Light Rail to Airport - Existing Track

Post by **Brad** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:19 am

Light Rail to Airport - Using Existing Track

Did you know there is an exiting track from the Omaha World Herald Print Facility to the Airport? The part of the line is no longer used and part of the line is seldom used.

Leaving the print Facility, the line heads north on the west side of the lot B and ballpark, west side of Millwork Commons and the Mastercraft Building, Curves around to the North side of the Tank Farm, crosses Abbott drive and snakes between Freedom Park and the Jail. On the east side of the Jail, the track at the Airport Property. The only track that would need to be constructed would be on the airport property itself.

NDT-TRACK.JPG

GenX · Post by **GenX** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:56 am

And the master plan has buildings filling in where the track is/was.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 12:00 pm

I would absolutely love to see light rail in Omaha, but for a metro around 1 Million I just don't see it happening in our lifetime. I am super excited that after following for 20+ years, the streetcar is finally taking off.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 7:59 pm

It would be kind of cool just to have something to connect the airport to Downtown. I'm just not sure it's all that practical without being connected to the rest of the metro. But with physical news paper going out of style I'm not sure how much the building means to OWH anymore. It be cool to convert it into a grand welcome to Omaha station.

Though, I'm not sure it's common practice to use the old tracks themselves. I'm pretty sure in the case of St Louis, they just used the old ROW and added new tracks.

damonhynes · Post by **damonhynes** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 8:22 pm

Busguy2010 wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 7:59 pm It would be kind of cool just to have something to connect the airport to Downtown. I'm just not sure it's all that practical without being connected to the rest of the metro. But with physical news paper going out of style I'm not sure how much the building means to OWH anymore. It be cool to convert it into a grand welcome to Omaha station.

Though, I'm not sure it's common practice to use the old tracks themselves. I'm pretty sure in the case of St Louis, they just used the old ROW and added new tracks.

The old Wabash on the STL side, the Eads Bridge to cross the Mississippi, then the old Louisville and Nashville on the Illannoy side. New trackage near the airport.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 9:31 pm

Brad wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:19 am Light Rail to Airport - Using Existing Track

Did you know there is an exiting track from the Omaha World Herald Print Facility to the Airport? The part of the line is no longer used and part of the line is seldom used.

Leaving the print Facility, the line heads north on the west side of the lot B and ballpark, west side of Millwork Commons and the Mastercraft Building, Curves around to the North side of the Tank Farm, crosses Abbott drive and snakes between Freedom Park and the Jail. On the east side of the Jail, the track at the Airport Property. The only track that would need to be constructed would be on the airport property itself.

NDT-TRACK.JPG

I like the thought here. And so when the World Herald exclusively becomes a Husker website their former digs becomes a transit center?

Post by **nebugeater** » Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:37 am

Brad wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:19 am Light Rail to Airport - Using Existing Track

Did you know there is an exiting track from the Omaha World Herald Print Facility to the Airport? The part of the line is no longer used and part of the line is seldom used.

Leaving the print Facility, the line heads north on the west side of the lot B and ballpark, west side of Millwork Commons and the Mastercraft Building, Curves around to the North side of the Tank Farm, crosses Abbott drive and snakes between Freedom Park and the Jail. On the east side of the Jail, the track at the Airport Property. The only track that would need to be constructed would be on the airport property itself.

NDT-TRACK.JPG

would it be the right gauge track?

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 26, 2024 9:44 am

I guess my whole thought of this is that the most expensive part of any rail system that is not in the streets is the right-0f-way acquisition. You have a rail right in to the heart of downtown, that will most likely be abandoned soon, and it connects to a rail that is very seldom used, why not at least keep the right of way in tact incase we ever need it.

nebport5 wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 9:31 pm I like the thought here. And so when the World Herald exclusively becomes a Husker website their former digs becomes a transit center?

Yeah, something like that.

nebugeater wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:37 am would it be the right gauge track?

