City of Omaha Mayor’s Office

April 23, 2012: After more than a year of collecting research, and input from the public and community organizations, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle unveiled the City’s new Transportation Master Plan at a news conference this morning.

“Through public forums, town halls, and online discussions, the people of Omaha made one thing clear: They want more options when it comes to transportation,” said Mayor Suttle. “I am encouraged by the progress we have made towards making our city more bike and pedestrian friendly, but I know that we still have a long way to go.”

The Center for Disease Control’s “Communities Putting Prevention to Work” grant as well as grant dollars from the Douglas County Health Department and Live Well Omaha enabled the City to engage in this transportation study which focuses on health, social equity, and available resources to make necessary changes.

“The landscape of our City is changing, by choice and by necessity,” said Rick Cunningham, Director of City Planning. “As Omaha continues to grow West, the eastern half of our city is being revitalized and attracting younger residents who have made it clear that they want options beyond the automobile.”

With the Transportation Master Plan, the City of Omaha and members of the community have come together to build on the transportation network that is currently in place, and provide direction for new transportation projects which give the citizens of Omaha more choices in their mobility.

The Transportation Master Plan is a guide for our community 25 years into the future and is expected to achieve four goals for our city:
• It will provide more balanced options for enhanced mobility.
• It will serve to create a safe and healthy environment for the people of Omaha.
• It will create more livable and connected neighborhoods.
• It will yield future economic returns through fiscal sustainability.

“By modernizing our City’s transportation system we will continue to rebuild Omaha’s urban core and help to reverse the “brain drain,” by attracting young, talented professionals from throughout the country who understand that a multimodal transportation system is essential to any modern city,” said Mayor Suttle.

“The plan recommendations contain both capital projects and policy changes to help move Omaha towards its goals,” said Bob Stubbe, Director of Public Works. Some of the projects include;
• Harney Street Bikeway
• Dundee Business district Streetscape
• Park Avenue Streetscape 17th Street Conversion
• 16th Street reconstruction
• Howard Street / St Mary’s Ave Bike Lanes
We have already committed to projects like the 84th street bridge, the 72nd street pedestrian overpass and the L street bridge.
In addition to specific projects, the City, over time will also be looking at growing its network of on-street bicycle facilities as well as rebuilding the historic boulevard system.