Livable Omaha
Think of the cities you like to visit – Minneapolis, Denver,
Portland, San Francisco, Chicago
144th and W. Center 156th and Maple
76th and Cass 84th and W. Center
8 lanes = 100 ft of pavement
Vehicular Mobility Priority
Livable Omaha
2011 survey: 72: of residents favor increasing spending to expand and
improve public transportation, sidewalks and bike lanes in Omaha
2009 survey: 92% of YPs in Omaha want improved public transportation options
Safety vs. Livability
E. Dumbaugh, The Design of Safe Urban Roadsides: An Empirical Analysis, 2007
E. Dumbaugh, The Design of Safe Urban Roadsides: An Empirical Analysis, 2007
Induced traffic and perpetual widening
Livable Omaha
People dying from air pollution-- 52,000 deaths in the U.S. each
year (in Omaha’s that equates to 353 deaths per year)—more
than from firearms, STDs, and illegal drug use combined
Livable Omaha
Reduced life expectancy—4 years for people living in car-
dependent neighborhoods
Livable Omaha
Increased risk for obesity—6% for each hour spent driving
Livable Omaha
Increased inequality—The young, disabled, poor, and
elderly cannot get around at all if they cannot drive a car and do
not have access to transportation alternatives.
Livable Omaha
Decreased fiscal sustainability—One mile of urban freeway costs 2,500 times more per mile than a
shared-use bike route
Livable Omaha
In 2002, Omaha spent $179 per person on road construction and
maintenance, compared to $29.52 per person on public
transit
Livable Omaha
The Solution: Mode Shift (to a Livable) Omaha
Maximum number of cars on a street = capacity
Distribution of people served by these cars
Same number of people on a bus Same number of people on a pedestrian and bicycle friendly
street
1 2
3 4
Harney Street - Now
Harney Street - After
125th Street Looking North at Dodge Expressway - Now
125th Street Looking North at Dodge Expressway - After
13th at William - Now
13th at William - After
Livable Omaha
Economic development—For every $1 invested in public
transportation, $5 is generated in economic returns
Livable Omaha
Spending on transit generates more jobs than spending on
highways
Livable Omaha
Livable Omaha
Residents of “transit intensive” neighborhoods exercise more
often, have longer life expectancies, and are healthier than residents of car-dependent
neighborhoods
Livable Omaha
27% of all trips taken by automobile in the U.S. are less
than one mile in distance
Livable Omaha
For the young, elderly, poor and people with disabilities, public transit can provide access to
things needed for everyday life
Livable Omaha
What you can do
Livable Omaha
ADD GRAPHIC OF POLICY PROCESS
Participate in planning processes:
Omaha Transportation Master PlanOmaha Alternatives Analysis
Heartland 2050 Regional Vision
Livable Omaha
Contact your elected representatives about transportation issues.
Omaha City CouncilNebraska State Legislature
U.S. Representative & Senators
Livable Omaha
Participate in transportation advocacy groups:
Omaha YP Transportation Group Mode Shift Omaha
Omaha Bikes
Livable Omaha
Walk the Walk
Livable Omaha
Credits:
A longer version of this presentation was created by
Gerard Wellman for the Omaha YP Transportation Group.