Yes, I believe all light rail is still 4'8.5" gauge. Its just a different weight per foot and usually has overhead power.

OmahaRedWing · Post by **OmahaRedWing** » Fri Jan 26, 2024 10:14 am

In theory I love the idea of light rail to the airport, especially if it connects to this new development. But the more I think about it, I wonder if it would get enough use to justify it. Obviously with some of the big NCAA events at CHI, CWS , Berkshire Hathaway meeting, and the occasional convention (haven't heard lately how CHI is doing on the convention side, especially now with the Marriott), but not sure how many would use it daily. What percent of those coming to the airport go downtown? And how many do so without renting cars (could drop with light rail service obviously)?

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Fri Jan 26, 2024 10:28 am

OmahaRedWing wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 10:14 am In theory I love the idea of light rail to the airport, especially if it connects to this new development. But the more I think about it, I wonder if it would get enough use to justify it. Obviously with some of the big NCAA events at CHI, CWS , Berkshire Hathaway meeting, and the occasional convention (haven't heard lately how CHI is doing on the convention side, especially now with the Marriott), but not sure how many would use it daily. What percent of those coming to the airport go downtown? And how many do so without renting cars (could drop with light rail service obviously)?

If we had proper bus service from the airport we might have a better idea. Regardless, by 2026 I think we can expect those numbers to increase significantly.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Fri Jan 26, 2024 10:40 am

OmahaRedWing wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 10:14 am In theory I love the idea of light rail to the airport, especially if it connects to this new development. But the more I think about it, I wonder if it would get enough use to justify it. Obviously with some of the big NCAA events at CHI, CWS , Berkshire Hathaway meeting, and the occasional convention (haven't heard lately how CHI is doing on the convention side, especially now with the Marriott), but not sure how many would use it daily. What percent of those coming to the airport go downtown? And how many do so without renting cars (could drop with light rail service obviously)?

Agreed. I’ve always found the clamoring for rail transit just between downtown and the airport to be a bit silly. The airport on average sees about 14,000 passengers per day, a fraction of which I’m sure are going to or from downtown. A shuttle bus could adequately serve that demand for a way smaller investment.

halgy · Post by **halgy** » Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:06 pm

Garrett wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 10:40 am
OmahaRedWing wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 10:14 am In theory I love the idea of light rail to the airport, especially if it connects to this new development. But the more I think about it, I wonder if it would get enough use to justify it. Obviously with some of the big NCAA events at CHI, CWS , Berkshire Hathaway meeting, and the occasional convention (haven't heard lately how CHI is doing on the convention side, especially now with the Marriott), but not sure how many would use it daily. What percent of those coming to the airport go downtown? And how many do so without renting cars (could drop with light rail service obviously)?
Agreed. I’ve always found the clamoring for rail transit just between downtown and the airport to be a bit silly. The airport on average sees about 14,000 passengers per day, a fraction of which I’m sure are going to or from downtown. A shuttle bus could adequately serve that demand for a way smaller investment.

Getting decent bus service to the airport seems to be just as impossible as getting a train. If I'm going to dream about transit, I might as well dream big.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:17 pm

I never thought about this but I would assume there would be some pushback from rental car companies at the airport if there was a free or reduced train or shuttle to downtown (I know that several downtown hotels do offer shuttle service currently)

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:27 pm

skinzfan23 wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:17 pm I never thought about this but I would assume there would be some pushback from rental car companies at the airport if there was a free or reduced train or shuttle to downtown (I know that several downtown hotels do offer shuttle service currently)

I bet hotels would be happy to offload shuttle service to the city.

