By Cheril Lee
Omaha, NE – Carlos Morales was named Omaha's Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, last fall.
Morales was the guest speaker at last months' Omaha Press Club forum. He discussed the City of Omaha's recent designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community. He said Omaha currently has about 90 miles of biking trails but there are plans to increase that number.
Morales said the city is looking at ways to leverage local dollars to ensure that more trails are built. He said new study will begin in early to late January.
"The MAPA area obtained $30,000 in federal grants to look at creating these corridors where we create additional facilities for bicycles and pedestrians. So it's kind of coming up with a plan on how to connect the Omaha core with the surrounding cities in the Omaha metro region."
Those partnering with the city to make Omaha more bicycle friendly include Metropolitan Planning Agency, Alegent Health with Live Well Omaha and the Douglas County Health Department.