The Underwood and Overhill Expressway

Today, like not a few days, I had the opportunity to pedal from midtown Omaha to the Missouri River and back to midtown. Along the way, my mind wandered to a car trip I need to make tomorrow--from midtown way out to far, far southwest Omaha. I may even drive on the West Dodge Expressway.

Which got me thinking. The purpose of the WDE is to reduce congestion at Omaha's busiest intersection (114th & Dodge) and generally ease the commute from Central to West Omaha and beyond. Maybe I'm still suffering the aftershocks of watching "Beyond the Motor City" the other night, but building stronger, faster, higher automobile-only expressways to the suburbs seems so 20th century to me. Shouldn't we be more focused on multi-modal transportation options that interweave Omahans together, rather than car-exclusive chutes that fling us further apart?

And, I don't know what the final cost of the WDE was, but a quick Google search shows it was budgeted for $100 million. Compare that to the cost to complete the initial 20 miles of bike lanes now underway: $600,000. And that wasn't even paid for by the City (i.e., by us)--all the funding came from grants and donations.

Which brings me to the Underwood and Overhill Expressway. One of the major objections I hear from folks reluctant to start bicycling more in Omaha is that the city is so hilly! Riding around it nearly every day, I can't argue with that one. For instance, coming west out of downtown north of Dodge, once you ascend to the top of the hill on 40th, you're plunged back down into the valley of Saddle Creek. Then up again to the summit at 50th, then down again to Happy Hollow. Then up a third time to Fairacres/64th-ish. We might as well name all the storied peaks, like in Le Tour--but instead of Tourmalet, Alpe d'Huez, and Galibier, how about (all with proper French accent, please) Cathedral, Dundee, and Vieux Riche (Old Money)?

But I digress--back to the Underwood and Overhill Expressway. Imagine a connecting bike/ped pathway near California/Underwood streets that erased the dips between these HC peaks and made the trip from 40th to 50th to 64th a coast-able level grade! Perhaps something ala the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge over the Missouri--a graceful, suspended, elevated ribbon of commuting and recreational cyclists and pedestrians. Suddenly, one of the major impediments to cycling in Omaha is greatly diminished, all the while encouraging development in the heart of the city.

How much would it cost? Well, the best figure I found for the Bob Kerrey bridge is $22 million. Triple that to make 3 sections, and you get $66 million--still only 2/3 the cost of the WDE--leaving $34 million left over for other multi-modal transportation projects (assuming you were trying to match the cost of the WDE, of course). A bargain!

Now, I'm not going to the City Council with my Underwood and Overhill Expressway idea yet (it could use some fleshing out and the cost estimates are a bit, um, back of the envelope, let's say), but the Omaha metropolitan area has clearly found funding for transportation and infrastructure projects it deems worthy in the past, and chances are that trend will continue. Omaha has made significant strides in encouraging bicycle and pedestrian traffic with its trails system, the 20-mile bike lane plan, and some great new plans currently in development. Now's the time to come together to think big and creatively on what we want Omaha to be and how transportation and infrastructure help make that possible. Now's our chance to make Omaha a more livable community.

A few links:
http://passthepotatoes.com/
http://rallyomaha.ning.com/

And a link to a previous OmahaBikes blog entry with a longer link list:
http://bikeomaha.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-is-omaha-bikes-reading.html

Advocacy Alert: Public Meeting for Keystone Connector Trail

One of the most frequently asked questions we get at Activate Omaha about the trail system: "When will the connector linking the Keystone to the Field Club Trail be done?"

Check out this article in Sunday's OWH to see the latest update regarding neighbor's concerns about the re-route of the connector that has been proposed. Also note that there will be a public meeting that will address these issues. Please plan to attend!

6:30 p.m. July 29 at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St

In the mean time, check out this article from AmericanTrails.org about studies done related to safety concerns and property values and public trails. A snipit on about the findings:

"Homeowners nationwide express the same concerns and fears about proposed trails in their neighborhoods. But studies in various parts of the United States seem to show that concerns about trails lowering property values and increasing crime are unfounded. In fact, trails have consistently been shown to increase (or have no effect on) property values, to have no measurable effect on public safety, and to have an overwhelming positive influence on the quality of life for trail neighbors as well as the larger community."

UPDATE: You can find more details and comments at this KETV online article (consider leaving comment if your so inclined). This overhead Google map may also help show you the area in question. I counted 7 high risk traffic crossings in the 1/2 mile section from 42nd to 36th if the proposed trail follows the sidewalk on the South side of D Street.

OmahaBIKES Monthly Meeting This Tuesday!