daveoma · Post by **daveoma** » Sat Jan 27, 2024 11:00 am

I think the rail line to CB and the bridge over the river should be preserved for potential use in the future. The idea of a rail line to the airport sounds amazing, but I doubt Eppley will ever be busy enough to justify it. That being said, I think Eppley is very much underserved by the bus, and an extension of the ORBT to the airport would be practical. Any and all people getting on ORBT along the busiest street in the city could take the bus all the way to the airport without the need to transfer. In addition, I think that it would be nice to have this service from early morning to late evening.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Sat Jan 27, 2024 12:41 pm

daveoma wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 11:00 am I think the rail line to CB and the bridge over the river should be preserved for potential use in the future. The idea of a rail line to the airport sounds amazing, but I doubt Eppley will ever be busy enough to justify it. That being said, I think Eppley is very much underserved by the bus, and an extension of the ORBT to the airport would be practical. Any and all people getting on ORBT along the busiest street in the city could take the bus all the way to the airport without the need to transfer. In addition, I think that it would be nice to have this service from early morning to late evening.

100%

damonhynes · Post by **damonhynes** » Sat Jan 27, 2024 1:59 pm

daveoma wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 11:00 am I think the rail line to CB and the bridge over the river should be preserved for potential use in the future.

Are you talking about the Illinois Central/Canadian National bridge? Many interested parties have insisted on the necessity of the bridge and are willing to spend other peoples' money to restore it.

It's worse than a white elephant. By the time it would be rehabbed to suit its new purpose and keep 'stakeholders' and bureaucrats happy, it would probably cost more than a purpose-built bridge. Nothing about the current structure is safe enough to satisfy insurance carriers and government regulations.

Not to mention the fact that the bridge is out of place compared to where its target demographic is located. Also, the former right-of-way leading from the bridge on either side doesn't exist now. It wasn't rail-banked.

Optimally, a light-rail bridge should be between Bob and 480.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Sat Jan 27, 2024 2:03 pm

I hadn't made a bus map in a loooong time because the bus system has been fairly optimized and there's not really any changes I'd make at this time except for this one- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid= ... sp=sharing

I really like the idea of having route 4 extended to the airport. It's one of the major routes, so ot runs every 15 minutes, runs early and late, covers a large amount of the city and connects to many major routes. It might be excessive to have that much service to the airport, but Metro has been on a "build in and they will come" thing lately. Or in this case "put in better service and they will come. I don't think ORBT for the airport would be warranted, so I'd love to see route 4 serve it.

Dusty · Post by **Dusty** » Sun Jan 28, 2024 6:41 pm

1. The city is planning to remove these rails to add infill along the path. Most affected lots would be between Nicholas to 480 East. Filling this area in would be great during the College World Series. More pedestrian access to more things to do here.

2. Even if you did a light rail here, it would be moving really slow. It would be more of a streetcar. if you are stopping at these destinations, then you no longer have an express option to the airport.

3. If you drive to downtown, you are expected to park in a garage to get on the rail. There are no garages close to this area. Most of the long term ones are monthly only. Are you willing to walk with your luggage multiple blocks in the cold to a rail stop? This falls under the caveat with the park and ride concepts. If I drive half way there, then I might well drive the rest of it. The airport is more convenient as a shuttle brings you right to your car. The key to success for a line to airport is getting people to ride transit from start to finish.

4. Some people are intimidated by the hustle and bustle of downtown. I know it's not a big deal for some of us. Some will not come down to get on a train for the fear of missing their flight.

5. The current bus network is tapped out. It's produced an outcome of 1 % ridership. Even with more shelters and frequency, it may max out at 2 %. For a city the size of Omaha, this is pretty disappointing. It will be hard to sustain an airport line with the current network. The system NEEDS to be rebuilt. The city needs a central hub to pull everybody into from the metro (hub and spoke network). From there you can fill a bus of people going to the airport. As ridership increases, you expand to a bigger capacity bus like a BRT bus.

Elkhorn_Urbanist · Post by **Elkhorn_Urbanist** » Sun Jan 28, 2024 8:33 pm

As someone who lives in Elkhorn, all I have ever wanted, no, pined for, for Omaha transit is rapid rail transit running down Dodge from 204th to downtown, and then on to the airport. Doesn't matter if it is heavy rail, light rail, city train, stadtbahn, just so long as it is frequent and similar travel time to driving. This would cover literally all of my weekly commuting and make getting to the airport so much less of a hassle.

