(September 22, 2022)
Mayor Jean Stothert has returned two resolutions passed by the Omaha City Council without her signature.
RES. 2022-0889 supported a 2022 General Fund payment for a consultant to develop the Climate Action Plan.
RES. 2022-0890 supported extending the Market to Midtown Bikeway Pilot, funding an extension of the pilot, and evaluating locations for permanent protected bike lanes in the urban core.
The City Charter gives the mayor the option to return the resolutions unsigned, indicating she does not agree with the intent of the resolution.
Letters sent to the City Council today reaffirmed support for the release of the Climate Action Plan consultant RFP and a permanently protected bike lane somewhere in the urban core, but not the extension of the 18-month pilot.
After consulting with the Metro Smart Cities Advisory Committee, the City’s agreement with Metro Smart Cities, Inc. for the bikeway pilot will not be extended beyond the September 30 expiration date.
“We are 100% committed to protected bikeways,” said Mayor Stothert. “The pilot provided significant data to proceed with the evaluation and future decisions about protected bikeways in our urban core. The evaluation process will consider Harney Street and other east-west streets to determine the safest, most accessible location to build a permanently protected bikeway.”
The evaluation will look at current and planned development in the urban core, the implementation of the Vision Zero strategy, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, and the streetcar route on Harney, recently approved by the Omaha Streetcar Authority.
Metro Smart Cities, Inc. will be responsible for scheduling and paying for the removal of the bikeway bollards, but a timeframe for that work has not been determined.
The RFP for the Climate Action Plan consultant will be released on October 12, responses are due on November 28. The full schedule is below:
- October 12, 2022 – RFP Released
- November 11, 2022 – Deadline for Written Questions
- November 18, 2022 – Responses to Written Questions
- November 28, 2022 – Deadline for Submittals
- December 16, 2022 – Proposals Reviewed & Consultants Short-Listed
- January 5, 2023 – Short-Listed Consultants Interviewed
- January 9, 2023 – Consultant Selection
- January 30, 2023 – Scope & Fee Negotiation Finalized
- February 7, 2023 – City Council Approval
- February 11, 2023 – Project Start Date
Letter to City Council-Market to Midtown Bikeway
Letter to City Council-Climate Action Plan
City of Omaha Climate Action Plan RFP