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Four trail projects and free fares for the launch of Omaha’s Rapid Bus Transit line (ORBT) are among the new projects being considered for two types of federal transportation funding allocated by the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA).  All seven projects involved are part of MAPA’s Draft FY2021-FY2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

MAPA’s Board of Directors voted to send the Draft FY2021-FY2026 TIP out for public comment at its monthly meeting May 28, 2020.

The TIP is a six-year document, updated annually, that states which transportation projects plan to be constructed.  It includes projects such as highway maintenance and expansion, bicycle and pedestrian trail work, Metro Transit projects, and aviation projects.

Some of the funding involved comes from MAPA’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Heartland 2050 Mini-Grant Program. Projects in the Heartland 2050 Mini-Grant Program align with the goals of the Heartland 2050 Regional Vision and Action Plan.

Projects receiving Surface Transportation Block Grant funding under the Heartland 2050 mini-grant program are:

• City of Omaha Southside Terrace-Indian Hills Neighborhood Multi-Modal Transportation Study ($96,000) – analysis of transportation elements and prioritization of neighborhood connections as part of a revitalization project.
• Metro Transit Free Fares for the Omaha Rapid Bus Transit (ORBT) Launch ($146,307) – no fares on ORBT for its first four months of operation.
• Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Neighborhood Expanded Access to Trails ($120,000) – Work to determine if it’s feasible to move ahead to design and construction for trail connections identified previously.

Projects receiving TAP funding include:

• City of LaVista Thompson Creek Trail ($1,456,000) – a 0.9 mile 10-foot wide trail connecting the Keystone Trail with LaVista’s Central Park.
• City of Omaha North Downtown Riverfront Pedestrian Bridge ($800,000) – additional funding for a project selected previously.
• City of Papillion Schram Spur N-370 Undercrossing & Trail Segment ($1,904,079) – a grade-separated undercrossing for an existing trail at Highway 370 near Schram Creek.
• City of Council Bluffs 1^st Avenue Multi-Use Trail Improvements ($778,592) – a 1.8 mile trail along 1^st Avenue from South16th Street to South 35^th Street.

The TIP public comment period runs from May 28, 2020 to June 24, 2020.  View the FY2021-FY2026 TIP at mapacog.org/projects/tip/.

Written comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. June 24, 2020 via email to mapa@mapacog.org or U.S. mail:  MAPA, 2222 Cuming St., Omaha, NE 68102.

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