What I think is key here is that people will not drive from west omaha to downtown just to get on a train that goes three miles to the airport. They will just drive to the airport. Someone in Blackstone is not going to get on a bus that takes 30 minutes to get to a downtown transit hub to the get on a train to go to the airport unless they have to. They are going to uber.

In an ideal world I would be able to take a train from the burbs that stops in Blackstone and then goes to the airport. Then none of us will have to drive.

I also thing that what is sometimes missed is that the airport itself is a trip generator. As someone said elsewhere (maybe a different thread) there are on average 14000 people who travel through Eppley on a daily basis. I would have to think at least some of those people would prefer to not have to pay for parking. At the same time there are the thousands of employees at Eppley that could also benefit from transit.

I think that rail in the right format could be supported to Eppley, but ultimately don't think that this is it.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Sun Jan 28, 2024 8:45 pm

Elkhorn_Urbanist wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 8:33 pm As someone who lives in Elkhorn, all I have ever wanted, no, pined for, for Omaha transit is rapid rail transit running down Dodge from 204th to downtown, and then on to the airport. Doesn't matter if it is heavy rail, light rail, city train, stadtbahn, just so long as it is frequent and similar travel time to driving.

I don’t intend to come across as mean or condescending here, but if you’re looking for that sort of public transportation support where you live ever…you’re gonna have to move.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Sun Jan 28, 2024 10:38 pm

I think we could support a real light rail system if done right. Unfortunately for us, the common prerequisite is to alleviate an over capacity bus route, which we don't have, and doubtfully ever will.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Jan 28, 2024 10:51 pm

Dusty wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 6:41 pm 1. The city is planning to remove these rails to add infill along the path. Most affected lots would be between Nicholas to 480 East. Filling this area in would be great during the College World Series. More pedestrian access to more things to do here.

The city wouldn't remove the rail, that's private property. It would have to be abandoned by the railroad. The Masterplan showing infill is just a hope, not a hard plan

Dusty wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 6:41 pm 2. Even if you did a light rail here, it would be moving really slow. It would be more of a streetcar. if you are stopping at these destinations, then you no longer have an express option to the airport.

I was outlining the route. I never thought it would stop anywhere but 1 stop downtown and 1 stop at the airport.

Again, this was just to illustrate to the people wanting a streetcar to the airport that there is an existing rail route from the core of downtown to the airport and that extending a new streetcar line is not the only way to get rails to the airport.

Dusty · Post by **Dusty** » Mon Jan 29, 2024 8:42 am

Brad wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 10:51 pm
Dusty wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 6:41 pm
2. Even if you did a light rail here, it would be moving really slow. It would be more of a streetcar. if you are stopping at these destinations, then you no longer have an express option to the airport.
I was outlining the route. I never thought it would stop anywhere but 1 stop downtown and 1 stop at the airport.

Again, this was just to illustrate to the people wanting a streetcar to the airport that there is an existing rail route from the core of downtown to the airport and that extending a new streetcar line is not the only way to get rails to the airport.

I appreciate bringing this up, but we know how people will try to change it and make it a streetcar extension off the main line.
I agree any line to the airport needs to be a direct shot with no other stops.

