Garrett wrote: Wed Aug 05, 2026 7:49 pm
Interesting, I figured this study would lean more towards bus operations since Metro doesn’t run the streetcar. But an exciting next step nonetheless.
I think these are two separate studies. Metro just put out an RFP for the 24th Street study that had zero mention of a streetcar. It does include the possibility of deviating to 30th Street north of Dodge.
I’m torn because I believe in extending the streetcar to both North and South Omaha, but I don’t know if that should be the first extension, especially if it’s going to be another corridor paralleling ORBT. There is a lot of potential for development along North 24th, but I think there could also be some very real concerns about gentrification and displacement.
Still not a big fan of that. 24th is more fit for rapid bus. Today, its 37 minutes from NOTC to SOTC. A streetcar would be at least 50 minutes. 24th would most certainly be unrecognizable if a streetcar went down it, at the cost of efficiency.
I agree that 24th street isn't my first pick for the streetcar. Not unless the plan is a lot more involved.
IMO ORBT would be better, mostly because the distance from the obvious termini at NOTC and SOTC is too long to be financially practical. Further extensions north to MCC and south to Bellevue/Offutt (for some fledgling regional transit) even more so.
That said, I will drop any objection if funding actually gets approved.
The first extension has to be South to the Zoo, right?. With Little Bohemia already developing there is a ton of redevelopment opportunities down the 13th St corridor and it connects downtown to Omaha's main attraction. Could maybe even loop it on 13th and 10th to connect to Little Itlay. Lots of apartments going up, streetcar would only help.
Otherwise, maybe a small connection from UNMC to Dundee could connect another desirable area. That line wouldn't be a huge construction project.
JDirte wrote: Thu Aug 06, 2026 8:39 am
The first extension has to be South to the Zoo, right?. With Little Bohemia already developing there is a ton of redevelopment opportunities down the 13th St corridor and it connects downtown to Omaha's main attraction. Could maybe even loop it on 13th and 10th to connect to Little Itlay. Lots of apartments going up, streetcar would only help.
Otherwise, maybe a small connection from UNMC to Dundee could connect another desirable area. That line wouldn't be a huge construction project.
It seems pretty natural to me. Thing I'd consider now, given Millwork Commons, I would actually make S10th and N11th its own separate route, zoo to Airport via S10th, N11th, and Locust. Back in the day, we had streetcars in Carter Lake, so it seems natural. Put a station next to Prairie Flower. For that reason alone I think it'll be successful. Could even start it out as a bus route and watch it have good ridership. Of the 2% of Omahans that ride the bus, the casinos are a popular destination any given day. I wouldn't put it on 13th though between Deer Park and Downtown, just 10th. Leaves them the opportunity to serve 6th street and the real neighborhoods of little Italy, as streetcars did back then. 13th is just too busy of a connection between DTO and I-80, as is the 24th street idea, not a fit.
halgy wrote: Thu Aug 06, 2026 7:55 am
I agree that 24th street isn't my first pick for the streetcar. Not unless the plan is a lot more involved.
IMO ORBT would be better, mostly because the distance from the obvious termini at NOTC and SOTC is too long to be financially practical. Further extensions north to MCC and south to Bellevue/Offutt (for some fledgling regional transit) even more so.
That said, I will drop any objection if funding actually gets approved.
I won't. Its such a bad idea. Speaking of making it ORBT, thats a wayyyyy better idea. They would actually improve the travel time over the current 24. Plus, with the permanent stations, it would, too, spark its own development opportunities.
I put a 24th streetcar in the upper echelon of dumb, just like how the original ORBT/streetcar route had both modes of transportation in the same lanes on Farnam. What a disaster that would have been. Seems they didn’t learn after making the important call NOT to have ORBT and streetcar operate on the same route. There couldnt be two more different modes of public transportation with two very different goals.
Only way I'll soften my stance is if they trim it to serve only between Lake and Vinton. Thats about 4 miles. That seems to be an okay limit for effective streetcar. Any longer than that and you lose efficiency.
People all over are griping about the total cost of this project, but I have yet to hear anyone complain about the estimated $75 million it will take to add just one lane on I-680 between pacific and Dodge. That project will not serve anyone and won’t be able alleviate traffic, as Omaha commute times are still expected to increase over the next 5-10 years. I am aware there is a budget in place for such road expansion, but I wish the general public here could see just how different a streetcar project is compared to most large road projects.
Flyer14 wrote: Fri Aug 07, 2026 8:37 am
People all over are griping about the total cost of this project, but I have yet to hear anyone complain about the estimated $75 million it will take to add just one lane on I-680 between pacific and Dodge. That project will not serve anyone and won’t be able alleviate traffic, as Omaha commute times are still expected to increase over the next 5-10 years. I am aware there is a budget in place for such road expansion, but I wish the general public here could see just how different a streetcar project is compared to most large road projects.
Not sure where you got the $75 million number from, pretty sure NDOT awarded that project for less than $15 million?
MetcalfeHarrison wrote: Fri Aug 07, 2026 10:47 am
Not sure where you got the $75 million number from, pretty sure NDOT awarded that project for less than $15 million?
“Transportation would receive the largest investment, $963.5 million over six years for 63 projects—28% of total program spending. The centerpiece is a planned Interstate 680 corridor expansion that will add a fourth lane in both directions from Pacific Street to Dodge Street. The city partnered with the Nebraska Department of Transportation on the I-680 project, which officials estimate will cost $50 million to $75 million. Under the plan, construction would begin in summer 2026 and conclude by the end of construction season.”
This came from a government news website, but the figures could have changed. It was also a published article from August of 2025.
MetcalfeHarrison wrote: Fri Aug 07, 2026 10:47 am
Not sure where you got the $75 million number from, pretty sure NDOT awarded that project for less than $15 million?
“Transportation would receive the largest investment, $963.5 million over six years for 63 projects—28% of total program spending. The centerpiece is a planned Interstate 680 corridor expansion that will add a fourth lane in both directions from Pacific Street to Dodge Street. The city partnered with the Nebraska Department of Transportation on the I-680 project, which officials estimate will cost $50 million to $75 million. Under the plan, construction would begin in summer 2026 and conclude by the end of construction season.”
This came from a government news website, but the figures could have changed. It was also a published article from August of 2025.
Looks like the article was in reference to Omaha's 2026 CIP, which has the Pacific to Dodge project at $14 million too. It seems like half of the articles posted these days are just poorly aggregated info with no real editing which makes it tough to know what's actually true. I even just googled how much the I-680 project from Pacific to Dodge going to cost and Google AI pulled the same numbers based on the article you referenced.
I'm guessing the aggregator pulled in all projects on I-680 but that includes the Blair High Rd project and another ramp project to get up to around $60 million.
But I agree that road costs typically go unnoticed by most who have an issue with the streetcar's cost.
When you add in the two I-80 projects from last year (Q - Giles: $8.2m; 144th exit: $6.9) and next year (I-480 - 50th: $60.3m; 192nd interchange: $24.4m), plus the other $182.24m worth of highway expansion projects over the next 4 years beyond that ($74.5 of it for I-680 & Blair High Road area project). And that is excluding the maintenance work that brings the total for district 2 for the next five years to $587.8m. And that is just NDOT.
That's terrible. I don't even drive on that part of the interstate and apparently there's nowhere to park on the interstate so I can access local businesses either.. What sort of boondoggle is this?
almighty_tuna wrote: Fri Aug 07, 2026 8:11 pm
That's terrible. I don't even drive on that part of the interstate and apparently there's nowhere to park on the interstate so I can access local businesses either.. What sort of boondoggle is this?
