City council adds money to capital projects for Omaha's protected bike lane, future plans
August 18, 2021
Excerpt
OMAHA, Neb. (FOX 42 KPTM) — Omaha's city council approved Mayor Jean Stothert's 2022 budget Tuesday, but there were a few changes.
Increase for Community Alliance's Family Education Services for $90,000
Increase for Keep Omaha Beautiful for $15,000
Increase for Small Business Facilitator Consultant for $40,000
Increase for a website consultant for $15,000
Increase for Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and Education for $40,000
Increase for North Saddle Creek Business District Improvements such as parking, a pedestrian bridge over Northwest Radial Highway, and other public infrastructure for $300,000 from transportation bonds and $1.5 million from "other local assistance"
Increase for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan for $1.25 million in transportation bonds for 2023 through 2027
Increase for Harney Street Protected Bikeway for $500,000 funded from transportation bonds and $2.5 million from other local assistance for 2023
The last two caught the attention of bike advocates around Omaha, especially after they raised their voices during the budget's first public pass.
Omaha's city council voted 4-2 for both the funds for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and the added funds for the Harney Street Protected Bikeway.
Local bike advocates say the funds for the project are a long time coming.
“We need to really just put these things toward the forefront. So that’s a lot of times we say shift your thinking, Because yes, it is all about funding and maintenance and all that but it really needs to just come down to the way we are looking at ways to get around Omaha,” said Sarah Johnson, founder of ModeShift, an active transportation advocacy group based in Omaha.
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