In my mind, if you can't get a rail going at least 50 mph, then you won't be able to compete with the convenience of driving there. The only place you can pull this speed off is running it down 75 North to the airport. Open road with no developments in the way. But as I said before, with anything new start small by using a bus. If demand grows, then take it from there.

ita · Post by **ita** » Mon Jan 29, 2024 9:12 am

I kind of love this idea. I actually really like how many areas this track snakes by. Printing station is right next to Capitol District/north part of CBD. There is also the 12th and Dodge ORBT station just a block south. I know an A-B route is preferred for speed, but you're hitting a lot of hotel spots along the way. Ultimately, that's what this would be a tourist/visitor route for people staying downtown. Maybe locals, especially employees, would use it if you have access to ORBT or some the routes that go through that area around the printing station or North Downtown, like 13, 4, 11 and 93, or even the streetcar, which has a stop just a block east of there. If they could tie it into the street car route by bringing the last downtown stop east one block, that would be great.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Jan 29, 2024 10:24 am

ita wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 9:12 am I kind of love this idea. I actually really like how many areas this track snakes by. Printing station is right next to Capitol District/north part of CBD. There is also the 12th and Dodge ORBT station just a block south. I know an A-B route is preferred for speed, but you're hitting a lot of hotel spots along the way. Ultimately, that's what this would be a tourist/visitor route for people staying downtown. Maybe locals, especially employees, would use it if you have access to ORBT or some the routes that go through that area around the printing station or North Downtown, like 13, 4, 11 and 93, or even the streetcar, which has a stop just a block east of there. If they could tie it into the street car route by bringing the last downtown stop east one block, that would be great.

I think it's a sweet idea, too. For one, the mechanicals of the building itself are very cool, and would be cool to make it a tour in and of itself. Park at a garage, take the train to the airport, and then back again? That's a great idea. And it'd alleviate some of the parking congestion if eppley fills up.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Mon Jan 29, 2024 10:53 am

ita wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 9:12 am I kind of love this idea. I actually really like how many areas this track snakes by. Printing station is right next to Capitol District/north part of CBD. There is also the 12th and Dodge ORBT station just a block south. I know an A-B route is preferred for speed, but you're hitting a lot of hotel spots along the way. Ultimately, that's what this would be a tourist/visitor route for people staying downtown. Maybe locals, especially employees, would use it if you have access to ORBT or some the routes that go through that area around the printing station or North Downtown, like 13, 4, 11 and 93, or even the streetcar, which has a stop just a block east of there. If they could tie it into the street car route by bringing the last downtown stop east one block, that would be great.

Yes, all of this.

I'm not really concerned with the speed of travel because it's only 3.5 ish miles. With 1 or possibly 2 stops big deal. Even at a slower speed getting a trip like this to 15min or under is a win. In Denver The 18.7 mile ride from Union Station to DIA has six stops and takes roughly 37 mins.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:08 pm

I really love the thought of making the print facility into a grand central station. As you can see below in my original transportation system map from 2016 - Omaha Light Rail System Map
https://goo.gl/maps/TG4HVpEiaLi5otyV8, my plan passes directly by the building, and it would be next to no detour to make the print facility the main downtown station, then follow Brad's suggested route to the airport. If it was me, I'd still have one stop somewhere in Millwork Commons, probably right at Cuming street, maybe right between those two triangular lots directly west of the ballpark. It wouldn't hurt the overall efficiency at all.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:33 pm

I like the idea so much I added it to my map - Omaha Light Rail System Map
https://goo.gl/maps/TG4HVpEiaLi5otyV8

Renovator2559 · Post by **Renovator2559** » Mon Jan 29, 2024 11:53 pm

Busguy2010 wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:33 pm I like the idea so much I added it to my map - Omaha Light Rail System Map
https://goo.gl/maps/TG4HVpEiaLi5otyV8

Thanks for another plan, that is quite a logical path for a light rail, if those stops along i80 were there, those areas would create transit oriented development hubs along i80. That would be interesting to see.

