And he and other city officials are confident that costs won’t rise significantly above the $421 million figure. That’s because all the major contracts for the project have already been let, largely locking in most costs. Built into the $421 million estimate is also $8 million for further unforeseen contingencies.
The $3.9 billion in projected development is estimated to generate more than $900 million in TIF funding. Ewing and Jensen said that’s enough to pay off the $440 million in construction bonds, the long-term financing of that debt and still leave at least $100 million available for affordable housing.
Also from the story:
Last month, the Omaha Streetcar Authority approved the main contract for the streetcar’s construction, a contract negotiated with Omaha’s Kiewit construction company that sets the maximum construction cost at $210 million.
Currently, more than $100 million in related utility and infrastructure work like moving and replacing electrical lines, gas and water lines and sewer lines is proceeding within the streetcar corridor.
It’s estimated that Kiewit will start laying track sometime next year, with the streetcar set to become operational by September 2028.
I didn't like that last part though about being fully operational by Sept 2028 (hopefully that is on the long end of the range)
The main slowdown has been agreeing to pricing on everything, for MUD and for the overall contract. They spent a lot of time on value engineering and going back and forth to get under budget. Originally the goal from the city was to have all of the work under the Kiewit contract but they ended up putting a lot out to bid for cost savings. That added quite a bit of time since there is a lot of work put into getting plans and specifications put together for a bid scenario vs. a negotiated price.
Construction nuggets from the monthly webinar:
-Sounds like mainline construction is expected to conclude in 2027.
-Vehicle maintenance facility foundation is currently going in… expecting to be able receive streetcars in early 2027
-Expecting to pour Harney St. bridge deck during the first two weeks of August
PWL73316 wrote: Thu Jul 10, 2025 8:57 am
So if everything is done by 2027 what's the hold-up? Is that just a timeline with safety built in?
Training operators and testing the equipment takes a decent amount of time.
https://kcstreetcar.org/mse-testing/
Here is a brief write-up of some of the testing being done on KC’s Main Street Extension before it opens this fall. I would think the testing required in Omaha is similar if not identical.
No surprise by any stretch, but KETV just ran a story about how the streetcar will interact with the Metro system.
They'll be separate entities, but will strive to interact well.
I think having the streetcar free takes care of most of the issues a user could encounter. It was said that hopefully the streetcar and Metro could have the same application for ride planning. Though, I know nothing about that, I always just read the schedules.
Looking at some of the more prominent possible route interactions, there are the 15, 18, and 30, that all run along Farnam and Harney, and all of which are in the top tier for ridership and frequency.
I could see the interaction presenting a bit of a challenge for Metro. Just throwing out possibilities such as - potential reduced ridership, potential route and/or stop relocations, and potential obstruction of service. For example, if im a current route 15 rider, is that going to slow my bus down to the point that I just eat it and take the free streetcar, even though the streetcar option will likely take longer? Would Metro adjust those routes to avoid Farnam and Harney altogether to preserve efficiency, or would they strive to interact with the streetcar entity to ensure connectivity and efficiency. Lots of questions there to see play out.
Busguy2010 wrote: Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:42 pm
No surprise by any stretch, but KETV just ran a story about how the streetcar will interact with the Metro system.
They'll be separate entities, but will strive to interact well.
I think having the streetcar free takes care of most of the issues a user could encounter. It was said that hopefully the streetcar and Metro could have the same application for ride planning. Though, I know nothing about that, I always just read the schedules.
Looking at some of the more prominent possible route interactions, there are the 15, 18, and 30, that all run along Farnam and Harney, and all of which are in the top tier for ridership and frequency.
I could see the interaction presenting a bit of a challenge for Metro. Just throwing out possibilities such as - potential reduced ridership, potential route and/or stop relocations, and potential obstruction of service. For example, if im a current route 15 rider, is that going to slow my bus down to the point that I just eat it and take the free streetcar, even though the streetcar option will likely take longer? Would Metro adjust those routes to avoid Farnam and Harney altogether to preserve efficiency, or would they strive to interact with the streetcar entity to ensure connectivity and efficiency. Lots of questions there to see play out.
I imagine if the streetcar is free, Metro will eventually become free in order to eliminate any barriers between the two. They may be separate, but they have an excellent opportunity to generate some (cringe) synergy.
Busguy2010 wrote: Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:42 pm
No surprise by any stretch, but KETV just ran a story about how the streetcar will interact with the Metro system.
They'll be separate entities, but will strive to interact well.
