Copyright omaha

The Omaha streetcar project is forcing businesses to bear costs that should belong to all of us.
 Paul McGreal
 CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96C6256C]4@>^a_ad^_g^ad^325\D665\4@7766\@H?6CD\D2J\DEC66E42C\4@?DECF4E:@?\A2CE:2==J\E@\3=2>6\7@C\4=@DFC6^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?6 !=2?ED 7246D 2 k2 E:E=6lQ~>292 3FD:?6DD @H?6CD 4@?7C@?E |2J@C tH:?8 @? DEC66E42C 7CFDEC2E:@?D 2E E@H? 92==Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@>292]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^3a27ffdh\a`bf\cec3\g`_c\g343dd63_3e6^QmedT D2=6D 564=:?6k^2m 2?5 :D C6=@42E:?8] k^Am
kAm%96D6 2C6 ?@E :D@=2E65 D6E324 36?67:ED 7C@> E96 Scdh >:==:@? AC@;64E[ E96JVG6 :8?@C65 H96E96C E96 u:7E9 p>6?5>6?E C6BF:C6D 4@>A6?D2E:@? 7@C 3FD:?6DD6D 67764E:G6=J D9FE 5@H? 3J 8@G6C?>6?E 24E:@?]k^Am
kAm%9:D C2:D6D 2 BF6DE:@? >J 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= =2H DEF56?ED >:89E C64@8?:K6i (96? 5@6D D6G6C6 5:DCFAE:@? 364@>6 2 “E2A6?D2E:@?nk^Am
kAm%96 u:7E9 p>6?5>6?E D2JD AC:G2E6 AC@A6CEJ D92== ?@E “36 E2A6?D2E:@?]” |@DE A6@A=6 E9:?2:?[ H96? E96 8@G6C?>6?E D6:K6D =2?5 E@ 3F:=5 D@>6E9:?8 =:6 r@FCE 92D =@?8 C64@8?:K65 E92E 8@G6C?>6?E 42? 2=D@ QE22= 4@?56>?2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%@ F?56CDE2?5 9@H E9:D 2AA=:6D E@ ~>292VD DEC66E42C 5:DCFAE:@?[ 4@?D:56C 2 5@4EC:?6 6G6CJ AC@A6CEJ =2H DEF56?E =62C?Di 4@?DECF4E:G6 6G:4E:@?] %9:D =682= AC:?4:A=6 9@=5D =2?5=@C5D =:23=6 H96? E96J >2:D6D D@ F?FD23=6 E92E E6?2?ED 42??@E 762D:3=J @A6C2E6[ 6G6? H:E9@FE 7@C>2= 6G:4E:@?] x7 2 AC:G2E6 =2?5=@C5 3=@4@?E9D[ E96 E6?2?E 42? E6C>:?2E6 E96 =62D6 2?5 DF6 7@C 52>286D] %96 =2?5=@C5 92D :?E6C76C65 H:E9 H92E E96 =2H 42==D E96 QFD6 2?5 6?;@J>6?EQ @7 E96 AC@A6CEJ]k^Am
kAm%96 A2C2==6= E@ DEC66E42C 4@?DECF4E:@? :D DEC:@?E9D[ 6=:>:?2E:?8 4FDE@>6C 2446DD E@ q25 $665 r@7766[ E92E’D 7F?4E:@?2==J :56?E:42= E@ 2 =2?5=@C5 3=@46?E C6D6>3=6D H92E 4@FCED 42== 4@?DECF4E:G6 6G:4E:@?]k^Am
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts
kAm%9:? C6249:?8 2 3FD:?6DD[ E92E =2?5=@C5 H@F=5 7246 =:23:=:EJ] qFE H96? E96 8@G6C?>6?E 5@6D 6I24E=J E96 D2>6 E9:?8 — 2?5 7@C 72C =@?86C — 3FD:?6DD6D >FDE AFE FA H:E9 :E]k^Am
kAm%96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 4@?D:56CD E9C66 724E@CD H96? 56E6C>:?:?8 :7 8@G6C?>6?E 24E:@? :D 2 E2:4 :>A24E[ :?E6C76C6?46 H:E9 :?G6DE>6?E\3246?E 24E:@?] ~>292VD DEC66E42C 4@?DECF4E:@? 72:=D 2== E9C66]k^Am
kAmu:CDE[ E96 64@?@>:4 :>A24E :D 42E2DEC@A9:4] q25 $665 r@7766 =@DE 6?@F89 C6G6?F6 E@ 4=@D6 A6C>2?6?E=J] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:?DE28C2>]4@>^A^s!`_z:\;Ih{^Qm}@56DE w@>6 !=2?ED :D C6=@42E:?8k^2m 27E6C 2 edT C6G6?F6 4@==2AD6] +6? r@7766’D D2=6D 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]b?6HD?@H]4@>^46?EC2=\@>292^5@H?E@H?\@>292\3FD:?6DD\DECF88=6D\2D\DEC66E42C\AC@;64E\7246D\F?6IA64E65\F?56C8C@F?5\@3DE24=6DQm“5C@AA65 D:8?:7:42?E=J]”k^2m %96D6 2C6?VE >:?@C :?4@?G6?:6?46D—E96JVC6 6I:DE6?E:2= =@DD6D 5:C64E=J 42FD65 3J 8@G6C?>6?E 24E:@? @G6C 2 >F=E:\J62C 4@?DECF4E:@? E:>6=:?6]k^Am