We'll see how successful the economy will be in the next 4 years.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:03 am

Busguy, didn't you submit transit ideas to the city a while back? This would be a good one to include ;)

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:51 am

thenewguy wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:03 am Busguy, didn't you submit transit ideas to the city a while back? This would be a good one to include ;)

A long while back. I'm not entirely sure I reached out to anybody about this particular plan, and not really sure who I would try to contact. Maybe now that the streetcar is about to get started they'd be more receptive about a light rail plan than they were before. With 11,000 views over time, I'd think somebody has to have seen it, or maybe not, so feel free to share it with whomever

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Tue Jan 30, 2024 11:09 am

Renovator2559 wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 11:53 pm Thanks for another plan, that is quite a logical path for a light rail, if those stops along i80 were there, those areas would create transit oriented development hubs along i80. That would be interesting to see.

We'll see how successful the economy will be in the next 4 years.

It's the most logical path to me. It's not as intimate as my old plan having it go down Dodge and 72nd, but at some point I realized those wouldn't be realistic. I've been to a few cities and rode their light rail systems and I realized the effective systems are always aligned in old railroad right of way, or next to highways and interstates. The ones that don't work (looking at Houston and Phoenix) are the ones that intermingle with street traffic. Big mistake there. In my plan, only a short section is street running, but you need that in Downtown to get people where they need to be. Think Denver, they executed their Downtown portion well. The last reason I thought the interstate alignment was most realistic is light rail is actually quite loud and I don't think anybody would appreciate it in their back yard, so I kept it in industrial areas that already have train and highway traffic noise. Despite it being in that area, there's still endless TOD opportunities near those stations. Just think about how much more dense that hotel district at 72nd & I-80 would be. My other favorites to imagine are the Southport, Westroads, 144th & Dodge, Village Pointe, West Maple, Irvington stations. Though not in the thick of urbanity like some of the other stations, there's plenty of room and opportunity for transformative TOD.

Dusty · Post by **Dusty** » Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:52 pm

I will stick my neck out there and say I don't like the idea for a number of reasons. Besides, It always seems like these rail ideas fall short due usage rights. Since the railroad owns them, they could just flat out say no. If they do, it could come with strings attached. This is why you see so many transit authorities paying up big bucks to lay their own track. Freedom to do what you want. You may have some leverage on the unused rail lines, but still comes with a lot of hoops to jump through.

If we had one shot for another big rail project, I would rather see a commuter line to Lincoln. I also stressed the point of the city quickly grabbing a plot of land in Southport next to the rails. Leaves the door open for a bus/rail terminal for future expansions. Wait too long, it will become a car wash or Megasaver.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Tue Jan 30, 2024 3:02 pm

Dusty wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:52 pm I will stick my neck out there and say I don't like the idea for a number of reasons. Besides, It always seems like these rail ideas fall short due usage rights. Since the railroad owns them, they could just flat out say no. If they do, it could come with strings attached. This is why you see so many transit authorities paying up big bucks to lay their own track. Freedom to do what you want. You may have some leverage on the unused rail lines, but still comes with a lot of hoops to jump through.

If we had one shot for another big rail project, I would rather see a commuter line to Lincoln. I also stressed the point of the city quickly grabbing a plot of land in Southport next to the rails. Leaves the door open for a bus/rail terminal for future expansions. Wait too long, it will become a car wash or Megasaver.

It may not have been stated, but the assumption I was under is that whichever railroad owns that track would presumably turn over ownership, so no usage rights issue. I don't think anybody ever thought a freight company would share tracks with a light rail operator. The premise of the idea is that the rails are borderline abandoned so why not use the ROW.

Anyway it's all fantastical, it'll probably never happen, but still fun to imagine and debate about.

Dusty · Post by **Dusty** » Tue Jan 30, 2024 3:11 pm

Busguy2010 wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 3:02 pm
Dusty wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:52 pm I will stick my neck out there and say I don't like the idea for a number of reasons. Besides, It always seems like these rail ideas fall short due usage rights. Since the railroad owns them, they could just flat out say no. If they do, it could come with strings attached. This is why you see so many transit authorities paying up big bucks to lay their own track. Freedom to do what you want. You may have some leverage on the unused rail lines, but still comes with a lot of hoops to jump through.

