NTRAC Final Study - Nebraska Department of Roads - State of ...

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The traffic volumes recorded by traffic counts include travel passing through the State as well as
intrastate movements. It should be noted that some of the volume, particularly along the primary
I-80 route, represents travel unrelated to Nebraska communities. Based on I-80 volumes west of
North Platte, it would appear that about 6,000 vehicles per day are passing through the State
along I-80.
NEBRASKA RAIL PASSENGER ROUTES
At one time, Nebraska was blessed with a plethora of rail passenger services. Figure 2-2 shows
the extent of these services during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Five major railroads that were
then offering passenger services included the Union Pacific Railroad (UP), the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific Railroad, the Missouri Pacific Railroad, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
Railroad, and the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. Except in one corridor, these services have
long since faded into history.
That noted, passenger rail service continues one potential option for moving larger volumes
between communities. Two typical types of service are found in other states:
Commuter service, with trains predominately running in peak hours and usually only peak
directions (i.e. trains into Omaha in the morning, and out of Omaha in the evening, running
only on business work days).
Intercity service, with several daily schedules serving travel in both directions, usually
over longer distances than commuter service, and usually operating 7 days per week.
Figure 2-3 shows current rail routes connecting the population centers of Eastern Nebraska. In
most cases, the routes generally parallel the highway routes, and could offer opportunities for
development of passenger rail service where the overall travel volumes are sufficient to warrant
such service.
The only passenger rail service currently provided in Nebraska is Amtrak’s California Zephyr,
which uses the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) route between Omaha,
Lincoln, and Hastings. This train runs daily between Chicago and California, making Nebraska
stops during the night. Consequently, it is of limited value in meeting travel needs between
Nebraska communities.
INTERCITY BUS SERVICE
Intercity bus services appear in Figure 2-4. The services to and from the major population
centers of the State are discussed in below.
Greyhound Lines operates intercity bus service across the State, following the route of I-80.
There are 6 to 7 schedules daily. Some operate as express service, while others make local stops
in Lincoln, Grand Island, and other communities. This east-west service operates between
Chicago, Denver, and California, but some schedules are convenient for travel within Nebraska.
A single daily frequency is operated between Minneapolis and Kansas City, serving Omaha and
Sioux City, IA.
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NEBRASKA TRANSIT CORRIDORS STUDY
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WILBUR SMITH ASSOCIATES