kAm%96 4:EJ 67764E:G6=J 25>:ED E9:D D6G6C:EJ] pE 2 C646?E E@H? 92==[ |2J@C y@9? tH:?8 24AjC7E0:5l:?7@TbpD:5^:?7@H63\?6HD32?]6F`]AC@IJ]@A6?2E96?D]?6EU2>AjDG4052El(~#{s}t($U2>AjC6B052Elrbbdfthg_`grc_a`qhhfhhhqdafs`aetU2>AjC7E0G2=07@C>2El:?7@Tbp@7:^7>ETbpEITbp4EIU2>AjC7E052El5@4F>6?E0:5Tbp:>286TadauGaTadbp`etchrefthhrucc_Tadc_p(}q\`pbrecfudddpuctaTadc_ace_hef\`pbrrarpegrhbb_eTadc_``\`pbrrarpegrhbb_eTadc_^9=E6C>DTbpTadaa325Tada_D665TadaaQm“42FD:?8 A2:? 7@C 3FD:?6DD @H?6CD”k^2m 2?5 E92E 3FD:?6DD6D ?665 96=A k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H@HE]4@>^a_ad^_h^`a^6I4=FD:G6\@>292\3FD:?6DD6D\9:E\92C5\3J\DEC66E42C\4@?DECF4E:@?\>2J@C\C6DA@?5D\H:E9\DFAA@CE^QmQE@ 86E E96> E9C@F89 E9:D A6C:@5 @7 E:>6]Qk^2m (9:=6 2 AC:G2E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]^2CE:4=6^5@?@C\8:G6D\`\>:==:@?\3FD:?6DD6D\:>A24E65\@>292\DEC66E42C\4@?DECF4E:@?^ee_gaf`gQm5@?@C DE6AA65 7@CH2C5 H:E9 S` >:==:@?k^2m H96? E96 4:EJ 5:5?VE 3F586E 7@C C6=:67[ E9:D 492C:EJ C62496D @?=J D@>6 3FD:?6DD6D :? D6=64E 2C62D[ H9:=6 @E96CD =:AjC7E0:5l:?7@TbpD:5^:?7@H63\?6HD32?]6F`]AC@IJ]@A6?2E96?D]?6EU2>AjDG4052El(~#{s}t($U2>AjC6B052Elrbbdfthg_`grc_a`qhhfhhhqdafs`aetU2>AjC7E0G2=07@C>2El:?7@Tbp@7:^7>ETbpEITbp4EIU2>AjC7E052El5@4F>6?E0:5Tbp:>286TadauGaTadbp`etchrefthhrucc_Tadc_p(}q\`pbrecfudddpuctaTadc_ace_hef\`pbrrarpegrhbb_eTadc_``\`pbrrarpegrhbb_eTadc_^9=E6C>DTbpTadaa325Tada_D665TadaaQm86@8C2A9:4 3@F?52C:6Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm$64@?5[ E96 :?G6DE>6?E\3246 r@FCE’D `hfg !6?? r6?EC2= 42D6[ H96C6 }6H *@C:DD:@? E@ 3F:=5 2? @77:46 E@H6C 2E@A vC2?5 r6?EC2= %6C>:?2=] %96 r@FCE CF=65 E9:D H2D?VE 2 E2:?2= 7@C :ED AC:>2CJ[ 9:DE@C:4 AFCA@D6 — 2D 2 C2:=C@25 DE2E:@? 86?6C2E:?8 :?4@>6 7C@> 4@?46DD:@?D 2?5 C6?E2=D]k^Am
kAm~>292VD 3FD:?6DD6D 7246 E96 @AA@D:E6 D:EF2E:@?] &?=:2CJ AFCA@D6 — D6CG:?8 4FDE@>6CD] %96J :?G6DE65 :? E96D6 =@42E:@?D DA64:7:42==J 7@C E96 2446DD:3:=:EJ[ A2C:?2E65]k^Am
kAm%9:C5[ E96 492C24E6C @7 E96 4:EJ’D 24E:@? :D A2CE:4F=2C=J EC@F3=:?8] %9:D :D?’E 2 86?6C2= C68F=2E:@? 27764E:?8 6G6CJ@?6 6BF2==J] %96 4:EJ E2C86E65 DA64:7:4 3=@4:?6?E 5@>2:? 2FE9@C:EJ H9:=6 4=2:>:?8 :E H@F=5?’E 36 ?66565]k^Am
kAm$@>6 >:89E 2C8F6 E96 4:EJ :D ECJ:?8 E@ 96=A E9C@F89 G@=F?E2CJ C6=:67 >62DFC6D] qFE E92EVD AC64:D6=J E96 AC@3=6>i E96 %26?E 7C@> C6=J:?8 @? G@=F?E2CJ[ :?4@?D:DE6?E 492C:EJ 7C@> AC:G2E6 D@FC46D] pD E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 92D DE2E65[ E96 r@?DE:EFE:@? AC6G6?ED “7@C4:?8 D@>6 A6@A=6 2=@?6 E@ 362C AF3=:4 3FC56?D H9:49[ :? 2== 72:C?6DD 2?5 ;FDE:46[ D9@F=5 36 3@C?6 3J E96 AF3=:4 2D 2 H9@=6]”k^Am
kAm!C@A6CEJ @H?6CD 2=@?8 E96 DEC66E42C C@FE6 92G6 2 4@>A6==:?8 E26?E] x7 H6 H@F=5?VE E@=6C2E6 2 AC:G2E6 =2?5=@C5 EC62E:?8 E6?2?ED E9:D H2J[ H6 D9@F=5?VE 2446AE :E 7C@> 8@G6C?>6?E — 6DA64:2==J H96? E96 r@?DE:EFE:@? C6BF:C6D ;FDE 4@>A6?D2E:@?] q25 $665 r@7766VD Sh_[___ =@DD :D 67764E:G6=J 2 E2I E92E @?=J E96J A2:5 7@C 2 DEC66E42C H6V== 2== C:56 7@C 7C66] %92EVD ?@E ;FDE F?72:C — :EVD F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2=]k^Am
