[Busguy2010]

Originally Posted by agskinner

It is kind of amusing how many big dollar companies are in Omaha, yet no one volunteers to help either raise funds or fund certain projects Omaha could really use.

But a lot of them do a lot of good too, so it's not like nothing gets done.

Mutual of Omaha specifically has done us some good. They funded Midtown Crossing which I think was the first major infill project here. I believe they planted the seed for urban design guidelines in Omaha and they are at least partly why we've had so much more investment in our core lately.

[agskinner]

Originally Posted by Busguy2010

Mutual of Omaha specifically has done us some good. They funded Midtown Crossing which I think was the first major infill project here. I believe they planted the seed for urban design guidelines in Omaha and they are at least partly why we've had so much more investment in our core lately.

Yeah. I agree.

There is enough money in Omaha that many problems could be eliminated or greatly reduced within a few years.

Crime, unemployment, and etc.

Unfrotunately, with a capitalistic society, it's not expected people with means help their city or neighborhood even.

Luckily, as you point out, there are some trying.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by marska

IMO there is a definite need for a light rail system from Omaha to Lincoln- but Nebraskans LOVE their cars! There just is not a "Public Transportation" mentality- hmmm...might make for a good poll....

If you're totally dependent on a car, if you're totally dependent on another human being, how can that be termed Love? I'll accept love/hate, but not Love! That love comes to a crashing end, the minute you get an expensive traffic fine, you're involved in an accident, or your mechanic gives you a $1500 estimate and you don't have the money to fix it!

[MountainMen]

Originally Posted by tijlover

That love comes to a crashing end, the minute you get an expensive traffic fine, you're involved in an accident, or your mechanic gives you a $1500 estimate and you don't have the money to fix it!

The amount of fees and inconveniences people will overlook in the name of having a car is endless.

[agskinner]

Originally Posted by MountainMen

The amount of fees and inconveniences people will overlook in the name of having a car is endless.

Freedom to drive anywhere and everywhere you want, leave when you want to, go for a nice drive day or night all completely out weigh those negatives.

For me anyway.

[harshbarj]

Originally Posted by MountainMen

The amount of fees and inconveniences people will overlook in the name of having a car is endless.

A mountainmen post I agree with 100% .

Omaha is a GREAT example of this. Every time we spend big bucks on road improvements people cheer. But the second we talk about spending even 1% of that amount of cash on transportation alternatives those in love with their car start crying. And yes, they ARE in love with their cars. I have seen people use their car to go one block. THAT is love.

[Juan Valdez]

I've thought about this from time to time and eventually got bored one day and started planning out routes in Omaha. I thought about heavy and light rail and a combination of the two. I posted them on my blog:

Concepts & Contemplations: Omaha Mass Transit

[harshbarj]

Originally Posted by Juan Valdez

I've thought about this from time to time and eventually got bored one day and started planning out routes in Omaha. I thought about heavy and light rail and a combination of the two. I posted them on my blog:

Concepts & Contemplations: Omaha Mass Transit

I can see two changes that might help.

Remove the pink line all together and simply run the red line to offutt AFB. The two lines run nearly the same route already.

Extend the blue line to the mall of the bluffs. It's not much farther and would add an important destination to the line.

Now I would assume the lines running within the city would be streetcars like what omaha use to have. Light rail would mainly be for connecting cities (like your purple lines).

[Juan Valdez]

Originally Posted by harshbarj

I can see two changes that might help.

Remove the pink line all together and simply run the red line to offutt AFB. The two lines run nearly the same route already.

Extend the blue line to the mall of the bluffs. It's not much farther and would add an important destination to the line.

Now I would assume the lines running within the city would be streetcars like what omaha use to have. Light rail would mainly be for connecting cities (like your purple lines).

I have two different ideas on my blog, one is heavy rail based and the other uses existing railroad corridors and is more light rail based. I am not a big proponent of street cars. The ONLY place I've been too where street cars work is Portland Oregon. Everywhere else I've been, they've been a hinderance. They don't provide the value of a heavy/light rail line and also have the negative side effect of causing congestion for automobiles. In a car centric city like Omaha, I feel as though they'd be more of a hindrance and novelty than a beneficial mass transit system.

The pink line and light green line on the map you are referring too are alternate lines (light rail) for the red and green lines (subway) on the map.

Personally, I think the heavy rail (Subway) is more logical and economical in the long run for Omaha. However, politics in the future will probably dictate a cheaper option to meet a mass transit need. That is why I offered up a cheaper light rail option for my 2nd map.

The Mall of the Bluffs would be a good idea for an eastern terminus. Thanks for the input, I really don't know where good locations for stations are east of the Missouri.

[harshbarj]

The problem with light rail is it only stops at far placed stations. Street cars stop on every block making them FAR more useful within a city. Now that's not to say running limited light rail lines is a bad idea, in fact lines that run from south Omaha,west Omaha, and north Omaha to downtown would be useful. But to make every line in the city light rail would not work.

As for hindering automobile traffic, if it dose that significantly then it was poorly designed. A well designed system has a minimal impact on traffic. AND if it works well automobile traffic is reduced anyway, negating any negative impact.

Now for the subway idea, outside of downtown/midtown there is really not a need for it. Perhaps one day when population densities exceed 10k people per square mile in many areas. But today most of the city is just not dense enough. It is however worth planning for.