It's that time again! The next OmahaBikes monthly meeting will be on Tuesday, July 13 at 11am. We'll be gathering at the Courtyard by Marriott on S. 67th in Aksarben Village. (It is #3 on the map here.)

Bikes can be locked to the patio fence on the east (back) side of the building, or out front. The 15/55 MAT bus can get you to 67th & Center, just a short distance from the location.

OmahaBIKES meetings are open to the public.  So if you have an interest in the future of transportation cycling in Omaha we would love to have you there.

Support the Cause: Texting while driving law

We are preaching to the choir here when we talk about the dangers of distracted driving. I hope you will all consider attending the press conference detailed below. Please also note that AAA has a BOCC team (albeit a small one!) and our friend and OmahaBikes member, Chris Seitzer, is a part of it. Having a contingent of cyclists visible at this press conference is a strong message!

**

You are invited to attend a press conference announcing the details of Nebraska's new text messaging while driving law which beings next Thursday.

The press event will be held:
Tuesday, July 13, at 10 am
AAA Nebraska, 910 North 96 Street, Omaha, NE

If you plan to attend, please contact Rose White at RWhite(at)aaane(dot)com.

AAA will utilize its new driving simulator to demonstrate how texting severely compromises a driver's ability to scan the roadway, make quick decisions and safely interact in traffic.

Adams Park Trail Day Party!!!!

Join us for a family event!!!!

Saturday, June 26th at 12noon
Adams Park
(3230 John A Creighton Blvd)

Celebrate with us the opening of a new hiking/biking trail!!! Bring your kids, bikes and helmets or try our demos!!! Snacks and drinks will be provided!!

This is an organized event sponsored by Activate Omaha, THOR, YMCA, City of Omaha, National Parks Service, and the North Omaha Development Project.

The 15-year report, unlike its two predecessors, examines a range of efforts to increase bicycling and walking in the United States. Programs at the Federal, State, and local levels are included, as well as case studies on best practices. Finally, the report makes recommendations for research, policy, and other measures that can be taken to meet the goals of the original study.

Federal Safe Routes Program Under Attack	Take Action!
Urge Your Representative to Support Safe Routes To Schools
House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) has targeted the federal Safe Routes to School program established under the 2005 Federal Surface Transportation Bill (SAFETEA-LU) as wasteful government spending in his weekly "YouCut program". Each week representative Cantor asks people to vote for which of five options they would cut from the federal budget. Republicans then hold a floor vote in the House of Representatives to try to eliminate the program that gets the most votes. This week, the federal Safe Routes to School program is one of Rep. Cantor's targets. He argues that SRTS duplicates other bicycling and walking programs, and that bicycling and walking infrastructure is a local government responsibility. We need your help making sure that Members of Congress understand the value of Safe Routes to School and support it. Please take a few minutes to send a message to your Member of Congress to ask them to vote against any effort to cut Safe Routes to School. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

OmahaBIKES Monthly Meeting This Tuesday!

It's that time again! The next OmahaBikes monthly meeting will be on Tuesday, June 8 at 11am. We'll be gathering at the Courtyard by Marriott on S. 67th in Aksarben Village. (It is #3 on the map here.) Note: no call in available for this meeting; once we get the lay of the land at the new location, we will figure out how best to provide this for the future.

Bikes can be locked to the patio fence on the east (back) side of the building, or out front. The 15/55 MAT bus can get you to 67th & Center, just a short distance from the location.

OmahaBIKES meetings are open to the public.  So if you have an interest in the future of transportation cycling in Omaha we would love to have you there.

Mayor Suttle is a Bike Commuter

This year, Mayor Suttle joined us for the Mayor's Ride.  If you couldn't make it to the ride, here is a helmet camera view of the ride.  Make sure you join us for this event next year if you didn't ride this year.  Hopefully, the 2011 Mayor's Ride will be a bit earlier so that more people can participate.

Two Mayors on Two Wheels

Last Friday morning was the Mayors Ride, which is the kick off event for Bike to Work Week.  Omaha Bikes was on hand for the ride.  We have some footage of the actual ride along with this video of the proclamation by Mayors Suttle and Hanafan.

VOICE Petition for Better Transportation Planning in Omaha

Omaha's pattern of development has hampered attempts to create a system of transportation that supports mass transit and travel by bicycle or foot. The sprawl forces most people into cars for all their travel, weakening our communities, damaging our health and the environment, and draining our city's budget. We need to change this.

VOICE is a non-partisan group dedicated to creating a more inclusive, just, transparent, sustainable, and culturally vibrant Omaha by actively supporting leaders, policies, and projects that advance this vision.

