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.