North Omaha Bike Trail

[Taco]

WOWT posted an article about a North Omaha bike trail. They say it will involve bike lanes and 3 separate trails as well as a new Pratt st "light bridge".

As for the route, they said it will go from the MCC campus and connect to the riverfront downtown. The article shows a portion just east of highway 75

Otherwise details are pretty sparse. Anyone heard anything about the routes? Would be awesome if they could involve the old Beltline trail or some of the boulevards.

https://www.wowt.com/content/news/North ... 72141.html

[Louie]

Well the design of that bridge and plaza sure are cool.

[Taco]

This is what I have been able to find so far for those interested. Unclear to me how much of this trail will be composed of the Bicycle Boulevard or an actual separated path, and also unclear how if this trail will be just a glorified sidewalk like by Paxton blvd, but good to see investment in active transportation infrastructure regardless.

https://planninghcd.cityofomaha.org/northotrail

[Dundeemaha]

From this image, my hopes are not very high on this, bike sharrows have been shown to increase car / bike crashes and bicyclist casualties. Cars completely ignore them. Separated bike paths are the only way to reduce car / bike crashes.

https://planninghcd.cityofomaha.org/ima ... Trail4.jpg

[iamjacobm]

City council doc on this project.

https://cityclerk.cityofomaha.org/image ... -42070.pdf

[Taco]

This appears to be a different project than the specific bike trail previously mentioned, but is probably one of the three they discussed. What I would give to see their proposed map and the proposed map of all future trail expansion in general...

For this one, just the name "Beltline" in the project details makes me excited. I wonder if they will build bridges over the streets they cross (unlikely) or zone the surrounding area for mixed use development like in Atlanta (super unlikely) or at least create a linear park alongside (more likely given property owned by land bank). Hope this project plays out sooner rather than later.

[Dundeemaha]

Not to be a downer, but beltline likely just refers to how it's replacing some of the former route of the beltline railway in north o.

https://northomahahistory.com/2016/05/2 ... -nebraska/

[ita]

Not to be a downer, but beltline likely just refers to how it's replacing some of the former route of the beltline railway in north o.

https://northomahahistory.com/2016/05/2 ... -nebraska/

Wasn't there a belt line light rail plan at some point? It was supposed to follow this old beltline and run from North O to Offut. Regardless, I am glad the city is implementing expanded trail systems in North O.

[Taco]

Not to be a downer, but beltline likely just refers to how it's replacing some of the former route of the beltline railway in north o.

https://northomahahistory.com/2016/05/2 ... -nebraska/

Wasn't there a belt line light rail plan at some point? It was supposed to follow this old beltline and run from North O to Offut. Regardless, I am glad the city is implementing expanded trail systems in North O.

Was a proposed project by the same group that put the art up on the silos by I-80. Cool plan, but never really had any money behind it. I don't expect this plan to be near Atlanta's beltline, but would like if the city encouraged denser mixed/use development by trails/parks.

[Coyote]

A bike highway: North Omaha Trail would connect key points for bicyclists, walkers

Taking a cue from other trend-setting urban trails, Omaha city planners are moving forward with an off-street trail to connect major community stops through North Omaha.

image.jpeg

[ita]

Organization works with community to extend trail system to north Omaha

"If you look at the trail system and the quality of trails— there's no trails over here, and where there are the ends of trails they are in bad condition," Manne Cook.

Cook is leading the North Omaha Trail Project through the organization Spark, CDI.

"There hasn't been the same type of investment as in the rest of the city," Cook said.

Organizers are shooting for construction to start this summer. This is a huge effort by community leaders.

I don't know if it's already posted somewhere, but here is the Spark CDI page on this project: The North Omaha Trail Project

[Busguy2010]

NOTP

[bigredmed1]

It would be great to have a bike trail that could go out of downtown and head north to Sorensen and thus to MCC and then go to McKinley and Hwy 75 north. The industrial road that is now used for charity bike rides is dismal and a trail in North Omaha could be cool.

A trail that connects UNMC to north Omaha could pass through some really nice areas as well making for a fun ride for people commuting there or getting a break from work/studies. It would also connect down to the trail by the VA.

[ita]

It would be great to have a bike trail that could go out of downtown and head north to Sorensen and thus to MCC and then go to McKinley and Hwy 75 north. The industrial road that is now used for charity bike rides is dismal and a trail in North Omaha could be cool.

A trail that connects UNMC to north Omaha could pass through some really nice areas as well making for a fun ride for people commuting there or getting a break from work/studies. It would also connect down to the trail by the VA.

