Omaha Streetcar - CONSTRUCTION

[Brad]

Cool! Any idea how deep they need to excavate for the base?

[jjjjhskr]

Any idea why, when they’ve been tearing up streets, that they couldn’t lay tracks at the same time the streets were repaired?

[Mapguy]

I would assume the concrete base has to be at least 6 inches deep to go below the frost line and prevent frost upheaval.

[almighty_tuna]

Six inches! Hopefully deeper than that. Omaha code specifies 42" as frost line depth for permanent structure foundations and footings.

[Brad]

I was able to get a cross-section of the Omaha Streetcar plans and I added a typical Omaha street cross-section below it (Below the Blue Line).

I really only see one minor difference between a typical street and a streetcar street, and that is an extra 4" of Aggerate below the pavement.

Streetcar Street = 10" Pavement, 10" Aggerate Base, 12" of subgrade prep.
Typical Omaha Street = 10" Pavement, 6" Aggerate Base, 12" of subgrade prep.

Cross-Section:

Farnam Cross Section.jpg

[stadsborgare]

I fought through traffic to get to that meeting in Blackstone, and boy did I learn a lot.

They covered mostly the west part of the route.

The first part of the mainline, 31st to 34th north side of street has a timeline January to August this year. By April you should start to see track being laid.

34th to 37th north side of street has a timeline February to November this year, start to see actual track laid in June.

37th to 39th north side of street has a timeline March 2026 to January 2027, see laying track in July.

Then when the north side of Farnam is all complete and opened back up to traffic, they will work their way back on the south side of the street starting at 39th going to 31st. Probably most of that is in 2027.

The station platforms come last. You probably won't see that go up till late 2027. And in the west portion of the route that runs through Midtown Crossing to Blackstone they will have their platforms in the middle of the street because the streetcar goes both ways on Farnam.

Mainline construction steps are as follows:

1, demolition
2, subdrains, gravel base, and electrical conduit
3, welding and placing track
4, gauge ties and reinforcing mat
5, encase in concrete
6, roadway pavement and striping

[stadsborgare]

This is the stop at 37th & Farnam. The canopy is right in front of Shoeman's and Revival House. The island runs past the intersection to the Cottonwood Hotel side of 37th Street. So incidentally, north-south traffic on 37th will not be able to cross. And then a crosswalk at both ends of the island.

[buildomaha]

Honestly I’m all for making Farnam as useless as possible for single occupant drivers. It might prove the point that this entire stretch should be transit and ride share lanes exclusively.

[thenewguy]

movin slower than pond water.

[Busguy2010]

movin slower than pond water.

I thought that too. To see the number 2028 when its already been, what 3 years since the Mutual-streetcar package deal was announced officially?

[Brad]

-They had to design the entire system.
-They had to get MUD and OPPD to evaluate their plans and make their own plans
-MUD has rebuilt a large portion of their infrastructure along the line
-Now that utility work has been completed in some areas, streetcar construction is under way.

I think a lot of people don't understand the complex process and have very unrealistic expectations.

[almighty_tuna]

I think a lot of people don't understand the complex process and have very unrealistic expectations.

Yep, lots of moving parts, not just slapping tracks in a street and calling it good. Who would have thought installing new permanent infrastructure amidst existing infrastructure would take time?? I mean, it's only a train getting dropped in the middle of the city!

[Busguy2010]

I think a lot of people don't understand the complex process and have very unrealistic expectations.

Yep, lots of moving parts, not just slapping tracks in a street and calling it good. Who would have thought installing new permanent infrastructure amidst existing infrastructure would take time?? I mean, it's only a train getting dropped in the middle of the city!

I completely understand and appreciate the complexities behind the reason why its taking so long. BUT, maybe we wouldn't have "unrealistic expectations" if at every update, the can doesn't get kicked further down the road. It's happened enough times that I think they didn't even realize how much of a PITA it would be, or they just didn't want the public to get the idea it would take so long, as not to be an obstacle to get the ball rolling. So at this point, I see 2028, and I think "Oh, you mean 2029..." Or 2030. I'd like to ride this thing once before I die lol. Christ.

[nebugeater]

I think a lot of people don't understand the complex process and have very unrealistic expectations.

Yep, lots of moving parts, not just slapping tracks in a street and calling it good. Who would have thought installing new permanent infrastructure amidst existing infrastructure would take time?? I mean, it's only a train getting dropped in the middle of the city!

I completely understand and appreciate the complexities behind the reason why its taking so long. BUT, maybe we wouldn't have "unrealistic expectations" if at every update, the can doesn't get kicked further down the road. It's happened enough times that I think they didn't even realize how much of a PITA it would be, or they just didn't want the public to get the idea it would take so long, as not to be an obstacle to get the ball rolling. So at this point, I see 2028, and I think "Oh, you mean 2029..." Or 2030. I'd like to ride this thing once before I die lol. Christ.

In the meantime, while you patiently wait, just use this.

[Garrett]

I think a lot of people don't understand the complex process and have very unrealistic expectations.

Yep, lots of moving parts, not just slapping tracks in a street and calling it good. Who would have thought installing new permanent infrastructure amidst existing infrastructure would take time?? I mean, it's only a train getting dropped in the middle of the city!

I completely understand and appreciate the complexities behind the reason why its taking so long. BUT, maybe we wouldn't have "unrealistic expectations" if at every update, the can doesn't get kicked further down the road. It's happened enough times that I think they didn't even realize how much of a PITA it would be, or they just didn't want the public to get the idea it would take so long, as not to be an obstacle to get the ball rolling. So at this point, I see 2028, and I think "Oh, you mean 2029..." Or 2030. I'd like to ride this thing once before I die lol. Christ.