The organization has created a petition calling for smarter land use and transportation planning in our city. I hope you will take a look at it and add you name to the list of those calling for a better Omaha. We need to make sure our voice is heard as Omaha creates its new transportation master plan.

Thank you to all the people who attended the Governor’s Proclamation Signing for Bike Month and Bike to Work Week. There were 15 individuals representing Omaha, Lincoln and several local and state advocacy groups promoting biking in Nebraska. It was a tremendous turnout and we hope to continue to build momentum for multi-modal transportation in the state. To view who attended please click here.

Here is the proclamation that was signed:

Bike Month Proclamation

Nebraska Bicycle Month, May 2010

WHEREAS, for more than a century, the bicycle has been an important part of the lives of many Americans, and today residents of all ages throughout Nebraska engage in bicycling for transportation, recreation, physical activity, environmental preservation, and fun; and

WHEREAS, increased bicycle usage will promote health and wellness in Nebraska and is an important part of encouraging all citizens to develop habits of physical activity to become or stay fit, avoid overweight and obesity, and reduce the risk of many chronic diseases and conditions; and

WHEREAS, increased bicycle usage will promote the development of livable communities and foster policy changes at all levels to incorporate Complete Streets that provide the opportunity for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers to share the road; and

WHEREAS, the education of cyclists and motorists about the proper and safe operation of bicycles is important to ensure the safety and comfort of all users; and

WHEREAS, bicycling offers a unique perspective from which residents and visitors may discover Nebraska’s natural beauty, history, and culture; and

WHEREAS, Nebraska’s vast network of scenic rural roads, multi-use and rail corridor trail systems, and pleasant weather conditions make the Cornhusker state a favorite destination for bicycling enthusiasts; and

WHEREAS, May is Bike Month and Bike to Work Week is May 17 through the 21 and provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the many benefits of bicycling, to promote bicycle safety, and to encourage bike riding through organized events such as Bike-to-Work events, club rides, family rides, and bike rodeos for children;

Thanks again for your efforts, passion, and energy!

Brian Coyle, Michelle Stryker, and Tim Montgomery

Department of Roads Survey

As you may be aware, NDOR is conducting a survey for the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

Here's a link to the survey. Stop complaining and take action! Speak up!

OmahaBikes Meeting Tuesday

It's that time again! The next OmahaBikes monthly meeting will be on Tuesday, April 13 at 11am. We'll be gathering at our new meeting location, the Courtyard by Marriott on S. 67th in Aksarben Village. (It is #3 on the map here.) Note: no call in available for this meeting; once we get the lay of the land at the new location, we will figure out how best to provide this for the future.

Bikes can be locked to the patio fence on the east (back) side of the building, or out front. The 15/55 MAT bus can get you to 67th & Center, just a short distance from the location.

For those who would like a bonus opportunity on Tuesday, please consider attending the EnvironmentOmaha event:

What suggestions do you have for making Omaha a more active, safe and healthy community? Bring your opinions to South Omaha Tuesday, April 13, for a public meeting on community health. The event, which serves as the kickoff of Environment Omaha’s community health component – the last of five content areas, will be held from 6:30 to 8:00pm in the South Ballroom of the Livestock Exchange Building, 4920 S. 30th St.

If there is interest, I would like to organize a ride down to the event - start at Midtown Crossing and head south via Turner Blvd, Field Club Trail, and advice from the bicycle commuter map. Heck, we could add food to the agenda if someone wanted to grab a bite to eat before we roll out.
Respond here if you are interested, and we'll get the plan put together.

Adams Park Update

It was a great day at Adams Park. The IMBA Trail Care Crew of Steve and Morgan did a great clinic for us this morning on how to build sustainable trails, and we got to put our skills to work in the afternoon working on a beginner single track. This project was especially sweet for the Activate Omaha crew, as we often don't get to see the fruits of our labor in such an immediate fashion!! It was amazing how much work got done in 2-3 hours.

The cycling community in Omaha is just awesome. We are so thankful for our growing family of friends/advocates that are collaborating to make Omaha more bike friendly every day.

Handlebar Happy Hour - TONIGHT

The next Omaha Bikes Handlebar Happy Hour is tonight at the Liv Lounge in Aksarban Village.  You can find all the details HERE.  Hope to see you there!

Dear Member of the Omaha Metro Active Transportation Community

Many of you have noticed that almost no new trails have been opened on the Nebraska side of the metro area for a long time. Many major trail projects are designed and fully funded, including the West Douglas County Trail from Waterloo to Valley, a major part of the Riverfront Trail, the western end of the East-West Trail that will connect the Keystone and Field Club Trails, and Papillion’s 72nd Street Trail. These are very important projects for our active transportation community and would also create millions of dollars of new construction activity. Yet nothing seems to be happening. Why?

