Omaha-Council Bluffs Metro Beltway Feasibility Study

Study Findings

To determine the need for and feasibility of an outer loop freeway

AND

Determine if land use patterns or other transportation network options alter the answer

Study Purpose

Study Approach

Three major areas of focus:TransportationLand UseEconomics

Study Framework

Based upon general policies and goals of the metro area

Evaluates shifts in these, but not radical changes

Trends are not ignored, but are put in context with our region

2004 High Volume or Free Flow Corridors

2030 Long Range Transportation Plan

2035 High Volume or Free Flow Corridors

Is there a problem?

How is our system currently performing?

How will it perform in the future?

Will we be able to enjoy the standard of mobility for which we are accustomed?

How do we compare?

2035 Over Capacity Links With Long Range Plan Built

2035 High Volume Corridors Over Capacity

What does this mean in numbers?

By 2030, even with 2030 LRTP built:

Miles of congested roads will increase 190%Congested freeway miles will increase 260%

A 20 minute average trip will take 25 minutes.– If you make 6 trips per day you will be spend 30 minutes

more per day in your vehicle

What does this mean in dollars?

The annual additional direct impact to a household will grow to $727 per year by 2035

That is nearly $300 million per year by 2035

What are the options?

Supply side – build more capacityDemand side – change development policies, change how we travel

Or do some of each?

Supply Side - Transportation Network Alternatives Evaluated

Long Range Transportation PlanOuter BeltwayInner BeltwayRadialsSuper ArterialsTransit

Beltway Alternatives

Radial Freeways

Super Arterials

Enhanced Transit System

Transit Details

Assumptions– 5% ridership (0.5% today)– Difficult to achieve with current land use policy– Assumed light rail necessary to achieve this level

Comparisons:– Portland 7.6%– Kansas City 1.3%– New York City 11%– Europe 8%

Note: Transit scenario includes LRTP improvements

Summary of Transportation Alternatives

Delay Reduction (%)

Congestion Reduction (%)

Approx. Cost (mil)

2030 LRTP - - $3,200Outer Beltway 8.1 9.8 $1,400 *Inner Beltway 7.2 13.7 $750 *

Radials 1.2 3.5 $660 *Super

Arterials 10.0 22.5 $1,400 *

Light Rail Transit 18.6 26.3 $2,500 *

*Alternative costs are in addition to the 2030 LRTP Base costs

Demand Side - Alternative Land Uses

Base Scenario – Current forecast based upon Comprehensive Plans

Targeted Density– Densify at nodes

Transit Oriented Development– Densify along transit lines

Sprawl– Low density in future growth areas

Future Base (2035)

Targeted Density/Infill

Targeted Density/Infill

Aksarben Village

Midtown Crossing at Turner Park

Transit Oriented Development

Transit Oriented Design

Sprawl

Analysis Matrix

Land Use Summary

Targeted Density provided more relief than the Base land use under each transportation alternative– Reduced delay & lane-miles over capacity an additional 3%

Transit oriented land use would provide further benefit under the transit alternative– Reduced delay & lane-miles over capacity an additional 6%

Sprawl land use created further traffic congestion– Increased delay & lane-miles over capacity 10%

How do we sort it out?

Transportation analysis…

Land use analysis…

Economic analysis– Look at this from a dollars perspective– Brings the issues into a common monetary

comparison

Economic Analysis

Benefit-Cost Analysis– Positive effects = benefits– Negative effects = costs

Transportation Benefits– Travel time savings– Vehicle operating cost savings– Accident savings– Emission savings

Economic Analysis

Economic Analysis

Economic Analysis

Economic Analysis

Economic Analysis

How do we afford this?

Are you paying anyway? Consider this:

$727 increase per household per year – to the avg household = 60 cents / gallonIf something built this $727 would drop on average to $600 to $620Difference is the equivalent of 9 cents / gallon9 cents per gallon in metro area = $43 million /yrThis equates to a $650 million bond issue

Summary - What we know

Underserved by Freeways / High Speed CorridorsMetro Areas of our projected size have beltwaysAdditional Direct Transportation User costs by 2035 will approach $300 million annually or over $700 / householdTo reasonably maintain our current level of mobility into the future, something needs done above and beyond our current plans

Summary - What we learned

Land Use / Urban Design mattersTransit has a place – substantial ridership increases, yield substantial returns A new Beltway has a role in the transportation system

Conclusions

The study concludes an inner beltway facility has a role in the future Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area transportation system

Inner Beltway in Context of Land Use

Conclusions

The study concludes an inner beltway facility has a role in the future Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area transportation system

Land Use Policies should be further enhanced to stress infill and targeted density / mixed use – vital for reasons beyond transportation

A comprehensive transit study needs conducted to outline the approach and cost to significantly raise our transit ridership levels

Omaha-Council Bluffs Metro Beltway Feasibility Study

Study Findings - Q & A