Reimagining the North Freeway

[Garrett]

Removing the north freeway means a more difficult commute for NE Omaha to downtown and for the rest of us, to Eppley. Take out that highway and all those icky Millard people will have to drive through downtown to get to the airport. This will create added congestion and smog which will be a source of complaints from the very people complaining now.

The North Freeway is very underused as is according to the traffic numbers, and making the highway end at Cuming would hardly add an extra burden to get to the airport. This is simply fallacious.

[Busguy2010]

I want to hear about people who actually live there and want it removed. It just seems more of a pet project to me. The logical thing to me is to get the extension over the river done so we can 100% eliminate truck traffic from the local streets in the area. Removing the North Freeway would put a large amount of truck traffic back on 30th, a street that already underwent a road diet. 24th also underwent a road diet, so it seems to me the trajectory in the area is to reduce capacity. Removing the North Freeway would only push that traffic to those dieted streets. I imagine it would be a giant fuster cluck.

[Garrett]

Reimagining the North Freeway

I got an editorial published on the matter in NOISE.

[riceweb]

I want to hear about people who actually live there and want it removed. It just seems more of a pet project to me. The logical thing to me is to get the extension over the river done so we can 100% eliminate truck traffic from the local streets in the area. Removing the North Freeway would put a large amount of truck traffic back on 30th, a street that already underwent a road diet. 24th also underwent a road diet, so it seems to me the trajectory in the area is to reduce capacity. Removing the North Freeway would only push that traffic to those dieted streets. I imagine it would be a giant fuster cluck.

It wouldn't be a cluster because the traffic levels just aren't that high to begin with. But I do think there's an ROI question. Would this project cost a billion dollars when it's all said and done? That money could be invested in other ways. There's a tendency on this forum (and in Omaha in general) to think that transportation projects alone fix all our woes. And I understand that how we move influences our spaces significantly, but the transportation system is just one component of a neighborhood.

However, the next time the North Freeway needs a major overhaul / reconstruction because it's outlived its useful life, I think that would be an appropriate time to consider all options.

[Busguy2010]

I agree this if/when the North Freeway reaches its end (or cost of upkeep exceeds parameters) then would be the time to consider all options. I don't suspect that would be even within the next 30 years. I just don't like the rip it up at all costs ASAP for social justice rhetoric, because:

a) People who live there actually do use it

b) The truck traffic would have to go somewhere, and I feel reverting truck traffic back to 30th street would cause a lot of blow-back.

C) I feel a lot of investment happening even today in North Omaha is causing (albeit low-grade) gentrification already, and opening up that expanse of land to development would IMO would be a feeding frenzy for developers and would push existing residents out.

I don't like the boulevard idea at all. I feel like the best option would be to get the bridge-over-the-river deal made so we can get HWY 75 traffic off the north section of 30th.

[Louie]

I agree this if/when the North Freeway reaches its end (or cost of upkeep exceeds parameters) then would be the time to consider all options. I don't suspect that would be even within the next 30 years. I just don't like the rip it up at all costs ASAP for social justice rhetoric, because:

a) People who live there actually do use it

b) The truck traffic would have to go somewhere, and I feel reverting truck traffic back to 30th street would cause a lot of blow-back.

C) I feel a lot of investment happening even today in North Omaha is causing (albeit low-grade) gentrification already, and opening up that expanse of land to development would IMO would be a feeding frenzy for developers and would push existing residents out.

I don't like the boulevard idea at all. I feel like the best option would be to get the bridge-over-the-river deal made so we can get HWY 75 traffic off the north section of 30th.

Where would this hypothetical bridge cross?

[LetsBeReal22]

Where would this hypothetical bridge cross?

I would guess just east of 16th street. That's about the only open space available. I suppose Lindbergh Drive could be an alternate, but that's pretty close to the runway at the airport. The 16th street option already has an I-680 interchange.

[Busguy2010]

Where would this hypothetical bridge cross?

I would guess just east of 16th street. That's about the only open space available. I suppose Lindbergh Drive could be an alternate, but that's pretty close to the runway at the airport. The 16th street option already has an I-680 interchange.

Yeah, that is what would happen. Straight up 16th, over the river, and connect with 680 where that existing exit is. Nothing major, thinking along the lines of the veterans bridge in South Omaha. Same level of access, same speed limit, bring 16th up to highway standards and call it good.

