Omaha Streetcar
| Omaha Streetcar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Approved | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | City of Omaha, Nebraska | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Omaha, Nebraska | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Streetcar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Planned opening | 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 3.0 mi (4.8 km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Character | Streetcar in mixed traffic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Omaha Streetcar is a proposed streetcar in Omaha, Nebraska.
History
Background
The Omaha-Council Bluffs streetcar era began operations in 1868. By 1890, the metropolitan area had 90 miles (140 km) of tracks — more than any city except Boston. The Omaha Traction Company was the dominant private streetcar provider of the time; it was engulfed in repeated labor disputes.[1][2] By 1955, the city closed its streetcars in favor of buses.[3]
Planning and development
Planning and research for a new streetcar began between 2008 and 2009. An advanced conceptual engineering plan was first announced in 2014 and revised in 2018 by Metro Transit, with an estimated cost of $170 million. Rep. Don Bacon was unsuccessful in obtaining an $8 million earmark for the project in 2021.[4]
In 2022, a revised plan was announced by Mayor Jean Stothert and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce's Urban Core Committee.[5] On December 13th, 2022 the Omaha City Council approved the issuance of $440 million dollars in bonds to fund the streetcar. $360 million is projected to be paid back with property taxes through Tax Increment Financing, and $80 million from a lease purchase agreement[6]
The streetcar will run on a three-mile (4.8 km) route from Cass to Farnam on South 10th Street, Farnam west to 42nd Street, and back to 10th Street on Harney. The streetcar is expected to be operational in 2026, and free for all riders.[7] Future expansions north, south, and west in Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa are also proposed.[8] The proposal was endorsed by Governor of Nebraska Pete Ricketts, Union Pacific Railroad President, chairman and CEO Lance Fritz, and Mayor Matt Walsh of Council Bluffs.[citation needed]
The streetcar is expected to start construction in 2024 and be completed in 2026 alongside the new Mutual of Omaha Headquarters Tower.[9][10] Investor Warren Buffett, an Omaha resident and owner of Berkshire Hathaway, published a letter to the editor in the Omaha World-Herald to oppose the street project. He cited its cost and inflexibility compared to a bus system.[11]
See also
- Light rail in the United States
- Streetcars in North America
- Transportation in Omaha
- The Great Streetcar Conspiracy
References
- ^ "Militia in Omaha After Fatal Riot". The New York Times. June 16, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ "New riots in Omaha; Bricks Bombard Street Cars in Revived Strike Outbreak". The New York Times. June 30, 1935. p. 2. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Wade, Jessica (January 26, 2022). "After years of stalled attempts, Omaha is on track to build a streetcar". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ Writers, Nancy Gaarder and Reece Ristau World-Herald Staff. "Omaha off However, an $8 million federal earmark for the project was uncessfully sought by icials sought $8 million for streetcar but didn't get federal earmark". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ "Total Mobility System - City of Omaha". www.cityofomaha.org. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ "Journal Record, City of Omaha City Council Meeting, Tuesday, December 13, 2022" (PDF). December 13, 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2023.
- ^ "'Now is the time to do it': City of Omaha aims for operational streetcar system by 2026". KMTV. January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ Chapman, John. "Council Bluffs looks to link up with Omaha streetcar route". WOWT. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ Mannion, Annemarie (May 23, 2022). "Planned Streetcar Line Drives New Development in Omaha". Engineering News-Record Midwest. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Cordes, Henry J. (October 10, 2022). "Mutual of Omaha tower will rise as tallest building on city skyline". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Funk, Josh (December 29, 2022). "Warren Buffett breaks local politics vow to say not in my backyard to $306 million Omaha streetcar project". Fortune. Associated Press. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
External links
- Official Streetcar Website
- The Secret Scam of Streetcars: How to Sell a 100-Year-Old Technology as the Future of Transportation
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