Omaha Exploration

Omaha’s streetcar system made its debut in 1868 – 14 years after the city was founded. By 1890 it had more miles of track than any city other than Boston. Despite its popularity early on, the streetcar like most others in the country stopped running in 1955.

In recent years, still, streetcars have made a comeback in cities like Kansas City, Seattle, Portland, Milwaukee, Tucson and Charlotte. After a decade of failed attempts, Omaha announced its own streetcar project in 2022 when Mayor Jean Stothert championed it as a way to accelerate development along with retaining and attracting talent. The streetcar project is said to be a key to Mutual of Omaha building its $600M skyscraper at 15th and Harney.

Despite the rising cost of the project which is projected to be $459M, it is expected that it will generate about $1.3B in development by the end of 2024 which is well ahead of the initial projection of $2B within 15 years. By comparison, the Kansas City streetcar which was completed in 2016 is on pace to generate $4B in development and is in the process of extending its route. The streetcar is expected to pay for itself by increasing commercial values which, in turn, generate additional tax revenue. This is tax revenue that would not exist without the streetcar.

In addition to offering an alternate mode of transportation, the streetcar is expected to promote development and increase property values and attracting new business and residents to the area. The streetcar is the “bedrock” of Omaha’s 30×30 plan which aims to bring 30,000 new residents and 30,000 new jobs to the urban core in the next 30 years.

The street car route will extend as far west as 39th and Farnam Streets and east to 10th Street. Planned stops include:

• Blackstone District
• Midtown Crossing
• Farnam Hill
• Flatiron District
• Orpheum Theater
• Old Market
• Gene Leahy Mall
• Capitol District
• CHI Health Center
• Heartland of America Park
• Mutual of Omaha

Future routes will extend the line further west to 42nd Street so that it reaches the Med Center campus. It will also extend further north to Charles Schwab Field and the Baby Bob Bridge connector to the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge.

The free-to-ride streetcar is expected to be in service by 2027. To read more on the project, click here: https://omahastreetcar.org/

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Until next time, keep exploring!

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