[Louie]

Where would this hypothetical bridge cross?

I would guess just east of 16th street. That's about the only open space available. I suppose Lindbergh Drive could be an alternate, but that's pretty close to the runway at the airport. The 16th street option already has an I-680 interchange.

Yeah, that is what would happen. Straight up 16th, over the river, and connect with 680 where that existing exit is. Nothing major, thinking along the lines of the veterans bridge in South Omaha. Same level of access, same speed limit, bring 16th up to highway standards and call it good.

Would that route traffic from 75 > Storz > 16th?

[Busguy2010]

Would that route traffic from 75 > Storz > 16th?

That is the idea. IMO, this would be the way to go because:

-This would open up the possibility of removing the North Freeway entrance at ~ 30th and Sorensen PKWY, freeing up land I bet MCC would be all over.
-Would allow for 30th north of Sorensen to go on a road diet (if that would be desirable).
-Would allow for a greater restoration of downtown Florence.
-Possibly even take garbage truck traffic off of 30th north of Craig Ave.

[Louie]

Would that route traffic from 75 > Storz > 16th?

That is the idea. IMO, this would be the way to go because:

-This would open up the possibility of removing the North Freeway entrance at ~ 30th and Sorensen PKWY, freeing up land I bet MCC would be all over.
-Would allow for 30th north of Sorensen to go on a road diet (if that would be desirable).
-Would allow for a greater restoration of downtown Florence.
-Possibly even take garbage truck traffic off of 30th north of Craig Ave.

All net positives. Just need the cash for the bridge.

[ita]

Would that route traffic from 75 > Storz > 16th?

That is the idea. IMO, this would be the way to go because:

-This would open up the possibility of removing the North Freeway entrance at ~ 30th and Sorensen PKWY, freeing up land I bet MCC would be all over.
-Would allow for 30th north of Sorensen to go on a road diet (if that would be desirable).
-Would allow for a greater restoration of downtown Florence.
-Possibly even take garbage truck traffic off of 30th north of Craig Ave.

All net positives. Just need the cash for the bridge.

Maybe there is money for something like this or other similar project for US75 in that $1 trillion infrastructure bill congress is working on.

[BRoss]

Maybe there is money for something like this or other similar project for US75 in that $1 trillion infrastructure bill congress is working on.

Doubt we will see any movement on this any time soon. They just put out the RFQ for the study earlier this year and from that, it looks like 6/25 is when they would have given them the notice to proceed. I'm guessing that study will not be complete until after that new bill is done.

https://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... _24_21.pdf

[Garrett]

More Commentary: Remove the North Freeway and open up new community opportunities

I got published in the World-Herald with my thoughts!

[Dundeemaha]

Just read it Garrett and thought, "Hey I wonder if that's the same Garrett as the forum!" Very well said and hopefully it can help build support for a fantastic project

[mistergutierrez]

More Commentary: Remove the North Freeway and open up new community opportunities

I got published in the World-Herald with my thoughts!

Great article, totally agree.

[ita]

Awesome! Great commentary on North Freeway. I shared it on my social media account.

[Busguy2010]

Good for you. But I still don't like the racist rhetoric. I don't want to act like the only reason the West freeway didn't go through was because white people opposed it, and the only reason the north freeway went through was because black people opposed it and the city didn't care, or that there was even some malicious plan behind the north freeway. The difference in value, quantity, and character between what would have been lost with the West freeway, and what was lost with the north freeway is pretty obvious to me. I think thats more a reason why it went the way it did more than anything related to race. Top that off with North Omaha formerly being the rich white neighborhood in Omaha. The racist rhetoric can only get ya so far. Could have easily just said "Dundee residents" and "North Omaha residents", but instead, you said "white Dundee residents", and "black North Omaha residents". I stopped reading at that exact point.

[Garrett]

Good for you. But I still don't like the racist rhetoric. I don't want to act like the only reason the West freeway didn't go through was because white people opposed it, and the only reason the north freeway went through was because black people opposed it and the city didn't care, or that there was even some malicious plan behind the north freeway. The difference in value, quantity, and character between what would have been lost with the West freeway, and what was lost with the north freeway is pretty obvious to me. I think thats more a reason why it went the way it did more than anything related to race. Top that off with North Omaha formerly being the rich white neighborhood in Omaha. The racist rhetoric can only get ya so far. Could have easily just said "Dundee residents" and "North Omaha residents", but instead, you said "white Dundee residents", and "black North Omaha residents". I stopped reading at that exact point.