You're in luck. I know it has been a while but there was this proposed Belt Line Trail that goes from 31st and Sprague to the Field Club Trail. See release on that project: Belt Line Trail. That will cut right by UNMC. The NRD planner that prepared that report, Eric Williams, attended the first virtual meeting listed on the North Omaha Trail page that I linked to above. Eric said that is still underway and will be worked on concurrently with the North Omaha Trail Project. These two trail projects will be a nice amenity and transportation upgrade for North Omaha, Midtown and Downtown.

Per the first meeting, the current iteration of the North Omaha Trail Project is phase 1. The lead organizer, Manne Cook, said that future extensions are planned to connect to North Downtown and Bob Kerry Bridge (hopefully through Baby Bob) and possibly Miller Park.

For those interested, according to the website, there are still a few more meetings you can attend, including one tonight. You have to fill out a form/survey to get the information for the virtual meeting.

[Busguy2010]

Assuming most of it will be like the D Street section of the South Omaha Trail... A glorified sidewalk. And I mean, that's fine, better than nothing.

[ita]

Mural outside Bud Crawford's gym is one of many planned to tell North Omaha's story

Chris Burbach
A new painting going up on world champion boxer Terence “Bud” Crawford’s B&B Sports Academy is the first of many murals that will celebrate the people, places and events of North Omaha along the planned North Omaha Trail.

Artist Reggie LeFlore, a native of North Omaha, is painting the mural at 3034 Sprague St. It is the home gym of Crawford, a North Omaha native and resident who is the world champion welterweight and is ranked by ESPN as the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.

The academy serves young people as a nonprofit, community-based athletic center. And several boxers train there, including Steven Nelson, who is also an artist and is helping LeFlore paint the mural.

Crawford will host a community gathering at the academy Sunday to celebrate the mural. The North Omaha Trail Project Mural Party is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. There will be food trucks and a DJ.
...
Cook, a former city planner, is the project leader for the North Omaha Trail, a 2-mile trail for recreation and transportation. People will be able to hike, bike, scoot and stroll from near 24th and Lake Streets to near 30th Street and Ames Avenue, and multiple points of interest in between.

The project is out for bid. Construction should begin this summer and be completed by spring or summer 2022, Cook said.

[ita]

It looks like they updated the website. Construction is going to start next year.

[ita]

It's been a while, but this trail was started and paved. I haven't seen it yet, so if anyone is in North Omaha and can report, please do! This is to be the first leg in a more comprehensive system connecting North Omaha with other parts of urban Omaha via multimodal infrastructure, but it's a huge first step.

[OPlaya]

It's paved and able to be used although they have some tree planting to be done and probably some artwork to be added.

[ita]

North Omaha Trail seeks to connect, heal wounds of past

Minneapolis has the Midtown Greenway, New Orleans has Lafitte Greenway and Atlanta has its BeltLine trail.

Now local community leaders, who took a cue from those popular urban trails, are marking the near completion of the first phase of the North Omaha Trail.

About two miles of infrastructure on the walking-biking-scooter path is finished, from 30th Street and Ames Avenue to 24th and Ohio Streets.
...
Future phases are to extend north to Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Omaha campus and south to downtown Omaha’s “Baby Bob” pedestrian bridge and the riverfront.
...
Fabric Lab and Spark, which provided trail design and urban planning work, recently submitted a request for nearly $10 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to complete future phases, Cook said.

He said the first stretch cost about $3 million, with funding coming from the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District and private philanthropy.

I am glad this is getting some publicity. I hope they get funding for the future extensions to Baby Bob and MCC. This trail will be a boon to the community.

[Coyote]

Spark CDI receives $8 million for North Omaha Trail expansion



A project that focuses on bridging communities. Spark received a grant from the Department of Economic Development for phase 2 of the North Omaha Trail. The expansion of the trail will allow easier access to all of Omaha and across the Bob Kerrey Bridge. Right now the trail winds through neighborhoods between 30th and Sprague and 24th and Ohio.

[ita]

Looks like Spark is starting Phase 2. Will tie into the Burt Street pedestrian way through Creighton's campus. Good connection. Update from Grow Omaha.

Groundbreaking Tomorrow for North Omaha Trail Phase 2
Apr 16, 2026

Spark CDI and its urban design hub, the Fabric Lab, are hosting a groundbreaking for Phase 2 of the North Omaha Trail tomorrow, April 17, at 2 p.m. at 26th & Lake Street. Phase 2 of the trail follows a route from 24th & Ohio Street to the Baby Bob bridge downtown and is funded with $8 million from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. – Mark Champion