At this point, 2028 is the most locked in timeline. Annoying and slow as that is, that’s building transit in America for you.

[Busguy2010]

At this point, 2028 is the most locked in timeline. Annoying and slow as that is, that’s building transit in America for you.

It's good to know at least the utility work is pretty much done, so maybe they stand a chance to hit that 2028 goal. But I won't be the least bit surprised if it becomes "Ope, hit a few snags, it'll be late 2028 or early 2029."

I've been dreaming of this thing for nearly 30 years. This particular route almost 15. Dammit, if I get one more delay...

[stadsborgare]

At this point, 2028 is the most locked in timeline. Annoying and slow as that is, that’s building transit in America for you.

It's good to know at least the utility work is pretty much done, so maybe they stand a chance to hit that 2028 goal. But I won't be the least bit surprised if it becomes "Ope, hit a few snags, it'll be late 2028 or early 2029."

I've been dreaming of this thing for nearly 30 years. This particular route almost 15. Dammit, if I get one more delay...

Though 2028...or 2029 seems far off still, the good thing is we are seeing the actual progress and completion of each step being made, and no more "60 to 90 days" talk like when will they even begin.

And the most exciting part of the construction is not far away at all! They'll be laying the rails no later than this spring! Something we can see. Which will be in....60 to 90 days.

[thenewguy]

I think a lot of people don't understand the complex process and have very unrealistic expectations.

Yep, lots of moving parts, not just slapping tracks in a street and calling it good. Who would have thought installing new permanent infrastructure amidst existing infrastructure would take time?? I mean, it's only a train getting dropped in the middle of the city!

I completely understand and appreciate the complexities behind the reason why its taking so long. BUT, maybe we wouldn't have "unrealistic expectations" if at every update, the can doesn't get kicked further down the road. It's happened enough times that I think they didn't even realize how much of a PITA it would be, or they just didn't want the public to get the idea it would take so long, as not to be an obstacle to get the ball rolling. So at this point, I see 2028, and I think "Oh, you mean 2029..." Or 2030. I'd like to ride this thing once before I die lol. Christ.

my point exactly. It has nothing to do with the fact that it takes a long time to get it all done, but the initial timeline was one thing, then another, then another. It seemed like KC's went more smoothly/quicker, but maybe that's because it wasn't as forefront in my mind as ours is. I know it's not the same exact set of circumstances in each city, but to your point, the kicking of the can down the road has made it seem like it is taking longer than it should

[iamjacobm]

Looks like KC's initial line started utility relocation work in Nov 2013 and they started operations in May 2016 so took them about 2.5 years. Omaha's utility work started in Sept 2023 and expected to open later in 2028 so ~5 years.

It does appear that KC was able to keep existing bridges while Omaha has to replace 2 bridges, also KC's first phase was 2 miles Omaha's will be 3 mile.

No idea if our utilities are more of a mess below grade than KC's were. It does seem like the bridges/utility work here have been a huge undertaking that wasn't as much of the case in KC and OKC at least as I can find online.

[skinzfan23]

Any idea when they are going to turn on the decorative light on the new Harney St bridge? The bridge has been open for almost a month and is totally dark at night except for the lights on the east and west side of the bridge.

Noticed on Saturday that they decorative streetlights are now on.

[stadsborgare]

I wanted to see if there was any progress besides just tearing up the street, and today I found it.

It appears they are digging down to a precise depth, so the next phase can begin. This is at 31st and Farnam, where they first started cutting up concrete. They have the concrete cut up on the north side of the street all the way up to 34th thus far.

[stadsborgare]

The streetcar barn is starting to get enclosed.

[skinzfan23]

Funny I took a quick update photo from the Jays’ game too:

[Brad]

View of the Streetcar Barn from the Aksarben Terrace at the CHI Health Center.

1.

20260216881A2203.jpg

.

[Zephyr]

A little update on the maintenance facility:
https://growomaha.com/project/streetcar ... acility-3/

Some photos of the interior:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15xRyu5ZbUz/

[stadsborgare]

Maintenance facility, southeast side


last week



this week

[Busguy2010]

Its a wonder how they ever budgeted for good looking buildings for the old streetcar barns. This looks like a bunker.

[Stan]

I wonder if the cast walls are to deaden sound of maintenance work being done inside.

[BuildTaller]

These are just cheap tilt-ups that will easily last a human lifetime. At least they didn't go cheap-cheap.

[Brad]

Rail has been delivered!

Photos from Dave Seidel

1.

rail-2.jpg

2.

rail-1.jpg

[Stan]

So they just put them on the ground connected with cotter pins and we get the streetcar by the end of the week, right?

[almighty_tuna]

That's ridiculously exciting and awesome to see!!

[skinzfan23]

Awesome, thanks for the update. Been thinking of this moment for the last 20 years.

[Busguy2010]

Cool to see the rails and the tower in the same photo. Full circle moment.

[thenewguy]

it's not too late to halt construction. Email your local city council representative

[GenX]

I was behind one of these trucks on I-80. I wondered briefly if they’d be for the streetcar, but didn’t think about it again until seeing these pics.

[stadsborgare]

update on the hole they're digging to China

[stadsborgare]

Along 9th-10th & Capitol they are spreading the whole worksite with a gravel bed, which is I guess the first part of creating the foundation for the tracks.

[Busguy2010]

Ooh! Very exciting. I'd guess it won't be very long then until this stretch is complete and they move on to the next section.

[stadsborgare]

Mainline construction steps are as follows:

1, demolition
2, subdrains, gravel base, and electrical conduit
3, welding and placing track
4, gauge ties and reinforcing mat
5, encase in concrete
6, roadway pavement and striping

This I got from one of their printouts.