Bill would allow longer buses for public transit

Riders of Omaha’s public transit system would have access to larger buses under a bill heard by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee Jan. 19.

LB735, introduced by Henderson Sen. Curt Friesen, would increase the current 40-foot limit for an articulated bus operated by a transit authority to 65 feet. Friesen said the bill would allow Omaha—the recent recipient of grant funding—to upgrade to rapid transit buses.

“The Omaha metro area has an excellent opportunity to embrace the next generation of public transportation,” he said. “Bus rapid transit provides a multitude of public benefits including improved transportation options and faster service with limited stops.”

Curt Simon, executive director of Metro Transit in Omaha, supported the bill. He said that the longer articulated buses would double passenger capacity.

“The expanded articulated bus would provide greater capacity and internal bicycle storage for our passengers,” Simon said. “[The change to rapid transit] represents the most significant transit investment in our community in over 30 years.”

No one testified in opposition to the bill and the committee took no immediate action on it.