If we had one shot for another big rail project, I would rather see a commuter line to Lincoln. I also stressed the point of the city quickly grabbing a plot of land in Southport next to the rails. Leaves the door open for a bus/rail terminal for future expansions. Wait too long, it will become a car wash or Megasaver.
It may not have been stated, but the assumption I was under is that whichever railroad owns that track would presumably turn over ownership, so no usage rights issue. I don't think anybody ever thought a freight company would share tracks with a light rail operator. The premise of the idea is that the rails are borderline abandoned so why not use the ROW.

Anyway it's all fantastical, it'll probably never happen, but still fun to imagine and debate about.

Fair enough! Well if that's the case, then put an enclosed sky lift right over the tracks. Now you have your slow moving scenic route from the airport to downtown. LOL!

meliketrains · Post by **meliketrains** » Tue May 19, 2026 9:57 am

Necro-bumping this thread to mention that Denver began development of its light rail network when the general metro was roughly 1.4M people. Omaha is just now reaching 1M people, and at our current growth rate, this is a discussion city, state, and federal planners will need to have within the next 5 years. Light rail must be a serious focus if Omaha is ever to truly be a great city. When Denver built theirs, people moaned and groaned the entire time. Now they can't build it fast enough, and the complaints are about not having access and wanting it.

Omaha has so many potential options for development given the highway network here bisects the city. We already have a pretty decent framework from which to build on, and we're lucky the majority of our traffic moves east/west. It would mean our primary lines could follow the highways while other lines connect them and dip into North/South Omaha. I envision the area around 72nd and Dodge being a sort of general hub with lines connecting and branching out from here, and maybe even an express that runs between a downtown stop, 72nd/dodge, and a stop out west like at 156th or 168th.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Tue May 19, 2026 11:27 am

A few years ago I did a deep dive into public transportation from the airport to downtown, my results were disappointing. I usually rent a car for my stay but was scheduled to visit the Black Hills with family the next day. Upon arrival at the airport, I jumped on a hotel shuttle (for free, although I tipped the driver) headed for a hotel a few blocks from mine. Problem solved.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Tue May 19, 2026 12:26 pm

meliketrains wrote: Tue May 19, 2026 9:57 am I envision the area around 72nd and Dodge being a sort of general hub with lines connecting and branching out from here, and maybe even an express that runs between a downtown stop, 72nd/dodge, and a stop out west like at 156th or 168th.

That's a tough sell, especially given that 1) Dodge is a federal highway and 2) you're looking to put rail through the core of Omaha with mass disruption that will make the streetcar complaints feel like a hangnail.

IMO, and this is pure speculation with the massive assumption that UP, BNSF (or any other mainline owner in the area) would go along with this, would be to leverage existing ROWs to build another dedicated track and plead for partnership for rail sharing where possible. Again, we're ignoring the real world probability of this.

But, in my imaginary world, a nice starter light rail route would be:
Terminus: Eppley Airfield. There's a line that ends at the northeastern edge of the airport by fire station #22. Either provide a moving sidewalk to that end and build a station or extend the line to the terminal proper for a station.

Stop 1: North Downtown. Existing rail loops around the north and west sides of Carter Lake. This also avoids the administrative complexity of running a line through another state. Existing rail runs right along the future Union Omaha stadium and NDT developments. That same track continues south along the east side of the CHI Center and HOA park.

Stop 2: Downtown/Durham/Union Station. In this imaginary world, this is a handy place to transfer to a local streetcar line that happens to run north/south along 10th, providing rail access to downtown, midtown, and the zoo. From here, there's an existing line heading west from the Durham yard that it could follow.

Stop 3: Deer Park/South O. This would serve the Vinton corridor near 25th street

Here we start getting into more of an suburban/commuter pattern

Stop 4: Downtown Ralston/77th & Park. Almost a no-brainer and a boost for this land-locked small town. Great opportunity for redevelopment in the industrial south side of downtown Ralston

Here's where a major decision point is:
1) Stay on the BNSF rail line and head southwest toward Lincoln. Commuter stops can be Southport south of Costo-ish, Gretna at US-6 and 370, Ashland, Waverly, UNL/Memorial Stadium, and a final terminus at the Lincoln Amtrack Station.

