Omaha city officials want to hear from residents about making a stretch of road between South Omaha and Downtown more pedestrian friendly.
The focus is the stretch of 13th Street from I-80 near the zoo down to I-480 north of downtown. The city, MAPA and One Omaha are looking at ways to make walking along 13th Street better.
The goal of “Block Talks" will be making the city more pedestrian friendly. Friday night, residents in the Dahlman Park neighborhood were asked about the overall land use, facilities, site design and safety.
Melany Spiehs is a mother of three and she told 6 News that safety is key. “My children have friends that live across 13th Street, and they want to ride their bikes back and forth and walk. It's just not safe. The traffic is too fast moving.”
City transportation design engineer Krista Wassenaar tells 6 News, “We're really trying to get the neighbors in their neighborhood walking around, looking at accessibility of the area."
She says information gathered from residents will be included her walkability study. "That study is actually determining what to do with the right away along 13th Street from I-480 to I-80."
The next “Block Talk” will be held in the Deer Park neighborhood on April 27th. It begins at Bancroft Street Market (2702 S. 10th Street) at 6:00 PM.