Racism at the very least is a significant reason though. It was the 1960s. Residents in both neighborhoods opposed it, by the thousands. One got built, one did not. It went precisely through the majority black neighborhood that had been redlined, and then suddenly stopped when white residents in Florence opposed it despite plans to continue on to 680. Why were the homes, businesses, and churches of the western neighborhoods, and then Florence, more valuable and worth saving than North Omaha? This is a pattern that repeated in every major city in the united states. It is a fact.

[Busguy2010]

I'm not going to get into that..

But as someone who frequents the area, I still prefer the ideas of either extending the highway over the river at approximately 16th street to connect to I-29, OR if it is to be removed, then simply restore the grid that was there. No boulevard. If you've rarely, if ever been in that area, then you have no skin in the game IMO, which is why I previously called it a pet project.

[ByrnesViceVersa]

Let me dumb it down for the people who think it's bad idea to get rid of the freeway. It's a useless freeway unless it is extended over the river connecting to 680. But if they don't, we need to get rid of it. Simple as that...

[Garrett]

I'm not going to get into that..

But as someone who frequents the area, I still prefer the ideas of either extending the highway over the river at approximately 16th street to connect to I-29, OR if it is to be removed, then simply restore the grid that was there. No boulevard. If you've rarely, if ever been in that area, then you have no skin in the game IMO, which is why I previously called it a pet project.

I mean heck, Nebraska’s own anti-miscegenation law was only repealed in 1963. Multiple suburban cities in the United States had laws forbidding black people from living in them until the Supreme Court struck them down in 1968. Let’s not act like this racism wasn’t a factor in why one freeway got built and one didn’t, and let’s not pretend that racism ended in the 60s because of some law changes.

[buildomaha]

Good for you. But I still don't like the racist rhetoric. I don't want to act like the only reason the West freeway didn't go through was because white people opposed it, and the only reason the north freeway went through was because black people opposed it and the city didn't care, or that there was even some malicious plan behind the north freeway. The difference in value, quantity, and character between what would have been lost with the West freeway, and what was lost with the north freeway is pretty obvious to me. I think thats more a reason why it went the way it did more than anything related to race. Top that off with North Omaha formerly being the rich white neighborhood in Omaha. The racist rhetoric can only get ya so far. Could have easily just said "Dundee residents" and "North Omaha residents", but instead, you said "white Dundee residents", and "black North Omaha residents". I stopped reading at that exact point.

I have a terrific book for you to read, it’s called The Color of Law, and it will go into deep details of the history of planning and it’s racist ties in this country. I know the discipline is one full of social justice these days, but city planners and neighborhood associations have their roots in segregation.

[Busguy2010]

I'm not arguing that it didn't have something to do with it, I'm just ready to move forward. As someone who has lived in and around north Omaha my whole life, and have never been racially charged, I doubt any real benefit would come from reclaiming the north freeway, righting a wrong, giving it back, whatever you want to call it. I have a really strong feeling any land freed up would not be developed for the good of the people that have, and do live there, and instead, any idealistic plan put forth would actually be a detriment to the target group, if they don't vacate all together. That's why I don't like this idea.

[GrandpaaSmucker]

How about the way our local scammers and promoters and developers and politicians created those Tiffs for North Omaha and then they once they got them in they blew off North Omaha and used them for places like 72nd & Center and bars in downtown Elkhorn that clearly were not blighted areas. NO way that underhanded move was racist. No way! At least if they tore out the North Freeway the Tiffs would actually be going where they were intended to go for a change. I got nothing sorry.

[Omaha Cowboy]

More Commentary: Remove the North Freeway and open up new community opportunities

I got published in the World-Herald with my thoughts!

Great Job Garrett!..

Very well constructed and thought out …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[nebport5]

And then create unhealthy living conditions by building townhouses and market rate apartments directly adjacent to a freeway.

Valid point. I vote we tear down 480.

Don't tempt me

There are already two threads(including this one) on the North Freeway and given how it relates to the possibility of removing I-480 it seems unnecessary to create another thread on the topic. Perhaps and merging/retitling is the way to go?



