This is a long post, you've been warned.

Streetcars have a long history in Omaha. We actually had a very inclusive network of streetcar lines up until March 1955. It covered a 10 mile stretch north and south and a 10 mile stretch east and west. The were all privately owned and made a profit. Then the Chrysler Company bought out all the lines and closed them to create demand for their personal vehicles and busses. A big bummer to think how different Omaha could have looked if our city leaders back then could of seen the benefit of streetcars.

Anyways the past is past. Today there is a lot of support from city leaders and the corporations for streetcars in Omaha, but the city is very divided on the issue. The city is set up in a very East vs. West rivalry of sorts. 72nd street is the "border" between the east/west, dense/suburban, and liberal/conservative parts of the city. It really is crazy I have never seen anything like it in other cities so distinctly. That creates a very strong anti streetcar group among those living in West O. The say they will be paying for something that they wont see the benefit from, pretty short sighted IMO.

Even with the rift the city leaders understand the need. We are in the middle of our 6th study over the past 10 years and it is the most inclusive one yet. At first the city wanted to create a line that ran from the airport to the zoo. It would of passed by the baseball stadium, convention center/arena and Old Market. The study suggested implementing the line, but that is a rather low density corridor tons of destinations, but not enough permanent residents along the line so the city decided to pursue other options.

Then came the midtown/downtown route which in my opinion would be the very best route possible. It would pass by all 5 of our Fortune 500s, Midtown Crossing, The Nebraska Medical Center, the CBD, the Old Market and 10s of thousands of midtown/downtown residents. Win win for everyone.

And finally now they are studying the largest area yet. This one is huge and would be a game changer. The study has been funded half by the city and half by Mutual of Omaha, Conagra, OPPD and Metro Transit a lot of major players in the city. This is studying adding connections to a $250 million dollar mixed use set to begin construction this fall, University of Nebraska-Omaha, and Aksarben Village(a work in progress mixed use project). This study will finish next summer.

Basically we are still a ways away and it simply wont happen without federal funding. The ambition and the people donating large sums of money for the studies are the most interesting parts. There is enough corporate and resident support for it to be a success. It all comes down to us being able to convince the Fed to invest in a Metro under a million people.

And there is public support. This piece of public art commemorating the history of the streetcar in Omaha shows that. This was built entirely by private donations at what used to be the terminus of the old streetcar lines.
382-full.jpg