri Apr 17, 2020 10:09 am Originally, they were going to delay work on some downtown stations because they didn't want construction to get in the way of the College World Series, swim trials, etc. - but since that concern is obviously gone now, they are doing the work.

Here is one at 10th & Douglas, work progressing...

Do you believe “Country Crock” was real butter?

If the delay was due to expected crowds at CWS or Swim Trials, the city was enormously stupid.

Most likely they were just telling lies. The construction of each stop closes about 150’ of traffic lane. Maximum. And, the closure could be lessened once the grading and concrete is poured.
Next, they have been construction for 6 months. Simple planning =. Build downtown first.

It’s just like the Cool Hand Luke project (aka Gene Leahy Mall project) ... over promise, under deliver.

ita · Post by **ita** » Fri Apr 17, 2020 1:47 pm

Omahacritic wrote: Fri Apr 17, 2020 1:17 pm
stadsborgare wrote: Fri Apr 17, 2020 10:09 am Originally, they were going to delay work on some downtown stations because they didn't want construction to get in the way of the College World Series, swim trials, etc. - but since that concern is obviously gone now, they are doing the work.

Here is one at 10th & Douglas, work progressing...

Do you believe “Country Crock” was real butter?

If the delay was due to expected crowds at CWS or Swim Trials, the city was enormously stupid.

Most likely they were just telling lies. The construction of each stop closes about 150’ of traffic lane. Maximum. And, the closure could be lessened once the grading and concrete is poured.
Next, they have been construction for 6 months. Simple planning =. Build downtown first.

It’s just like the Cool Hand Luke project (aka Gene Leahy Mall project) ... over promise, under deliver.

Why are you so hard on this project's delay? In the greater scheme of things the 6 month delay in delivery of this project is inconsequential and I think has benefitted the project. People were up in arms for the 'traffic' that the construction caused on Dodge; now, no one is on the roads to care or complain. Furthermore, without public traffic to deal with, they could move forward quicker on the downtown stops. Additionally, if they had opened on time, which was to be in Spring 2020, in light of the effect of the coronavirus, ORBT would be running empty buses and would be downright wasteful. With the fall debut, hopefully, the city will recover some in terms of offices opening again, the virus will be under control, and there will be people willing and comfortable to get on the new public transport project. Furthermore, it was reported that the platforms, which are being constructed by a third party, experienced delay as well. That's something Metro could not control.

If you want something to critique and complain about, look at the rail project in Hawaii. I won't talk about the details here, but that project would make your head explode in terms of over promising and under delivery on a public project.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Fri Apr 17, 2020 11:34 pm

The concept itself ...I’ve no problem with it.

A six month delay on a six month project. Gee, what’s to comment about?
Delays are not beneficial. Conversely, now is the time for the city to be working out the kinks. It’s opportunity wasted.
Guess what ... buses are running every day. Not completely empty, but mostly so. So expense saving???

The delays being blamed on a 3rd party contractor ... that’s just lame. Who hired the contractor? Metro did the hiring. Presumably they did some due diligence. They should have checked each site for all issues. And if they were up to snuff, the Metro timeline reflected all potential issues.

Metro just wants to tell you the dog ate their homework.

S.O.Boy · Post by **S.O.Boy** » Mon Apr 20, 2020 5:22 pm

Is this the reason Dodge is getting new traffic lights and poles? Happy Hollow & Dodge already has 7 new ones. East bound Farnam pole mounted where sidewalk used to be.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Thu May 07, 2020 12:51 pm

They have started installing parts of the canopies at least on the stations 84th through Westroads. These are gonna look good.

stadsborgare · Post by **stadsborgare** » Sat May 09, 2020 1:18 pm

Lookie here.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Tue May 19, 2020 5:57 pm

Here we go! According to Metro, the first canopy installed at Westroads today.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue May 19, 2020 8:17 pm

[youtube][/youtube]

S.O.Boy · Post by **S.O.Boy** » Fri May 22, 2020 2:24 pm

https://urbanplanning.cityofomaha.org/… ... it-oriente…

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Tue May 26, 2020 11:55 pm

10th and Farnam Station .. a big F hole going on two weeks.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Wed May 27, 2020 12:36 am

The progress on the eastbound stations has been really impressive. For how long it took to do the westbound 62nd-Westroads stations, the rest of them seem to have taken half that time.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu May 28, 2020 12:43 pm

Busguy2010 wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 12:36 am The progress on the eastbound stations has been really impressive. For how long it took to do the westbound 62nd-Westroads stations, the rest of them seem to have taken half that time.