OR

2) Build a connector rail to go along Harry A. Anderson with a stop in downtown Millard, before joining up with the UP line along Industrial Road. Additional commuter stops could be Village Pointe, downtown Elkhorn, Valley, and end out in downtown Fremont.

Again though, much like every other light rail post around here, it's very improbable and completely hypothetical. I agree with your assertion though that it should be looked at seriously now so that in 2040 we aren't yelling at the clouds asking why we didn't start a light rail line earlier.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Tue May 19, 2026 1:09 pm

almighty_tuna wrote: Tue May 19, 2026 12:26 pm
meliketrains wrote: Tue May 19, 2026 9:57 am I envision the area around 72nd and Dodge being a sort of general hub with lines connecting and branching out from here, and maybe even an express that runs between a downtown stop, 72nd/dodge, and a stop out west like at 156th or 168th.
That's a tough sell, especially given that 1) Dodge is a federal highway and 2) you're looking to put rail through the core of Omaha with mass disruption that will make the streetcar complaints feel like a hangnail.

IMO, and this is pure speculation with the massive assumption that UP, BNSF (or any other mainline owner in the area) would go along with this, would be to leverage existing ROWs to build another dedicated track and plead for partnership for rail sharing where possible. Again, we're ignoring the real world probability of this.

But, in my imaginary world, a nice starter light rail route would be:
Terminus: Eppley Airfield. There's a line that ends at the northeastern edge of the airport by fire station #22. Either provide a moving sidewalk to that end and build a station or extend the line to the terminal proper for a station.

Stop 1: North Downtown. Existing rail loops around the north and west sides of Carter Lake. This also avoids the administrative complexity of running a line through another state. Existing rail runs right along the future Union Omaha stadium and NDT developments. That same track continues south along the east side of the CHI Center and HOA park.

Stop 2: Downtown/Durham/Union Station. In this imaginary world, this is a handy place to transfer to a local streetcar line that happens to run north/south along 10th, providing rail access to downtown, midtown, and the zoo. From here, there's an existing line heading west from the Durham yard that it could follow.

Stop 3: Deer Park/South O. This would serve the Vinton corridor near 25th street

Here we start getting into more of an suburban/commuter pattern

Stop 4: Downtown Ralston/77th & Park. Almost a no-brainer and a boost for this land-locked small town. Great opportunity for redevelopment in the industrial south side of downtown Ralston

Here's where a major decision point is:
1) Stay on the BNSF rail line and head southwest toward Lincoln. Commuter stops can be Southport south of Costo-ish, Gretna at US-6 and 370, Ashland, Waverly, UNL/Memorial Stadium, and a final terminus at the Lincoln Amtrack Station.

OR

2) Build a connector rail to go along Harry A. Anderson with a stop in downtown Millard, before joining up with the UP line along Industrial Road. Additional commuter stops could be Village Pointe, downtown Elkhorn, Valley, and end out in downtown Fremont.

Again though, much like every other light rail post around here, it's very improbable and completely hypothetical. I agree with your assertion though that it should be looked at seriously now so that in 2040 we aren't yelling at the clouds asking why we didn't start a light rail line earlier.

You'd need about a three dozen additional stops to make this plan feasible. The Fremont line alone would be 44 miles, competing with LA's A line, the world's longest light rail line at 57 miles, which has 48 stops in comparison to your proposed 9. Your Lincoln line would hit 60 miles. Even then, your ideal light rail line length tends to be around 15 miles. Your ideas would be better set to be regional rail with heavy trains, not light rail. Light rail wants stops at least every mile or less, and enough stops+density to support frequent headways.