We have discovered several reasons that are causing these key projects to grind to a halt:
1. The state Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) office has found that the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR), who administers these funds, was in noncompliance with various regulations and procedures on some (non-trail) projects. Therefore, every project in the pipeline is being forced to go back to square one in the process.

2. At the state division of the FHWA, projects are encountering reviews and processing delays that seem unnecessary. Traffic signal installations and minor resurfacing projects must study their effect on endangered species, for example, and trails are treated like major highway projects. Short documents that should be reviewed and approved quickly are taking months because of drafts, reviews, and redrafts.

3. Stimulus projects are moving to the front of the line ahead of trails and other projects that have been funded for years and are ready to go, causing more delays.

4. Government agencies don’t seem to be communicating well. Rules and standards seem to change and procedural issues do not seem to be getting fixed.

What’s the result? Projects that we have been working on and anticipating for years now seem to be facing delays of up to FIVE YEARS! We know that people think they’re doing their jobs. But most of us would like to see these projects built before we’re too old to use them. Also, moving paper and having meetings does not stimulate the economy, create jobs, improve health, or promote sustainable transportation. We as a community must take some action. Therefore, we ask you to email, write, and/or phone any or all of the following people to express your opinion about these issues:

• President Barack Obama  www.whitehouse.gov/contact
• Senator Ben Nelson   www.bennelson.senate.gov
• Senator Mike Johanns   http://johanns.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailSenatorJohanns
• Representative Lee Terry   www.leeterry.house.gov
• Governor Dave Heinemann   www.governor.nebraska.gov/mail/govmail.html
• Nebraska Department of Roads Director Monty Frederickson monty.fredrickson@nebraska.gov
• Joseph Werning, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administrator, Nebraska Division   Joseph.Werning@dot.gov
• Mayor Jim Suttle    www.cityofomaha.org/mayor/mayors-office-home 

Sample Letter

Dear (President Obama, Senator Nelson, Senator Johanns, Representative Terry, Governor Heinemann, Mr. Frederickson, Mr. Werning, Mayor Suttle)

I am a member of the Omaha, Nebraska metropolitan community who is vitally interested in trail development, sustainable transportation, and the physical health and vitality of our metropolitan area and its citizens. In our area, we have millions of dollars of trails projects that are funded, designed, and ready to build, yet are not moving forward. These projects will improve our area’s facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists, improve community wellness, and put hundreds of people to work during their construction. Yet, they are being delayed for an indeterminate time because the Federal Highway Administration found the Nebraska Department of Roads to be in noncompliance with various regulations and procedures. This is causing worthy, ready-to-build projects to go back to the beginning of the review process and is blocking efforts to build a healthier, more sustainable community.

I am not an expert on these issues and certainly do not want to cast blame on anyone. I simply would like to see federal and state agencies work together to resolve their issues so these important transportation projects can move forward. I do ask that you do everything in your power to help these agencies resolve their issues and work as partners to expedite these vital trail projects. The health and quality of our metropolitan area depends on it.

Sincerely yours,

(Your Name)

DOT Puts Bike, Pedestrian Projects on Par with Roads, Transit

Here's a happy bit of news from the Department of Transportation that's getting circulated around Omaha's planning department:

"The Obama administration officially announced a "complete streets" policy today that puts bicycle and pedestrian projects on equal footing with road and transit work.

"Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has previously hyped the need for transportation planners to incorporate sidewalks and bike facilities into their transportation planning, but today's policy statement officially puts that stance on the books."

Follow the link below for the whole story from Mass Transit Magazine:

http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=10991

or straight from the DOT:

http://www.fha.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/policy_accom.html

Making changes from the top

Just about any advocate can tell you, that one of the most difficult things about trying to change a system, is that the people that can make that change are often not listening to you. That doesn't mean they wont listen, but until the "squeaky wheel" get's loud enough to become annoying, it can be hard to get their attention.

Last week was the National Bike Summit. You can see that Omaha Bikes was pretty busy posting last week as a result. The general feeling I get from the coverage of the summit, is that the "squeaky wheel" is starting to get some attention. In fact, even the people at the top are starting to take notice and listen to the army of advocates in the US that have been pushing for a more balanced transportation system for so many years.

Looks like somebody is listening and there may an “end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized” in sight.  Now it's your turn to make some noise.

People for Bikes

Check out this great video for the new People For Bikes campaign from Bikes Belong. No membership, no donation, just a pledge. See more at peopleforbikes.org.