SARPY COUNTY I-80

Sarpy County has been growing rapidly in the last decade, and continues to grow at a rapid pace. Nearly $20M in roadway improvements have been recently completed north of the study area to develop a new roadway system in a 9-square mile area, and more improvements are planned. Gravel roads in the Study Area are being paved as new development occurs. Projects coming out of this study should complement and accommodate these existing and planned improvements.

Growth in the Study Area will accelerate as the new Sarpy County Wastewater Agency expands new sewer infrastructure across its service areas over time. New urban growth areas may be added as new developments are proposed and funds additional improvements. New access to the Interstate may focus development in the immediate area of an interchange, so any projects coming out of this study should be evaluated for how well they encourage the appropriate growth and encourage vitality in line with the plans by the Wastewater Agency. Furthermore, they should be evaluated for how well they contribute to a sense of place in keeping with the Cities’ comprehensive plans.

There are numerous resources in the Study Area that may be impacted by a new access to the interstate, including streams, floodplains, historic resources, prime farmland, residential homes, commercial businesses, utilities, and more. Minimizing impacts to property owners and these resources should be a priority, and projects coming out of this study should be sensitive to them.

With new development already occurring, there is a growing need to plan for future multi-modal connectivity in the Study Area. With plans in place for future transit corridors, any projects coming out of this study should be evaluated for their ability to accommodate these future plans, and provide for connections to trails and recreational features, transit routes, and possibly inter-city routes (i.e. between Omaha and Lincoln, and between Sarpy County and Omaha).