METRO (Formerly Metro Area Transit - MAT)

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:45 pm

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that it's not illegal to simply be drunk in public. As Bob said, it comes into play if you are being disorderly or causing a disturbance.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:22 pm

adam186 wrote:
nebport5 wrote:of the two which group of people would you rather drive along side with?
Niether, they should call a taxi. Good points though.

indeed they should call a taxi, but how often does that actually happen when they drive to the bar? people don't like leaving their car.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:25 pm

StreetsOfOmaha wrote:Yeah, I'm pretty sure that it's not illegal to simply be drunk in public. As Bob said, it comes into play if you are being disorderly or causing a disturbance.

this is from an interview with city prosocuter Marty Conboy(from the city weekly)...

What defines public intoxication – where do you draw the line?

Omaha doesn’t really have a public intoxication law; the state really doesn’t, either. There really is no law on being drunk in public, per se.
It really isn’t the drunkenness itself that gets you in trouble. The use of bad language, or you are threatening, or causing a disturbance of some sort, those kinds of things; if you have an open container with you or open, any of those things are going to get you arrested.
But just walking down the street drunk, I guess as a practical matter, we’d rather have people walking home drunk than driving home drunk. If you make it home without causing any problems for anybody, that’s not illegal in our town.

You mentioned open container – what are the laws on open container?

In Omaha, it’s illegal to have one in a vehicle, it’s also illegal to have an open container on the street or to consume alcohol in public. So if you’re walking down the street with a beer can or in a vehicle, it’s illegal in Omaha. To drink alcohol in public is also illegal anywhere the state.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:49 pm

|expletive|, I guess I should stop getting drunk at the Creighton games, or at the CWS then?

Some laws are just stupid, especially the ones that border on puritanical.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 1:18 pm

I find not being able to drink in public RIDICULOUS. I mean, jesus, if you're 21 you should be able to have a drink whenever and where-ever you want (not driving, of course).

Haha, America is so funny sometimes. When I was in Paris, we would go sit up on the steps of Sacre-Coeur overlooking the city and drink wine or beer EVERY NIGHT, with the dozens of other people doing just that. And it was on the steps of a church no less.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:10 am

http://www.ketv.com/news/8993224/detail.html

Demand for bus service in Omaha is growing. The price of a ride is $1.25. MAT now boards up to 15,000 passengers per day, according to Curt Simon, of Metro Area Transit.

MAT started responding to increased demand last fall when it expanded its park and ride system along express routes. Now, several Omaha-based companies are making bus passes a fringe benefit.

That expansion went out to the Lakeside Hospital parking lot... if I could find a connection to Papillion, I'd be riding it. Unfortunately, Papillion is an express bus... so there's basically no 'to Papillion' option (certainly not connecting from west Omaha, another express bus). That's what I get for living in the suburbs.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:27 am

oh come one now jeff, don't be so hard on yourself! we all make mistakes. but good for mat i hope some how it helps justify our streetcars...

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:42 am

Isn't there a bus that runs down 84th or 72nd? When I ride the bus here, I have to transfer at least once to get almost anywhere.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:51 am

That's the express bus that runs down 84th. Unfortunately they only come out very early in the morning to make the runs back IN to town. Even if there was a transfer from the express bus out of west Omaha... it would be too late to catch the south bound Papillion bus.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Mon May 01, 2006 10:15 pm

Did you all see that special on KETV about a commuter bus service between Omaha and Lincoln? It didn’t really have nothing knew to mention but it did point out that fact we need it.

midtown charlie · Post by **midtown charlie** » Mon May 01, 2006 10:46 pm

The really sad part is that a senator along with prorail nerbraska tried to get commuter rail between Omaha and Lincoln starting about 10 years ago when gas prices were low. Everybody laughed. Who is laughing now....and more importantly who will be laughing in 30 years. Certainly not me!!!

Here is their propsed route. It is still on the table.

http://www.trainweb.org/prorailnebraska/ntrac.htm

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Tue May 02, 2006 8:20 am

I would have to think the Omaha/Lincoln rail is a no brainer. The only question right now is whether or not the stop in Ashland will be under water. ;)

-Big E

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue May 02, 2006 3:23 pm

Glad to see the increase in riders. I knew necessity was the only thing that would get most Omahans to ride public transit, and increased ridership is probably the only thing that will get MAT to clean up their act and provide more frequent service and later service.

jsheets · Post by **jsheets** » Tue May 02, 2006 8:18 pm

jhuston wrote:f I could find a connection to Papillion, I'd be riding it. Unfortunately, Papillion is an express bus... so there's basically no 'to Papillion' option (certainly not connecting from west Omaha, another express bus). That's what I get for living in the suburbs.

I'm in a similar situation, in a way, as I go from Papillion to Miracle Hills for work everyday. I could get there, but it would be 4 different buses, and the times are a bit close. But at least I could there... I'm surprised that there isn't a bus from Papillion to Offutt/Bellevue though...

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Tue May 02, 2006 10:02 pm

Maybe what they need is some Park n' Ride Parking lots. I know I use to see them around Denver when I was down that way.

It seems to me that MAT needs to redo it's thinking on where busses need to run. There are a lot of people in the NW part of Omaha (west maple and beyond) that arent served at all BUT then again maybe they would only take their cars.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Tue May 02, 2006 10:43 pm

Uffda wrote:It seems to me that MAT needs to redo it's thinking on where busses need to run.

Definitely.

They are getting better though. There are actually some lines that go out to West Omaha now.

midtown charlie · Post by **midtown charlie** » Tue May 02, 2006 11:01 pm

Can't really blame MAT when the city has been developing with the auto in mind since the 50's. Omaha by design has the potential to make mass transit commonplace in Omaha. If Omaha by design doesn't then surely the gas prices will some day.

