[harshbarj]

I got an e-mail that states Omaha is predicted to hit 1.5 million people with a metro population of 3 million in 40 years. This was an internal city e-mail so I can't say more than that but could this be true? That would add about 15k per year to Omaha and over 52k per year to the metro. I just don't see that kind of growth.

That type of growth would be unhealthy for the city anyway as it looks to be mostly urban sprawl given the much larger growth of the metro over the core city.

[MountainMen]

If America wakes up to high speed rail, Omaha could be a major stop along an important passenger rail route. Then I could see it growing. Otherwise, we'll probably get both brain drain and baby boomer drain for the next 10-20 years. I doubt Omaha will even be a city in 40 years.

[welshearl]

It probably won't happen to Omaha-but to cities like Tucson. Kansas City-city proper, was project, 60 years ago in 1950, to hit 1 million by 1980. As it stands now Kansas city is about 450,000 and all the land the city annex North of the Missouri River was in vain and a waste.

[iamjacobm]

We would have to see sun belt like population gains. That isn't going to happen here. I think we would be lucky to see the metro hit 1.5 million in 2050(that is excluding Lincoln ever getting added). Hell, even then they are expecting the cities current population to more than triple in 40 years?!? Not buying that for one second.

[tollfree]

lol, wow

[geog-fanatic]

I really hope that isn't the case. Slow, steady growth is great, but stupid, crazy growth will only create problems down the road, especially with transportation and infrastructure. I'm hoping to escape a place with that kind of growth within the next six months!

[dsrich98]

I think 1.5 million for the entire Omaha Metro is very realistic. If that is supposed to be for Omaha proper, than that's a big no.

[Busguy2010]

Not going to happen. I won't allow it. By 2050 I would like to see city population grow to ~ 600,000 without the land area changing. I want the metro area population to change little. 1.2 million tops, that is if Lincoln won't be added to the Metro Statistical Area. Anything to the opposite of this and we're headed in the wrong direction.

[Vic_Vega]

Originally Posted by MountainMen

If America wakes up to high speed rail, Omaha could be a major stop along an important passenger rail route. Then I could see it growing. Otherwise, we'll probably get both brain drain and baby boomer drain for the next 10-20 years. I doubt Omaha will even be a city in 40 years.

If a hypothetical high speed rail system in the US were to cause that large of a growth spurt to Omaha, where would the additional population come from?

And why Omaha?

[Andy]

Originally Posted by MountainMen

If America wakes up to high speed rail, Omaha could be a major stop along an important passenger rail route. Then I could see it growing

High speed horse and buggy would help too, right? Fixed rail = ancient past. Self driving cars = future.