I think having the streetcar free takes care of most of the issues a user could encounter. It was said that hopefully the streetcar and Metro could have the same application for ride planning. Though, I know nothing about that, I always just read the schedules.
Looking at some of the more prominent possible route interactions, there are the 15, 18, and 30, that all run along Farnam and Harney, and all of which are in the top tier for ridership and frequency.
I could see the interaction presenting a bit of a challenge for Metro. Just throwing out possibilities such as - potential reduced ridership, potential route and/or stop relocations, and potential obstruction of service. For example, if im a current route 15 rider, is that going to slow my bus down to the point that I just eat it and take the free streetcar, even though the streetcar option will likely take longer? Would Metro adjust those routes to avoid Farnam and Harney altogether to preserve efficiency, or would they strive to interact with the streetcar entity to ensure connectivity and efficiency. Lots of questions there to see play out.
I imagine if the streetcar is free, Metro will eventually become free in order to eliminate any barriers between the two. They may be separate, but they have an excellent opportunity to generate some (cringe) synergy.
Free transit is fairly expensive and most systems that have tried it have usually walked it back, like KC.
I would love it if the buses/street car agencies introduced a tap to pay system that works for both transit types. And make it as frictionless as possible for riders. That way you still get fair box revenue and it’s still very simple for riders.
Gobears27 wrote: Sat Jul 12, 2025 11:33 pm
I would love it if the buses/street car agencies introduced a tap to pay system that works for both transit types. And make it as frictionless as possible for riders. That way you still get fair box revenue and it’s still very simple for riders.
*Insert joke about potholes and rider friction.
The "tap to pay" might also be the way to keep the homeless off the free streetcar. The tap system works well in NYC.
Mapguy wrote: Tue Jul 15, 2025 8:10 am
ORBT is tap to pay. The bus system already has this. Apparently none of the arm-chair planners have ridden the bus
If youre talking tap to pay with a debit card??? The banks charge 40 cents per transaction so that doesn't make a lot of sense.
NYC takes tap to pay with debit card and has even introduced fare capping with them, so clearly it works out in some way.
Mapguy wrote: Tue Jul 15, 2025 8:10 am
ORBT is tap to pay. The bus system already has this. Apparently none of the arm-chair planners have ridden the bus
If youre talking tap to pay with a debit card??? The banks charge 40 cents per transaction so that doesn't make a lot of sense.
NYC takes tap to pay with debit card and has even introduced fare capping with them, so clearly it works out in some way.
Mapguy wrote: Tue Jul 15, 2025 8:10 am
ORBT is tap to pay. The bus system already has this. Apparently none of the arm-chair planners have ridden the bus
If youre talking tap to pay with a debit card??? The banks charge 40 cents per transaction so that doesn't make a lot of sense.
Looking broadly, I’m not seeing any additional merchant fees for tap to pay other than 10 cents per transaction for Stripe. If they actually are paying 40 cents per tap transaction I would ask why they are using that platform.
I hope they don't go cashless at any point. There's a few places I always carry cash and coins for, and the bus, and sketchy gas stations are among them. I would never trust swiping or tapping a debit or credit card at a bus station or a bus itself.
Umo is okay I guess, cause you can preload it. But I still prefer the old fashioned way.
Busguy2010 wrote: Wed Jul 16, 2025 5:57 pm
I hope they don't go cashless at any point. There's a few places I always carry cash and coins for, and the bus, and sketchy gas stations are among them. I would never trust swiping or tapping a debit or credit card at a bus station or a bus itself.
Umo is okay I guess, cause you can preload it. But I still prefer the old fashioned way.
Contactless payments (tapping) are secure, your real card number isn’t transmitted or stored, only a token.
Hey, maybe yall know more about how it works, but I'm just not gonna put my trust in it. I've been defrauded three times simply using my debit or credit card at the grocery store or gas station, or however. So it's simple enough to me to carry a little cash in case I need to use the bus once in a blue moon, or for any transaction that feels a little sketch, it aint gonna hurt me. And actually when I plan to use the bus, I don't even take my cards or wallet with me. Just a wad of cash. And I'm not saying using public transportation shouldn't be a comfortable experience in 2025 and beyond, it's just the way I always did it as a kid and throughout my life. It pays to be vigilant.
Cindy Gonzalez wrote:
The City of Omaha is poised to make what Mayor John Ewing Jr. called its “single largest investment” in affordable housing as part of his effort to close the gap between the “haves and have-nots.”
