OMAHA BY DESIGN :: ENVIRONMENT OMAHA

Informational Open House on Urban Form & Transportation April 30

How can Omaha improve the sustainability of its physical layout and design, including its transportation options?

The City of Omaha and Omaha by Design are seeking the public’s input on this issue at a free information open house Thursday, April 30. The event will be held at the Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St., from 6:30 to 8:00pm.

On Nov. 6, city officials and Omaha by Design launched Environment Omaha, a multi-year initiative that will result in the creation of an Environmental Element for the city’s master plan. Environment Omaha is addressing five major content areas – the natural environment, urban form & transportation, building construction, resource conservation and community health.

The April 30 open house is an opportunity for the public to learn more about the initiative and share their thoughts on what should be included in its urban form & transportation content area, said Connie Spellman, director of Omaha by Design.

The evening will kick off with a presentation by Mark Fuhrmann, deputy general manager of Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Fuhrmann is the project director of the Northstar commuter rail project, Minnesota’s first commuter rail service. He also serves as project director for the Central Corridor light-rail project, which will connect downtown St. Paul with
downtown Minneapolis via the state capitol and the University of Minnesota.

Fuhrmann’s presentation will be followed by a brief overview of issues associated with urban form & transportation and an information open house. An information station for each of the urban form & transportation components will be set up. Members of the Urban Form & Transportation Advisory Committee and city staff will be available at each station to answer questions and record comments.

Funding for the initiative, which is receiving significant city staff and resource support, is provided by grants from the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency and the City of Omaha’s Stormwater Management Plan Program Grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

Those who attend the meeting are encouraged to walk, cycle, carpool or take the bus. Metro Area Transit Routes 15, 18 and 55 pick up and drop off five blocks north of the Durham at 10th and Farnam. For more information on the bus schedule, visit www.metroareatransit.org.

For more information about the open house, visit www.environmentomaha.com or contact Omaha by Design at 402.554.4010 or info@omahabydesign.org