An astute follower of Mode Shift Omaha sent us a note stating that both sides of the sidewalk on Farnam Street in Blackstone are closed due to construction. This citizen reported their concerns to the Mayor’s Hotline and to the construction company. We appreciate their work letting all parties know what they found and their concerns.
Shortly thereafter, a walkability team member was walking on the south side of Farnam and heading east. About a block before the construction site, at 38th Street, we discovered that either Public Works or the Construction company put in a pedestrian detour.
The detour routes sidewalk users south toward Harney Street. At 38th and Harney the detour directs you across the street to the sidewalk on the south. (The north side of Harney is also closed due to construction). Users of all modes of transportation should be cautious as there is no light or stop sign here.
You then head east on Harney Street and the detour is marked all the way to 36th Street.
At 36th and Harney there are crosswalks and lights that allow a pedestrian to head back north to Farnam and get back on the path to their final destination.
We want to give a shout out to the Mayor, Public Works and the construction company as we consider this progress. Construction will always be with us, and while inconvenient during the process, is often a sign of progress in our city. This level of thoughtfulness that considers the needs of our most Vulnerable Road Users during construction is a step forward and puts us in a better position to achieve the goals of Vision Zero. We hope this is a new normal that will be replicated and improved upon in all parts of the city.