Seed money would come, the mayor and his team said, via the sale of bonds to be repaid by anticipated tax-increment financing revenue tied to the streetcar project.
Ewing declined to provide certain details, including the level of proposed investment and projected number of new dwellings, saying his team planned a media event Friday.
Sounds like this was likely worked on and planned by the Stothert Administration, which leads me to believe this will be a dense development with possibly some height.
Last edited by Doctor Fate on Thu Jul 31, 2025 1:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My dad keeps bringing up a question and maybe one of you can answer.
When the rails start getting installed into Farnam/Harney street, will they just cut into the existing street, or will they repave the whole stretch? His point is (and I agree) that it'd be a shame to have beautiful new streetcar with street furniture and such, but then have the road surface be a patchwork of repairs and filled sample holes.
halgy wrote: Thu Jul 31, 2025 7:55 am
My dad keeps bringing up a question and maybe one of you can answer.
When the rails start getting installed into Farnam/Harney street, will they just cut into the existing street, or will they repave the whole stretch? His point is (and I agree) that it'd be a shame to have beautiful new streetcar with street furniture and such, but then have the road surface be a patchwork of repairs and filled sample holes.
Tune in to Grow Omaha this Saturday. Omaha Cowboy and I are hosting and there will be plenty of streetcar talk.
halgy wrote: Thu Jul 31, 2025 7:55 am
My dad keeps bringing up a question and maybe one of you can answer.
When the rails start getting installed into Farnam/Harney street, will they just cut into the existing street, or will they repave the whole stretch? His point is (and I agree) that it'd be a shame to have beautiful new streetcar with street furniture and such, but then have the road surface be a patchwork of repairs and filled sample holes.
As far as I have seen they only pave back the 10 or 15 foot section with the rails as concrete, but I assume once it is all done they will probably put in some fresh asphalt since there is going to be quite a patchwork of repairs from all of the utility work they are working on now.
I do think the one thing I wish they would have done differently is just switch both Farnam and Harney to 2-way traffic and had the streetcar exclusively on Farnam and the permanent bikeway on Harney. They could have cut down the utility and bridge work quite a bit and stuck that extra money into redoing and beautifying the whole stretch of Farnam. I get that they kind of had to show it this way at the start to capture the extra block in the TIF district, but with how well things are going with development along the route I would think that keeping everything on Farnam still would be more than enough to cover the costs. It also would have been a good first step in cutting down on the 1-ways downtown while also keeping the bikeway active.
halgy wrote: Thu Jul 31, 2025 7:55 am
My dad keeps bringing up a question and maybe one of you can answer.
When the rails start getting installed into Farnam/Harney street, will they just cut into the existing street, or will they repave the whole stretch? His point is (and I agree) that it'd be a shame to have beautiful new streetcar with street furniture and such, but then have the road surface be a patchwork of repairs and filled sample holes.
Tune in to Grow Omaha this Saturday. Omaha Cowboy and I are hosting and there will be plenty of streetcar talk.
halgy wrote: Thu Jul 31, 2025 7:55 am
My dad keeps bringing up a question and maybe one of you can answer.
When the rails start getting installed into Farnam/Harney street, will they just cut into the existing street, or will they repave the whole stretch? His point is (and I agree) that it'd be a shame to have beautiful new streetcar with street furniture and such, but then have the road surface be a patchwork of repairs and filled sample holes.
Tune in to Grow Omaha this Saturday. Omaha Cowboy and I are hosting and there will be plenty of streetcar talk.
Cindy Gonzalez wrote:
The City of Omaha is poised to make what Mayor John Ewing Jr. called its “single largest investment” in affordable housing as part of his effort to close the gap between the “haves and have-nots.”
Seed money would come, the mayor and his team said, via the sale of bonds to be repaid by anticipated tax-increment financing revenue tied to the streetcar project.
Ewing declined to provide certain details, including the level of proposed investment and projected number of new dwellings, saying his team planned a media event Friday.
Sounds like this was likely worked on and planned by the Stothert Administration, which leads me to believe this will be a dense development with possibly some height.
That's interesting. The affordable housing to be built from streetcar TIF was not supposed to start until 2031, but the mayor has a plan to push the plan up 5 to 6 years, per the article. I am really hoping it's not just more 5 story buildings, especially along the streetcar route.
I am very wary of going overboard with subsidized affordable housing along the streetcar route. It typically ends up being tremendously expensive for the amount of housing you get, and too many official 'affordable' units along the route can end up impacting the kinds of commercial businesses it can support as well as start to blight the area. If you're not careful you start spending TIF that never materializes because you ate it away at both ends.
