The Omaha Daily Record is in the process of publishing a series of reports informing the metro on the new streetcar that is scheduled to come to Omaha. It’s a controversial project, but then again name a major development in Omaha that hasn’t been met with some controversy.

I’ve been in this city for a long time. I remember how some people hated the idea of a downtown arena and convention center. I remember the concerns many people had about the Dodge Street overpass. How many were upset about the demise of Peony Park, or the development at what used to be the Aksarben racetrack?

And the controversy is a good thing. Because it forces us to look at all sides of a major project before the first shovel is put in the ground.

Many of those that are opposed to the streetcar say that they don’t think they’d ever use it. And that’s a real possibility. But not everyone has gone to a College World Series game at the Schwab stadium, or a concert at the CHI Center either. Does that mean Omaha shouldn’t have those facilities? I don’t think so.

Others think that the streetcar plan doesn’t go far enough — that it should go to the airport and the zoo with stops in both North and South Omaha along the way. Or that it should go further out west. And I agree. But you’ve got to start somewhere.

Others point out that it doesn’t appear that the Orbit buses are being used that much so why invest in a streetcar? I’m not sure why, but for some reason psychologically people that would never even consider riding a bus, have no problem taking a streetcar to their destination.

I think many of those opposed to the streetcar have valid concerns and need to be acknowledged. But let me tell you why I believe, that even with these concerns, the streetcar is still a good idea that will benefit Omaha.

Let me start with a personal observation. I was doing a talk radio program in Kansas City when they were discussing doing the very thing Omaha is planning on doing now. The KC citizens were raising the same concerns that opponents of the Omaha streetcar are raising.

But now that their streetcar has been operational for a number of years, they can see that it has proven to be an economic success as businesses, apartments and condos have been built along the route.

Riders in KC are using the streetcar, and while there have been glitches along the way, KC is expanding their streetcar routes to the stadiums with plans for a rail system to go from the airport to downtown KC.

Now I don’t think we should have a streetcar just because KC has one. No, we should have a streetcar because Omaha will benefit from it the way KC and other cities have. A streetcar will support the Urban Core. It will support the new Mutual of Omaha headquarters as well as the repurposed former Mutual of Omaha headquarters. It will lower the congestion on Omaha streets and save people money on parking when they go out for dinner in the Old Market or go see a play at the Orpheum or a concert at the CHI Center.

Last week some changes were announced where the route has been shortened and the starting point will be on 39th street instead of 42nd putting it farther away from the Nebraska Medicine campus. I hope that whatever issues Nebraska Medicine and the city have will be quickly resolved so that those at the expanded Nebraska Medicine facility can benefit from the streetcar as well. Those few extra blocks can have a big impact.

Like I said, I’ve lived in Omaha a long time. I know that we have a love affair with our cars, but this isn’t the same Omaha from the 80’s and 90’s. We are no longer a nice, quiet midwestern town. We need to realize that we are quickly becoming a major midwestern city. And like most major cities we need good public transportation. The streetcar will be a nice addition to what Metro Transit is currently doing now.

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.