Download - Car Free Omaha
Car-Free Omaha
Metropolitan Community College Green Living Workshop Series
Car-Free Omaha
OverviewThink of the cities you like to visit – Minneapolis, Denver, Portland,
San Francisco, Chicago
Car-Free Omaha
Planning ConcernsTransportation planning in the
U.S. has focused on moving cars rather than moving people
COMPONENTS OF AN URBAN STREETSCAPE
Vehicle Zone
Multiple Modes and Local Access
Land Use Context and Zoning
Place-making and Pedestrian Facilities
“Vehicle Mobility Priority”
Access vs. Mobility
Car-Free Omaha
Planning Concerns27% of all trips taken by
automobile in the U.S. are less than one mile in distance
Sparse Hierarchy System
Dense Grid Network
Network Design
4-lane arterial @ 45mph = 2400 vphTwo 2-lane streets @ 30mph = 3600 vph
Network Capacity
Sparse Hierarchy System Dense Grid Network
High Connectivity Travel Lanes Required
Moderate Connectivity
Low Connectivity
Manage Capacity Through Continual
Widening of Arterials
Sparse Hierarchy System
Dense Grid Network
Manage Capacity by Providing Multiple Routes
and Modes
Network Capacity
Induced traffic and perpetual widening
Safety vs. Livability
E. Dumbaugh, The Design of Safe Urban Roadsides: An Empirical Analysis, 2007
E. Dumbaugh, The Design of Safe Urban Roadsides: An Empirical Analysis, 2007
Car-Free Omaha
Health ConcernsThe National Morbidity,
Mortality, and Air Pollution Study estimates as many as 52,000
deaths are caused by air pollution each year – Omaha’s share would be 353 deaths per
year
Car-Free Omaha
Health Concerns More people in the U.S. die each year from air pollution than from
firearms, STDs, and illegal drug use combined
Health Concerns Per capita vehicle miles traveled
(VMT) in the U.S. is almost 10 times larger than in 1950
Car-Free Omaha
Vehicular Mobility Priority
Car-Free Omaha
Health Concerns Living in car-dependent
neighborhoods reduces life expectancy by 4 years
Car-Free Omaha
Health Concerns Each hour spent driving each day
corresponds to a 6% increased risk for obesity
Car-Free Omaha
Health Concerns Statistically speaking, the most dangerous activity a parent can do with their child is drive them
someplace
Car-Free Omaha
Social Concerns The disabled, poor, and elderly have difficulty participating in
society because of the requirement to drive, and preference given to drivers
Vehicular Mobility Priority
Car-Free Omaha
Financial ConcernsCar-dependent neighborhoods
are expensive to build and maintain
Car-Free Omaha
Financial ConcernsCar-dependent neighborhoods on average cost cities $1.16 for
every $1 in tax revenue they generate
Car-Free Omaha
Financial ConcernsOf the 180 street and highway
improvements identified by MAPA that need to occur by
2030, less than 10 are in Omaha, east of 72nd Street
Car-Free Omaha
Financial ConcernsIn 2002, Omaha spent $179 per
person on road construction and maintenance – compared to $29.52 per person on public
transit
144th and W. Center 156th and Maple
76th and Cass 84th and W. Center
8 lanes = 100 ft of pavement
Vehicular Mobility Priority
Car-Free Omaha
Financial Concerns“Free” parking costs $5 per day,
per driver – costs that are passed down to everyone
Car-Free Omaha
The Solution:Livable Streets
Livable NeighborhoodsLivable Omaha
Car-Free Omaha
Maximum number of cars on a street = capacity
Distribution of people served by these cars
Same number of people on a bus Same number of people on a pedestrian and bicycle friendly
street
1 2
3 4
Car-Free Omaha
Financial SolutionsFor every $1 invested in public
transportation, $5 is generated in economic returns
Financial SolutionsSpending on transit generates more jobs than spending on
highways
Car-Free Omaha
Financial SolutionsHouseholds can save as much as
$8,000 per year by living with one less car
Car-Free Omaha
Health SolutionsAmericans who ride mass transit
walk an average of 19 minutes per day (compared to 6 minutes
per day by car drivers)
Car-Free Omaha
Health SolutionsResidents of “transit intensive” neighborhoods exercise more
often, have longer life expectancies, and are healthier than residents of car-dependent
neighborhoods
Car-Free Omaha
Social Solutions 83% of the elderly say public
transit provides easy access to things needed for everyday life
Car-Free Omaha
Social SolutionsA 2009 survey showed that 92% of Young Professionals in Omaha
want improved public transportation options
Car-Free Omaha
The Solution:Make streets “public” space
once again
Car-Free Omaha
Which would you prefer?
Car-Free Omaha
E14th Corridor - San Leandro, CA Source: Community, Design + Architecture
E14th Corridor - San Leandro, CA Source: Community, Design + Architecture
E14th Corridor - San Leandro, CA Source: Community, Design + Architecture
Dover Kohl and PartnersJohnson City, Tennessee
COMPONENTS OF AN URBAN STREETSCAPE
Dover Kohl and Partners
COMPONENTS OF AN URBAN STREETSCAPE
Johnson City, Tennessee
Dover Kohl and Partners
COMPONENTS OF AN URBAN STREETSCAPE
Johnson City, Tennessee
Dover Kohl and Partners
COMPONENTS OF AN URBAN STREETSCAPE
Johnson City, Tennessee
What’s going on nationally?Young adults, ages 21-30 now
only account for 14% of all miles driven, down from 21% in 1995
Car-Free Omaha
What’s going on in Omaha?Feedback stage for MAPA’s 5-
year plan
Car-Free Omaha
What’s going on in Omaha?Metro (MAT) improvements – 32 new buses, WiFi (soon) at transit centers, bike racks on ALL buses
Car-Free Omaha
What’s going on in Omaha?Newly hired Bicycle/Pedestrian
Coordinator for the City of Omaha
Car-Free Omaha
What’s going on in Omaha?New 20-mile Midtown bike loop, connecting Benson, Dundee, &
UNO with Keystone, Downtown, & Midtown
Car-Free Omaha
What’s going on in Omaha?Upcoming 30-year transportation
plan by the City Planning Department
Car-Free Omaha
What’s going on in Omaha?Active efforts by Omaha By
Design, Activate Omaha, Young Professionals Council, and others to rethink transportation in the
city
Car-Free Omaha
Car-Free Omaha
Metropolitan Community College Green Living Workshop Series