We should just close the city every year for 3-4 months for pothole repair.

ita · Post by **ita** » Thu May 28, 2020 5:19 pm

While the study is completed by MAPA, and this could have been posted in the MAPA thread, the recently completed ROI study of transit development, focuses on the potential economic impact of BRT. The study imagines a completed BRT where the current project is, and additional routes on 30th-24th street-Fort Crook and 72nd-84th. Here is the full study:

https://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... .21.20.pdf

Somewhat expectedly, the study shows untapped economic potential by continuing the development of BRT in the urban metro, in addition to societal benefits of better connecting people who rely on transit with jobs and services. I would really love to see the 30th-24th-Fort Crook extension; there is real potential there for development opportunities along that route.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Thu May 28, 2020 11:59 pm

Big E wrote: Thu May 28, 2020 12:43 pm We should just close the city every year for 3-4 months for pothole repair.

Right on! Everybody complains about the roads, but if they didn't use them so dam much...

I'm only kind of kidding. The recent voter approved thing to repair (what, 10%? of) the worst roads is supposed to take 3-4 years (5-6 if I've learned anything). One thing the general bozo could have found out in the "shutdown" is that less people = more room to work. I know you're joking, but I really am suggesting that if people didn't go out for so many unnecessary trips, this would help construction crews get their jobs done quicker. It would be a dream world though if everyone really weighed the importance of every single trip they make.

S.O.Boy · Post by **S.O.Boy** » Tue Jun 23, 2020 6:21 pm

https://www.consumerreports.org/life-fa ... es-survey/

"Some of our respondents declared they would never again ride on subways/buses"

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:12 pm

So 72nd & Dodge is now equipped with a canopy, in addition to Westroads. 84th and 90th are also showing signs that the canopies will be going up soon. I'd expect those two to also be finished within the week. All of the other ones currently in construction are flying. They are going up at light speed compared to the first few. As I said before, though it has taken longer than expected, they are really doing it right. These things are looking awesome!

GrandpaaSmucker · Post by **GrandpaaSmucker** » Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:56 pm

Busguy2010 wrote: Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:12 pm So 72nd & Dodge is now equipped with a canopy, in addition to Westroads. 84th and 90th are also showing signs that the canopies will be going up soon. I'd expect those two to also be finished within the week. All of the other ones currently in construction are flying. They are going up at light speed compared to the first few. As I said before, though it has taken longer than expected, they are really doing it right. These things are looking awesome!

Come on now. I just can not believe that I am the only one that thinks it might not be a good idea to put that new Orbit Station in at 72nd & Dodge at this particular moment.

While I would like to believe and hope that we are past the rioting and civil unrest thing my brain tells me we are still sitting on a powder keg waiting to get set off. Might be a good time to put a hold on installing anything at this area considering it is flash point central.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Wed Jun 24, 2020 1:07 pm

GrandpaaSmucker wrote: Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:56 pm Come on now. I just can not believe that I am the only one that thinks it might not be a good idea to put that new Orbit Station in at 72nd & Dodge at this particular moment. While I would like to believe and hope that we are past the rioting and civil unrest thing my brain tells me we are still sitting on a powder keg waiting to get set off. Might be a good time to put a hold on installing anything at this area considering it is flash point central.

No, I definitely thought that they were probably glad they didn't put it in 3 weeks ago. It would have definitely been tested, if not obliterated. I think the plan all along was to complete 62nd through Westroads first, so I'm guessing as they get shipments of the canopies, they have no choice but to install them, for lack of storage space or other logistics.

PotatoeEatsFish · Post by **PotatoeEatsFish** » Thu Jun 25, 2020 12:47 am

GrandpaaSmucker wrote: Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:56 pm
Busguy2010 wrote: Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:12 pm So 72nd & Dodge is now equipped with a canopy, in addition to Westroads. 84th and 90th are also showing signs that the canopies will be going up soon. I'd expect those two to also be finished within the week. All of the other ones currently in construction are flying. They are going up at light speed compared to the first few. As I said before, though it has taken longer than expected, they are really doing it right. These things are looking awesome!

Come on now. I just can not believe that I am the only one that thinks it might not be a good idea to put that new Orbit Station in at 72nd & Dodge at this particular moment. While I would like to believe and hope that we are past the rioting and civil unrest thing my brain tells me we are still sitting on a powder keg waiting to get set off. Might be a good time to put a hold on installing anything at this area considering it is flash point central.

I mean you kind of need a stop there since it's right where Target and the imaginary Crossroads redevelopment is.

mistergutierrez · Post by **mistergutierrez** » Thu Jun 25, 2020 5:53 pm

The bus stop at 84th has the canopy already installed.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Thu Jun 25, 2020 6:01 pm

Looked like it was installed earlier today.