I like Garrett's proposal for the North Freeway. I imagine it would be hard to eliminate 480 South of Cuming to 80. So I'm wondering expenses aside who doesn't benefit from the removal of 480? Broadway in CBs? Who doesn't win in downtown for 480s removal from 75 to Iowa? The redevelopment possibilities are intriguing. I imagine Creighton would salivate over the land to the south.

[ita]

And then create unhealthy living conditions by building townhouses and market rate apartments directly adjacent to a freeway.

Valid point. I vote we tear down 480.

Don't tempt me

There are already two threads(including this one) on the North Freeway and given how it relates to the possibility of removing I-480 it seems unnecessary to create another thread on the topic. Perhaps and merging/retitling is the way to go?

I like Garrett's proposal for the North Freeway. I imagine it would be hard to eliminate 480 South of Cuming to 80. So I'm wondering expenses aside who doesn't benefit from the removal of 480? Broadway in CBs? Who doesn't win in downtown for 480s removal from 75 to Iowa? The redevelopment possibilities are intriguing. I imagine Creighton would salivate over the land to the south.

I suppose folks travelling to and from Council Bluffs would be hurt the most. My rough count of city blocks this would open up for development or public space is about 18, from about where 27th street would be to 14th street. After 14th it goes diagonal and I don't want to figure that out. Anyway, 18 city blocks! That's 18 UP sites, or 4.5 Civic sites! Haha. I am salivating from the redevelopment potential taking down I-480 would bring. I tried reaching out to a few entities with interests on the land underneath I-480 to figure out if any kind of redevelopment (moreso public space, like skate parks, basketball courts, those sort of things) could occur where surface lots currently are. No real interest, but many if we could get I-480 demolished, that would be something. I might reach out to the State DOT to see what they think (I know, they will probably laugh me off or not respond, but it doesn't hurt to try).

P.S. Did a little of research and was reminded that NDOT is spending $23.8 million for improvements/repairs all along 480 bridges in downtown! Dang, there's no way they are demolishing that section of 480 anytime soon.

[mrsticka]

I have to agree with Busguy2010. Removing the North Freeway is a bad idea for the reasons he listed. If it is removed, then all those trucks that use it will have to go back onto 24th and 30th Streets. Those streets were recently given road diets, so that wouldn't help at all. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the whole purpose of the North Freeway was to take trucks off those streets. If you remove the North Freeway, you might as well remove the road diets on 24th and 30th as well. All those trucks will lead to more traffic and will inevitably lead to the need for more lanes. And I don't think the residents in that area would be very happy about that.

That being said, I still believe they should extend the North Freeway up to I-680. The exit for 48th Street (12) should be where they route it.

[almighty_tuna]

The exit for 48th Street (12) should be where they route it.

You're putting me on. Surely you're not serious.

[BRoss]

The exit for 48th Street (12) should be where they route it.

You're putting me on. Surely you're not serious.

If it was greenfield, then this would make a lot of sense. But irl a lot of neighborhoods would have to be destroyed and that's just not going to happen today.

[nebport5]

I have to agree with Busguy2010. Removing the North Freeway is a bad idea for the reasons he listed. If it is removed, then all those trucks that use it will have to go back onto 24th and 30th Streets. Those streets were recently given road diets, so that wouldn't help at all. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the whole purpose of the North Freeway was to take trucks off those streets. If you remove the North Freeway, you might as well remove the road diets on 24th and 30th as well. All those trucks will lead to more traffic and will inevitably lead to the need for more lanes. And I don't think the residents in that area would be very happy about that.

That being said, I still believe they should extend the North Freeway up to I-680. The exit for 48th Street (12) should be where they route it.

The plan wouldn't be to just eliminate the north freeway. As many here have said a revamped 16th could take the truck traffic away from 24th and 30th...complete with a bridge to 680.

[locoluke]

Omaha City Council approves match of $1.5M federal grant for study of North Freeway improvements

The Omaha City Council unanimously approved a $189,500 contribution Tuesday for a pilot program meant to reconnect a community divided by the North Freeway.

Combined with a $1.5 million federal grant, the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Planning Agency (MAPA) and the City of Omaha will partake in a Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. Project leaders will hear from the community and design improvements to areas near the North Freeway.

The goal is to take ideas and transform them into fully fledged projects, said Mike Helgerson, MAPA executive director. That could include bicycle and pedestrian bridges, new development, or a “stitch” that would free up unusable land trapped within the ramps of U.S. 75, near 30th and Dodge streets.

