Omaha Streetcar

Omaha's Streetcar project is will deliver the first modern streetcar route through the heart  of the city’s downtown. The three-mile alignment (5.5 track miles) extends  from the Omaha Riverfront south to the Old Market, then west to approximately 42nd Street, with 16 proposed stations along the route. The Omaha Streetcar will connect key destinations including Downtown, Midtown, the Blackstone District, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC).  

Need 

Omaha's urban core requires reinvestment to support continued growth, and the Omaha Streetcar is essential to a high-functioning urban core. By improving mobility and strengthening connections between the urban core and surrounding neighborhoods, the streetcar supports Omaha's Urban Core Strategic Plan vision for economic development and an enhanced quality of life across the region.  

The project will reinforce the area's historic role as the region's cultural, entertainment, residential, and employment center, supporting long-term job and housing development and establishing a foundation for future transit expansion and rail development. 

Work 

The full scope of construction work includes: 

• 16 proposed stations featuring canopies for weather protection, seating, and passenger amenities 
• Public street improvements 
• Embedded track and guideway construction within urban setting 
• At-grade, level boarding stops 
• Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) construction 
• Utility improvements and relocations 
• Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) to preserve vehicle and pedestrian access during construction 
• Traction power system (TPS) construction  

Impact 

Residents and visitors will be able to explore new areas of Omaha’s urban core through short, fare-free streetcar trips. In conjunction with existing bus routes and pedestrian corridors, the Project will strengthen connectivity and support revitalization efforts by increasing community engagement, generating revenue for affordable housing, and reducing traffic congestion, vehicle reliance, and parking demand, with minimized environmental impacts.  

When complete, the Omaha Streetcar will fundamentally change how people move through and connect with the urban core. Residents and visitors will be able to explore Omaha's most vibrant neighborhoods through short, fare-free trips, linking Downtown, Midtown, the Blackstone District, and UNMC in a way no existing transit option does today. 

The project's impact extends well beyond mobility. In conjunction with existing bus routes and pedestrian corridors, the streetcar will strengthen connectivity across the urban core and surrounding neighborhoods, supporting revitalization efforts that include increased community engagement, new revenue streams for affordable housing, and reduced traffic congestion, vehicle reliance, and parking demand. 

By reinforcing the urban core's role as Omaha's cultural, entertainment, residential, and employment center, the streetcar lays a foundation for long-term job and housing development and positions the city for future transit expansion and rail investment.