Getting Around Omaha
By: Ryan Renner, Realtor
I have helped many families move to Omaha. Contact me if you have any questions about the Omaha area or need help buying a home.
Omaha is a driving city. If you are moving from a big city with great public transportation, this could be a shock to your system.
Do I Need a Car?
Yes, unless you work and live downtown.
Our public transportation is not the most efficient method of transportation and doesn’t cover a big part of the metro area.
This is one of the cons of living in Omaha.
If you want to rely on public transportation, you better live on the eastern side of the Omaha area. There are more routes and buses. The west Omaha suburbs don’t have a lot of great transportation options.
Even if you work from home, you might still need a car. Omaha has very few walkable neighborhoods.
Traffic
Compared to other big cities, Omaha’s traffic is not too bad. You can get to most parts of the cities in 15-20 minutes. During rush hour, it will take longer, but not that much longer.
During the morning rush hour, traffic is heavier from west to east (people living in West Omaha commuting downtown for work). And during the evening commute, it’s the opposite.
In the video below, I go into more detail about traffic in Omaha.
Public Transportation
The bus system in Omaha is called Metro. It used to be called Metro Area Transit or MAT for short. So if you hear some people call it that, that’s why.
Buses are equipped with GPS. The MyRide OMA app allows you to plan your trip, get real-time bus information, and more.
In late 2020, Metro introduced Omaha Rapid Bus Transit (ORBT).
The goal of ORBT is to be a faster and more convenient method of transportation between Westroads Mall and downtown.
I did list public transportation is one of the bad things about Omaha.
Streetcar Project
Currently, Omaha is in the process of building a streetcar. The Omaha streetcar project is on track to reshape downtown and midtown. It will feature 16 stops, allowing residents and visitors to travel seamlessly between popular spots like universities, parks, and cultural centers. This project started in 2021 and is set to be completed by early 2028.
Moving to a new city can be stressful!
Let me help. I specialize in helping people relocate to Omaha.
Uber & Lyft
Yes, we have Uber and Lyft as well as public taxis.
zTrip is a large taxi company in Omaha that offers scheduling via phone or an app.
Bike Lanes
I wouldn’t call Omaha “bike-friendly.”
At least if you are thinking about commuting to work by bike daily.
Omaha has made significant strides in becoming a more bicycle-friendly community by expanding the network of bike lanes, paths, and shared-use trails.
The Omaha area is excellent if you want to bike on dedicated trails, but biking on streets (next to cars) is not the most ideal.
To enhance your biking experience, the Heartland Bike Share program offers convenient rental options, perfect for those who don’t own a bike or just want to try one out.
There are a lot of locations in the eastern part of town (Downtown, Midtown, etc).
A short-term pass is $12, while a monthly pass is $20.
Scooter Rental
Omaha currently works with two scooter rental companies: Lime and Spin.
You will find these scooters mainly in midtown and the Old Market.
Carpooling Perks for Students
Ride-share programs are popular in Omaha. If you work or attend school at Metropolitan Community College, you can go to metrorideshare.org to find people to carpool with. The University of Nebraska-Omaha also gives lower rates and special parking passes for people that carpool to campus. Although there are no benefits like HOV lanes, a lot of schools in the area and some businesses in low-parking areas give some perks still.
Eppley Airfield
Omaha’s airport is a hidden gem of the city. I created a separate Guide to Eppley Airfield.