Post by **BRoss** » Thu Jun 25, 2020 7:38 pm

90th too.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Thu Jun 25, 2020 9:23 pm

Hmm, earlier today they posted a construction update that included the Keystone Trail stops, saying that they - as well as the WB Park Ave & Dodge, and EB 33rd and Dodge stops - would "not have the typical amenities of an ORBT station", but additional amenities are in the works, or something like that

I wonder why they decided to do that... I understand why they "don't have plans" for 77th street stations, but I don't get the other two. I think from what I recall, they had designs for each individual stop, so I'm a bit confused about those. They did run into issues with the 49th station, so part of me thinks they are going to wrap up all the stations they are currently working on, get the buses up and running, and finish up the last five after starting operation so they can say they got it done.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Thu Jun 25, 2020 9:46 pm

BTW here's the construction update page if anyone is interested : http://www.rideorbt.com/construction/
And the Facebook page where I saw the pics : https://www.facebook.com/MetroTransitOMA

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Sun Jun 28, 2020 12:46 pm

Here is a video of the station installation :

[youtube][/youtube]

GrandpaaSmucker · Post by **GrandpaaSmucker** » Sun Jun 28, 2020 4:01 pm

I was driving by the station on the SE corner of 90th & Dodge and it looks like it is going to be way too much of an incline for people who don't get around very well. They are not done yet so maybe they will have a cure for that.

stadsborgare · Post by **stadsborgare** » Sun Jun 28, 2020 5:12 pm

Busguy2010 wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2020 9:23 pm Hmm, earlier today they posted a construction update that included the Keystone Trail stops, saying that they - as well as the WB Park Ave & Dodge, and EB 33rd and Dodge stops - would "not have the typical amenities of an ORBT station", but additional amenities are in the works, or something like that I wonder why they decided to do that... I understand why they "don't have plans" for 77th street stations, but I don't get the other two. I think from what I recall, they had designs for each individual stop, so I'm a bit confused about those. They did run into issues with the 49th station, so part of me thinks they are going to wrap up all the stations they are currently working on, get the buses up and running, and finish up the last five after starting operation so they can say they got it done.

For the Keystone Trail stops, I was told that because that part of the route is too close to a flood zone, they wouldn't be able to have some of the amenities (like electrical) installed.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Sun Jun 28, 2020 9:31 pm

GrandpaaSmucker wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2020 4:01 pm I was driving by the station on the SE corner of 90th & Dodge and it looks like it is going to be way too much of an incline for people who don't get around very well. They are not done yet so maybe they will have a cure for that.

You should have seen the infrastructure that was there before.

bigredmed1 · Post by **bigredmed1** » Mon Jun 29, 2020 12:34 pm

Busguy2010 wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2020 9:31 pm
GrandpaaSmucker wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2020 4:01 pm I was driving by the station on the SE corner of 90th & Dodge and it looks like it is going to be way too much of an incline for people who don't get around very well. They are not done yet so maybe they will have a cure for that.
You should have seen the infrastructure that was there before.

90th and Dodge is a drop off. The west side of 90th is stable and flat, the east side is anything but.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Mon Jun 29, 2020 1:49 pm

The east side is much more open, yes on an incline. But the west side would have required building a giant retaining wall and cutting into the library's parking lot. They had two options, and the east side ended up being the better option.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Tue Jun 30, 2020 8:16 pm

19th Street done

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Wed Jul 01, 2020 1:53 pm

33rd Street done, 15th and 42nd or 62nd next.

ita · Post by **ita** » Wed Jul 01, 2020 3:14 pm

Nice they are moving right along. I think MAPA is getting funding to allow free use of ORBT for the first few months. It should be a good opportunity for everyone, even those who will not necessarily use it, to test the new routes and buses.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:39 pm

Looks like they did 15th & Dodge today, too. That makes 8 of the 25 stations installed, along with another 14 platforms that are all but complete and almost ready to accept their canopies. So that makes this thing 3/4 done, for all intents and purposes.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Thu Jul 02, 2020 10:45 pm

The stop at 10th and Farnam ... has been a big hole in the ground for over 60 days. Going on 90.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:00 pm

Omahacritic wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 10:45 pm The stop at 10th and Farnam ... has been a big hole in the ground for over 60 days. Going on 90.

There is no stop at 10th and Farnam sir or madam. Assuming you are speaking of the 10th and Douglas station, you would be exaggerating because the platform is clearly as far along as most of the others that are under construction at this point, i.e, almost done.