WizardofNoz · Post by **WizardofNoz** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:11 am

MAT ridership is up 10%, whattaya know...so is the population of the city!

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:23 am

It’s because they put bike racks on the buses and installed the artsy bus benches.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:27 am

Midtown Charlie:

Is your photo sig downtown Chicago? I think I recognize the parking structure.

-Big E

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:41 am

Big E wrote:Midtown Charlie:

Is your photo sig downtown Chicago? I think I recognize the parking structure.

I was going to ask the same thing. I think the parking is parking for Marina City. I also recognize the IBM building on the right. Is that correct Charlie? If so what do we win?

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:58 am

As for Park-n-rides, I would think the easiest would be to have one or more southwest of town along I-80 (like Southport, L Street, etc.) to capture commuters from Lincoln and West O who don't want to pay to park downtown. Same thing could be easy for northeast Lincoln. Then eventually you connect the two cities with a commuter bus. Then ultimately you have commuter rail...

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:05 pm

I would say have the Omaha hub in DTO (of course). That way its all centralized and is in the CBD/QCO etc. That way you can easily transfer to what ever bus you need to. And or maybe even jump on a train or head rite over to the airfield.

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:14 pm

Zephyr wrote:As for Park-n-rides, I would think the easiest would be to have one or more southwest of town along I-80 (like Southport, L Street, etc.) to capture commuters from Lincoln and West O who don't want to pay to park downtown. Same thing could be easy for northeast Lincoln. Then eventually you connect the two cities with a commuter bus. Then ultimately you have commuter rail...

That's a good idea. If there were such a system I would use it all the time. I hate paying $300 for parking here in Lincoln. (ya I know, then don't...you don't need a car to get around - save it, it's the convienence and in case of emergencies and just plain getting back and forth between Omaha and Lincoln since nothing else is option) I would pay $100 for a year pass on the rail system.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:26 pm

Why don’t you ride the Eppley express?

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:29 pm

Never heard of it. Oh well, it doesn't matter anymore because I'm permanently moving back to Omaha this week.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:32 pm

adam186 wrote:Never heard of it. Oh well, it doesn't matter anymore because I'm permanently moving back to Omaha this week.

Smart man! So where are you taking your realestate classes at?

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:48 pm

MTO wrote:Smart man! So where are you taking your realestate classes at?

Great Plains on 120th and Pacific St.

I'll back today for it in fact. I'm completely done here in Lincoln and just need to move out and then move into the apartment.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed May 03, 2006 1:07 pm

We need an urban oriented realestate class in this city.

midtown charlie · Post by **midtown charlie** » Wed May 03, 2006 1:31 pm

That is correct. It is downtown Chicago. That 60's round building is very cool and I think it is the same building on Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album.

You win one of those elusive Eomaha shirts. The one that I think has been awarded on here before.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed May 03, 2006 1:33 pm

Yeah I got a couple of those shirts, 100% cotton very comfortable.

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Wed May 03, 2006 1:41 pm

MTO wrote:We need an urban oriented realestate class in this city.

That doesn't make a lick of sense.

Great, thanks Charlie.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed May 03, 2006 1:55 pm

Well here let me clarify for you, urban not suburban, condos, downtown midtown you get me now big guy? I know rules/laws/protocols are the same but…. Whatever never mind.

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Wed May 03, 2006 4:38 pm

what was this thread about again?? oh yeah

There must be quite a few more riders, I have been noticing way more people at the bus stops lately. I drove out past 132nd today and there were people in almost every bus stop along the way. Im going to pick up a pass this summer, give the jeep (and my wallet) a rest break for a while.

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Wed May 03, 2006 4:39 pm

That's awesome. Looks like west O is getting a little smarter. Where do you pick up a pass, I may want to do it too.

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Wed May 03, 2006 4:47 pm

adam186 wrote:That's awesome. Looks like west O is getting a little smarter. Where do you pick up a pass, I may want to do it too.

From the MAT website

" Buy MAT ticket books at: all Albertson's, Baker's, Bedford Market, HyVee's; Creighton (Student Center) and Phil's Foodways; Buy for Less, Chubbs; Creighton (Student Center); Louis Market; Metro Community College; Super Target (Maple); UNO; Younkers (Crossroads); Z's (35th & Leavenworth)"

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:03 pm

park n ride map for denver metro

http://www.rtd-denver.com/parknride/index.html

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu May 04, 2006 2:14 am

I know you can get them at a lot of grocery stores, etc. and you can always go down to MAT headquarters on Cuming.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:27 am

Well dam I didn’t know you could pick them up almost anywhere I used to risk my health to go down to 2222 Cuming to pick up some packs.

jsheets · Post by **jsheets** » Thu May 04, 2006 11:45 am

Zephyr wrote:As for Park-n-rides, I would think the easiest would be to have one or more southwest of town along I-80 (like Southport, L Street, etc.) to capture commuters from Lincoln and West O who don't want to pay to park downtown. Same thing could be easy for northeast Lincoln. Then eventually you connect the two cities with a commuter bus. Then ultimately you have commuter rail...

Although this sounds like a good idea, I see one major problem. I looked at the bus once, and a monthly pass was around $40 or so, while my parking downtown was also around $40 or so. So my only benefit would be not paying for the gas or maintenance on my car. This was 6 years ago when I worked downtown and gas prices were lower, and I decided that for the convenience I would like to pay for my gas and drive my car. Today I think I would decide differently because of gas prices, but I unfortunately don't work downtown anymore.

My point is, I don't think that people will drive to Southport and take a bus to save money from parking downtown since the price is about the same. Of course, it could be way different now since I'm talking about prices from 5-6 years ago.