It is insane that Omaha is ranked 238th out of 280th in metro areas. This should not be the case especially with what Omaha's plans are. There are many plans such as the climate action plan made in 2010, or the Heartland Vision for 2050 for a brighter and more inclusive Omaha, but how does transit fit into this?
The city of Omaha contradicts its self when it comes to public transit. The new ORBT bus system only goes west and east but not to the neighborhoods who suffer environmental injustice the most, and the ones who need the bus to travel. 47% of all Metro riders are black people, how are these people going to experience the new additions of Omaha?
Along with this, there are many other reasons to fund the bus system other than it being more inline with Omaha's goals. The Nebraska Department of Transit has known that for every 1$ that is put into public transit, there is a 4$ return. This simple fact without getting into the issues Omaha faces with the right to transportation raises the question: WHY are we ranked 238th out of 280th?