Published July 6, 2025 | Updated May 27, 2026

Like it or not, Omaha is getting its streetcar back. This comes nearly 30 years after then-Mayor Hal Daub first pitched the idea in the mid-1990s. Omaha’s historic streetcar was one of the largest in the country before ceasing operation in 1955.

I am an advocate of the streetcar with experience riding them in other Midwestern cities, including the KC Streetcar in Kansas City, the QLine in Detroit, and the Cincinnati Bell Connector. All were controversial projects that have proven successful in terms of both ridership and economic development.

The Cincinnati Bell Connector opened in 2016. The 3.6-mile track runs from Smale Riverfront Park to Findlay Market. With more than 1 million people riding the streetcar in 2024, it has contributed at least $1.4B to the economy to date.

The Detroit QLine opened in 2017. It has shown significant growth since becoming free to ride in 2020. The 3.3-mile track runs from downtown to midtown. With more than 1 million people riding the streetcar in 2024, it has contributed more than $7B to the economy to date.

The Kansas City Streetcar is most comparable to the Omaha streetcar project. It opened in 2016 and features a 2.2-mile track that runs from River Market to Union Station. With nearly 2 million people riding the streetcar in 2024, it has contributed $1.8B to the economy to date. The line was recently expanded by an additional 3.5 miles.

Omaha is following a nationwide trend that includes 46 U.S. cities that currently operate or are planning to build a modern streetcar. The project was announced by then-Mayor Jean Stothert in 2022 and was timed to coincide with a decision by Mutual of Omaha to build its new downtown headquarters along the route.

Omaha’s streetcar will be similar to those in Kansas City and Cincinnati and is expected to open in 2028. The 3.2-mile track will run from downtown (RiverFront Parks/Old Market) to midtown (Blackstone/Med Center) with 16 stops. It has contributed $1.5B to the economy, with an expected $3.9B within 15 years. Economic development and the increased property taxes within the district are expected to pay for the projected $459M cost. Its maintenance will be paid for by revenue generated by city-owned parking meters and garages.

Modern streetcars are seen primarily as economic development tools. That’s also true in Omaha, which has seen a number of projects pop up along the streetcar route, including:

• The $443M, 677-foot, 44-floor Mutual of Omaha Headquarters downtown at 14th and Farnam.
• The $163M, 700-unit Duo apartments, a conversion of the former Central Park Plaza downtown at 15th and Farnam.
• The $45M, 180-unit yet-to-be-named apartment complex in Blackstone at 35th and Farnam.

It will also help fund additional affordable housing which is sorely needed in a city experiencing a housing crisis. Mayor John Ewing announced at a press conference that revenue from the streetcar is expected to provide more than $100M towards the building of affordable housing in and around the streetcar corridor.

While there’s already talk of expanding the streetcar lines both north and south from Harney and Farnam, the size of the new system won’t rival that of the old one. Nor does it have to in order to be a worthwhile economic investment.

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• Omaha World-Herald archives
• https://www.cityofomaha.org/latest-news/854-modern-streetcar-builds-on-momentum-in-downtown-and-midtown
• https://www.omahastreetcar.org/frequently-asked-questions/
• https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/18/price-jumps-for-modern-day-streetcar-project-in-nebraskas-largest-city/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connector_(Cincinnati)
• https://moversmakers.org/2024/02/02/resident-led-forum-outlines-possible-streetcar-expansion-routes/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KC_Streetcar
• https://kcstreetcar.org/faqs/streetcar/
• https://www.foxnews.com/us/kansas-city-streetcars-making-comeback-after-6-decade-hiatus
• https://kcstreetcar.org/ridershipsoars/
• https://www.alpinekansascity.com/2026/02/01/is-the-kansas-city-streetcar-extension-good-for-real-estate-values/
• https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/KC-Streetcar-ridership-doubles-after-expansion–75949
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QLine
• https://www.qlinedetroit.com/
• https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2024/11/22/detroits-qline-surpasses-1-million-riders-in-2024/
• https://www.wowt.com/2025/07/08/omaha-mayor-estimates-streetcar-project-will-generate-100-million-invest-affordable-housing/