A far better strategy is just to authorize the most housing you can and let developers and the market work it out.
The city of Omaha can also just build a ton of housing and then sell it at market rate. Much more efficient to flood the market with new units than to become a permanent landlord.
I'll bet you "affordable" housing won't even turn out to be "affordable" to the people their sentiment is directed toward. I'll believe it when I see it.
Garrett wrote: Fri Aug 01, 2025 11:53 am
Any idea on timing today?
I put this in the bicycle thread b/c I thought the protected bike lanes were the most fleshed out info, but it does say Front Porch Investments is going to partner with the city to provide financing for workforce and affordable housing. Says units for people up ot 120% of AMI and the goal is 3,000 units over 30 years so 100 a year as a goal I guess.
From what I gather, listening to the latest Grow Omaha radio show, it seems like Nebraska Medicine will want the line extended beyond 39th Street a little sooner rather than later.
Am I right? Will it be 5 or so years after the service starts before that happens or is some plan being cooked up now to extend the line concurrently with the initial line?
stadsborgare wrote: Sat Aug 02, 2025 6:49 pm
From what I gather, listening to the latest Grow Omaha radio show, it seems like Nebraska Medicine will want the line extended beyond 39th Street a little sooner rather than later.
Am I right? Will it be 5 or so years after the service starts before that happens or is some plan being cooked up now to extend the line concurrently with the initial line?
Did you listen live or on Uncut? During Uncut (second break) he made it sound like getting the UNMC connection would be a priority.
Good job guys! I especially like the way Brad said the streetcar is another part of Omaha. I wish that more people would think that way. It is one more amazing piece that help’s transportation between major cultural and other hubs downtown and is something that most cities in the country don’t have, especially for a city the size of Omaha!
From what I heard the UNMC extension was being held up over funding. Keep in mind the shortest path would be to extend the line down Farnam to 45th. They mentioned a number of times they wanted it to go through UNMC campus. This adds length to the line and more cost to build.
I would think taking it down 42nd to Emile St to Saddle Creek would be the easiest path. It depends how literal they are being by saying through campus. That could involve heading down 40th right past the green space and Hope Tower on its way to Saddle Creek. It would explain why they wanted the temporary terminus at 39th.
And yes....it would be a shame if we have to tear up the rails at 39th to extend it. A lot of wasted money to extend it in the future. Hopefully, they will work out the details soon so it can all be built at the same time.
Dusty wrote: Sun Aug 03, 2025 9:41 am
From what I heard the UNMC extension was being held up over funding. Keep in mind the shortest path would be to extend the line down Farnam to 45th. They mentioned a number of times they wanted it to go through UNMC campus. This adds length to the line and more cost to build.
I would think taking it down 42nd to Emile St to Saddle Creek would be the easiest path. It depends how literal they are being by saying through campus. That could involve heading down 40th right past the green space and Hope Tower on its way to Saddle Creek. It would explain why they wanted the temporary terminus at 39th.
And yes....it would be a shame if we have to tear up the rails at 39th to extend it. A lot of wasted money to extend it in the future. Hopefully, they will work out the details soon so it can all be built at the same time.
I can’t imagine the literal intention is to cut through the middle of the campus with funding already an issue. The shorter route would also pass right by the new hospital. That would seem to be a logical potential stop. Yes, we’re only speculation as to what is ideal for UNMC and how exactly it would go “through” campus, but I would also think the city would have some thoughts too on what would be ideal for another further potential extension, like Aksarben.
Dusty wrote: Sun Aug 03, 2025 9:41 am
From what I heard the UNMC extension was being held up over funding. Keep in mind the shortest path would be to extend the line down Farnam to 45th. They mentioned a number of times they wanted it to go through UNMC campus. This adds length to the line and more cost to build.
I would think taking it down 42nd to Emile St to Saddle Creek would be the easiest path. It depends how literal they are being by saying through campus. That could involve heading down 40th right past the green space and Hope Tower on its way to Saddle Creek. It would explain why they wanted the temporary terminus at 39th.
And yes....it would be a shame if we have to tear up the rails at 39th to extend it. A lot of wasted money to extend it in the future. Hopefully, they will work out the details soon so it can all be built at the same time.
Isn’t the hill on the east side of 42nd and Farnam being too steep one of the original reasons they held off building it past 39th to begin with?
