1950-present Transportation in Omaha




1 1950-present

1.1 streets
1.2 highways

1.2.1 traffic monitoring


1.3 public transportation

1.3.1 light rail


1.4 air
1.5 trails
1.6 water traffic





1950-present
streets

starting in 1950 city has continuously developed , redeveloped major streets, particularly relying on them east-west traffic. major east-west thoroughfares in omaha include fort, ames, maple, blondo, dodge, pacific, center, l, q , harrison streets. major north-south thoroughfares in omaha include north , south 24th streets, 30th street, saddle creek road, , 72nd, 84th, 90th, , 120th streets. south 10th street important in south omaha.


highways

early planned routes omaha s interstate highways.



the first long segment of interstate 80 in nebraska opened fifty-mile section between dodge street in omaha , west lincoln interchange in 1961.


construction of freeway in north omaha in 1970s faced many hurdles. built after construction of i-480, 4-mile (6.4 km) section supposed designated interstate 580. however, city refused invest additional money federal government required in order gain designation. coupled social unrest in 1970s, highway blamed causing 30 percent housing loss , major increase in crime. freeway became route of u.s. highway 75 , known locally north freeway.


today, omaha connected interstate highway system. city has eleven highway exits along interstate 80. interstate drivers can connect nebraska highway 50, 275/ne 92, i-680 , i-480/us 75. continuing north, i-680 connects i-29 near crescent, iowa , reconnects i-80 near neola, iowa; i-480 cuts through downtown omaha connect i-29 in council bluffs, iowa. north freeway veers i-480, , in 2005, nebraska department of roads began project bring i-480/us 75 interchange interstate standards. construction expected complete in 2009, , unknown if north freeway receive interstate designation upon completion of project.


there number of important arterial roads throughout omaha. u.s. route 75 comes south through omaha fort calhoun along north 30 street, north freeway, i-480 , kennedy freeway, exiting through bellevue. u.s. route 6 crosses city council bluffs on i-480, called gerald r. ford freeway in honor of omaha native son. follows dodge street, until intersects south 204th street, when runs south towards gretna. nebraska highway 64 assumes route of former military road northwest out of omaha, following maple road , west maple road converge 275 @ waterloo. 275 becomes nebraska highway 92 after crossing south omaha veterans memorial bridge, following missouri avenue, becomes l street. @ south 132nd street, @ point veers northeast follow old mormon trail along industrial road when joins west center road, crossing platte river , continuing westward.


in 2005 portion of lincoln highway in omaha listed on national register of historic places.


traffic monitoring

beginning in fall 2007 there more 30 traffic cameras operating on omaha area freeways, including 1 @ i-80 near gretna , on west dodge near 120th street. operated nebraska department of roads, sensors , cameras not used catch speeders or other traffic enforcement. state operates extensive traffic operations center utilizes cameras monitor omaha traffic patterns. similar traffic monitoring centers in lincoln , north platte, 1 in omaha biggest , has greatest capability provide traffic information.


public transportation

the south omaha veterans memorial bridge nebraska side.



the omaha traction company, operated street railway company, changed name omaha transit company when streetcar service ended in city in 1952. after world war ii omahans preferred automobiles , new highways. when urban mass transit act of 1964 passed, omaha s private transit companies not able apply federal subsidies available public transit operators. omaha transit company ceased operations on june 30, 1972, when city of omaha assumed authority public transportation in city. city transit lines, private company in omaha, went out of business on day well. metro area transit authority created nebraska legislature, consisting of five-member board appointed mayor , confirmed omaha s city council , douglas county commissioners. acquired assets of omaha transit company , selected assets of city transit lines of council bluffs, along more $3,000,000 in federal funding. authority operates today metro area transit, or mat.


today authority supervises level of service, miles , hours of operation within omaha, , maintains individual service contracts local authorities outside omaha. currently, mat has 3 contracts, including cities of council bluffs, bellevue , tri-communities of ralston, lavista , papillion.


mat completed 3 new transit centers, function airport hubs. located @ benson park, westroads mall, , metro community college in south omaha, designed bolster city s public busing needs. these join existing centers in midtown , north omaha.


light rail

a train in salt lake city similar omaha considering.


in recent years city of omaha has grown exponentially, , renewed focus on public transit, there have been plans new streetcars , light rail in city, including movement initiated former mayor hal daub, in 2003 city council action, failed reach approval 1 vote. proposed streetcars cost $55 million , run in 3.5-mile (5.6 km) loop through downtown omaha , nodo. cost $2 million per year operate , serve 7,000 passengers in first year. 1 route run cars creighton university near 20th , webster streets, proceeding east 10th street, passing qwest center , moving south jackson street in old market. after move west 16th street , north farnam before returning 10th street.


air

eppley airfield terminal in omaha.



today eppley airfield sits on 2,650 acres (10.7 km) , handles approximately 400 flights week. there 2 concourses hold 20 gates. airport handled more 4.4 million passengers in 2007, , of september 2008, southwest airlines largest carrier handling approximately 24 percent of passengers. united second-largest carrier, handling approximately 19 percent of passengers. currently, regularly scheduled flights eppley airfield terminate within united states.


airlines serving omaha include alaska, allegiant air, american, delta, frontier, southwest, , united.


trails

one of trails in omaha, located @ chalco hills recreation area.



omaha devoid of trails leading 1989. year city began developing trails, , since city of omaha has developed approximately 67 miles (108 km) of paved recreational trails, , 35 miles (56 km) of trails scheduled completion within next 8 years.


paved , unpaved trails , paths used recreational , commuter purposes throughout city. popular among bicyclists, runners, hikers , recreational walkers, these trails included in comprehensive plans city of omaha, omaha metro area, douglas county, , long-distance coordinated plans between municipalities of southeast nebraska.


the missouri river pedestrian bridge connect miller s landing council bluffs in 2009. riverfront trail run length of river south omaha bridge n.p. dodge park.


water traffic

the river city star.


an anomaly in city s transportation river city star, passenger excursion paddleboat sails between omaha , council bluffs. boat docked @ miller s landing near qwest center, near mile marker 617 on missouri river.


marinas public usage operated omaha parks , recreation department. dodge park, located in north omaha, has 326 slips, while new riverfront marina in downtown omaha has 31. levi carter park, has long history water haven, offers non-restricted boating jet skis, recreational boating , water skiing. no wake boating allowed available @ lake cunningham, standing bear lake or zorinsky lake; however, these lakes offer opportunities sailing, fishing , pleasure boating. cunningham lake offers small marina rental boats available.


the port of omaha located downtown miller s landing now. in addition handling outbound barge shipments of grain, handled inbound shipments of steel , asphalt.


the omaha district of u.s. army corps of engineers operates city.








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