Councilmember LaVonya Goodwin, whose district includes much of North Omaha, spoke in support of the program. She said she first learned of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot through the most recent federal infrastructure bill.

“One of the initiatives that surfaced was the need to rectify the disruption of urban communities across the country that highway systems had created in the ‘70s and ‘80s,” Goodwin said.

[damonhynes]

MO-755 in St. Louis. US-71(I-49) in Kansas City. I-40 in Memphis. TX-225 in Houston. GA-166 in Atlanta. All these were truncated or completely cancelled due to actitvists bemoaning DiSrUpTiOn and the demise of communities!!!111!!! Spoiler alert: They got blight anyway.

I'm the first one to say no to pave the planet, six lanes and five-level interchanges for everyone, but Council Bluffs got it right.

All the government pork studies in the world won't unblight a neighborhood.

[Mapguy]

Why would we make improvements to an under-utilized freeway instead of just tearing it out? The North Freeway has less traffic than some of Omahas regular arterials that take up half the space.

What Omaha should strive for is a MLK like boulevard like Des Moines has wrapping around the south side of its downtown (a cancelled freeway). Its 2-3 lanes; divided with stoplights every 3-6 blocks. Wide sidewalk, trees planted for shade, landscaped berms, flowerbeds ect...., and it opened a ton of land for development. Today its packed with joggers, walkers, restaurants, apts, and its still a quick road to use with spaced out intersections.

There's no reason to keep the north freeway the way it is. Why would we build more bridges connecting communities when we could just fill in the freeway and connect them all at ground level while opening up a ton of opportunities for new housing?

Omaha needs to think bigger than adding a few pedestrian bridges.

[locoluke]

MO-755 in St. Louis. US-71(I-49) in Kansas City. I-40 in Memphis. TX-225 in Houston. GA-166 in Atlanta. All these were truncated or completely cancelled due to actitvists bemoaning DiSrUpTiOn and the demise of communities!!!111!!! Spoiler alert: They got blight anyway.

I'm the first one to say no to pave the planet, six lanes and five-level interchanges for everyone, but Council Bluffs got it right.

All the government pork studies in the world won't unblight a neighborhood.

I’d assume there’s usually more at play than just a freeway when it comes to blight. The freeway is only a symptom. Just because a freeway wasn’t built or was truncated doesn’t mean that the attitudes and trends that allowed the freeway to be proposed in the first place don’t still exist.

In a similar vein, I agree that another pork study isn’t going to fix everything (or much at all). It is worth noting though that the mentioned realignment of the freeway ramps near 30th and Dodge was also proposed in the recently-released Urban Core Street Reconfiguration Study. The North Omaha Trail project has also shown that there is some appetite for improved bike and pedestrian facilities in the area.

Why would we make improvements to an under-utilized freeway instead of just tearing it out? The North Freeway has less traffic than some of Omahas regular arterials that take up half the space.

What Omaha should strive for is a MLK like boulevard like Des Moines has wrapping around the south side of its downtown (a cancelled freeway). Its 2-3 lanes; divided with stoplights every 3-6 blocks. Wide sidewalk, trees planted for shade, landscaped berms, flowerbeds ect...., and it opened a ton of land for development. Today its packed with joggers, walkers, restaurants, apts, and its still a quick road to use with spaced out intersections.

There's no reason to keep the north freeway the way it is. Why would we build more bridges connecting communities when we could just fill in the freeway and connect them all at ground level while opening up a ton of opportunities for new housing?

Omaha needs to think bigger than adding a few pedestrian bridges.

All we need is someone to front the financial and political capital

[Dusty]

At this point, MAPA can cut me the check as the consultant for this. LOL! I have been way ahead of the game on this since my transit vision involves reinventing I-480 and 75 North. Adding a few bikes lanes and pedestrian bridges won't make a difference to the vitality of the neighborhood.

This is the time the city needs to aim higher.

[mrsticka]

I still stand by what I said a couple years ago. Removing the North Freeway is a bad idea because it would force trucks back onto 30th. Converting it into a boulevard might SOUND like a good idea, but it would create stop-and-go traffic. Last time I checked, lots of people hate that.

If you want to drive at slower speeds and deal with stop-and-go traffic, that’s what 30th is for. If you’re going to the airport, that’s what the North Freeway is for.