kAmk6>m!2F= |4vC62= :D E96 y2>6D {] z@=6J ’dc !C@76DD@C @7 r@?DE:EFE:@?2= {2H 2E rC6:89E@? &?:G6CD:EJ $49@@= @7 {2H] w6 E62496D 4@FCD6D @? 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= =2H 2?5 AC@A6CEJ =2H]k^6>mk^Am
 Photos: Omaha's streetcars through the years
 In 1887, this horse-drawn omnibus operated from 16th and Cuming Streets to the "Cowshed" depot at 10th and Marcy Streets.
 THE WORLD-HERALD
 Omaha's first trolley car and a trailer are seen in this image from around 1890.
 THE WORLD-HERALD
 A streetcar smashed at 24th and Lake after the March 23, 1913, tornado.
 THE BOSTWICK-FROHARDT/KM3TV COLLECTION/THE DURHAM MURSEUM PHOTO ARCHIVE
 The Omaha Papillion trolley ran through Ralston in the 1920s. This picture is at 16th Street and Capitol Avenue. Pictured are, from left, Ben Ballard, conductor; George Shively; Julia Shively Giles; and G. Ed Shively.
 THE WORLD-HERALD
 Streetcars along 16th Street in Omaha in the 1940s.
 THE WORLD-HERALD
 Hugh Lee Jr. taking a picture of Streetcar No. 946 at 60th and Leavenworth in 1942.
 RICHARD ORR
 Farnam Street and streetcar tracks from 35th to 37th are seen in 1945. In the distance is the Blackstone Hotel.
 THE WORLD-HERALD
 The caption on this photo published on July 1, 1949 read: "A buck's worth of tram rides ... Tokens are back after a 14-month layoff."
 THE WORLD-HERALD
 A chaotic network of private streetcar lines led to the creation in 1903 of the Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Co. Roads also were being improved and developed at the time, as was the city’s infrastructure. Above, 24th and N Streets in 1951.
 THE WORLD-HERALD
 Undated photograph of downtown Omaha with streetcars.
 THE WORLD-HERALD
 A Dundee streetcar in the 1950s.
 BILL KRATVILLE
 A Dundee streetcar in the 1950s.
 BILL KRATVILLE
 Omaha streetcar history: 10th and Howard Streets in 1952.
 THE WORLD-HERALD
 The Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Co. made a commemorative run on March 5, 1955. The sign on the side of this streetcar reads: "Official last trip.... Ending street car service in Omaha, completing the conversion to all-bus operation."
 THE WORLD-HERALD
 Hawkins Construction unearths old streetcar tracks from under 16th Street and Capitol Avenue during work on the First National Bank expansion in February 1998. This is looking south along 16th toward Capitol.
 BILL BATSON, THE WORLD-HERALD
 Simon Schoenbeck, right, shows his work to Tomo Bessho, center, and Anthony Rodriquez as the trio of 6-year-olds and other up-and-coming artists work on their drawings of the Dundee streetcar wall sculpture on June 1, 2006.
 JEFF BEIERMANN, THE WORLD-HERALD
 A simulated photo of a proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006.
 A simulated photo of a proposed Omaha streetcar in 2006.
 Dundee streetcar tracks unearthed at 49th and Dodge Streets.
 CATE KRATVILLE
 Catch the latest in Opinion
 Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!