Omaha-Council Bluffs Metro Beltway Feasibility Study
Study Findings
To determine the need for and feasibility of an outer loop freeway
AND
Determine if land use patterns or other transportation network options alter the answer
Study Purpose
Study Approach
Three major areas of focus:TransportationLand UseEconomics
Study Framework
Based upon general policies and goals of the metro area
Evaluates shifts in these, but not radical changes
Trends are not ignored, but are put in context with our region
2004 High Volume or Free Flow Corridors
2030 Long Range Transportation Plan
2035 High Volume or Free Flow Corridors
Is there a problem?
How is our system currently performing?
How will it perform in the future?
Will we be able to enjoy the standard of mobility for which we are accustomed?
How do we compare?
2035 Over Capacity Links With Long Range Plan Built
2035 High Volume Corridors Over Capacity
What does this mean in numbers?
By 2030, even with 2030 LRTP built:
Miles of congested roads will increase 190%Congested freeway miles will increase 260%
A 20 minute average trip will take 25 minutes.– If you make 6 trips per day you will be spend 30 minutes
more per day in your vehicle
What does this mean in dollars?
The annual additional direct impact to a household will grow to $727 per year by 2035
That is nearly $300 million per year by 2035
What are the options?
Supply side – build more capacityDemand side – change development policies, change how we travel
Or do some of each?
Supply Side - Transportation Network Alternatives Evaluated
Long Range Transportation PlanOuter BeltwayInner BeltwayRadialsSuper ArterialsTransit
Beltway Alternatives
Radial Freeways
Super Arterials
Enhanced Transit System
Transit Details
Assumptions– 5% ridership (0.5% today)– Difficult to achieve with current land use policy– Assumed light rail necessary to achieve this level
Comparisons:– Portland 7.6%– Kansas City 1.3%– New York City 11%– Europe 8%
Note: Transit scenario includes LRTP improvements
Summary of Transportation Alternatives
Delay Reduction (%)
Congestion Reduction (%)
Approx. Cost (mil)
2030 LRTP - - $3,200Outer Beltway 8.1 9.8 $1,400 *Inner Beltway 7.2 13.7 $750 *
Radials 1.2 3.5 $660 *Super
Arterials 10.0 22.5 $1,400 *
Light Rail Transit 18.6 26.3 $2,500 *
*Alternative costs are in addition to the 2030 LRTP Base costs
Demand Side - Alternative Land Uses
Base Scenario – Current forecast based upon Comprehensive Plans
Targeted Density– Densify at nodes
Transit Oriented Development– Densify along transit lines
Sprawl– Low density in future growth areas
Future Base (2035)
Targeted Density/Infill
Targeted Density/Infill
Aksarben Village
Midtown Crossing at Turner Park
Transit Oriented Development
Transit Oriented Design
Sprawl
Analysis Matrix
Land Use Summary
Targeted Density provided more relief than the Base land use under each transportation alternative– Reduced delay & lane-miles over capacity an additional 3%
Transit oriented land use would provide further benefit under the transit alternative– Reduced delay & lane-miles over capacity an additional 6%
Sprawl land use created further traffic congestion– Increased delay & lane-miles over capacity 10%
How do we sort it out?
Transportation analysis…
Land use analysis…
Economic analysis– Look at this from a dollars perspective– Brings the issues into a common monetary
comparison
Economic Analysis
Benefit-Cost Analysis– Positive effects = benefits– Negative effects = costs
Transportation Benefits– Travel time savings– Vehicle operating cost savings– Accident savings– Emission savings
Economic Analysis
Economic Analysis
Economic Analysis
Economic Analysis
Economic Analysis
How do we afford this?
Are you paying anyway? Consider this:
$727 increase per household per year – to the avg household = 60 cents / gallonIf something built this $727 would drop on average to $600 to $620Difference is the equivalent of 9 cents / gallon9 cents per gallon in metro area = $43 million /yrThis equates to a $650 million bond issue
Summary - What we know
Underserved by Freeways / High Speed CorridorsMetro Areas of our projected size have beltwaysAdditional Direct Transportation User costs by 2035 will approach $300 million annually or over $700 / householdTo reasonably maintain our current level of mobility into the future, something needs done above and beyond our current plans
Summary - What we learned
Land Use / Urban Design mattersTransit has a place – substantial ridership increases, yield substantial returns A new Beltway has a role in the transportation system
Conclusions
The study concludes an inner beltway facility has a role in the future Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area transportation system
Inner Beltway in Context of Land Use
Conclusions
The study concludes an inner beltway facility has a role in the future Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area transportation system
Land Use Policies should be further enhanced to stress infill and targeted density / mixed use – vital for reasons beyond transportation
A comprehensive transit study needs conducted to outline the approach and cost to significantly raise our transit ridership levels
Omaha-Council Bluffs Metro Beltway Feasibility Study
Study Findings - Q & A
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