If you ride the Route 2 on Dodge Street during Omaha Gives on May 20, you may think you’ve entered a time warp. The public is invited to “Boogie Forward” with Metro and Omaha by Design.
Between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12:40 p.m. on bus No. 1106 a disco ball will turn, lights will shine and costumed dancers will encourage fellow passengers to shake their groove thing at bus stops along the route. The event is designed to promote Metro’s May 31 launch of its revised transit system and encourage the public to give to Omaha by Design during Omaha Gives, the annual 24-hour online day of giving organized by the Omaha Community Foundation.
Connie Spellman, director of Omaha by Design, said the disco bus promotion, conceived by Metro officials, is a great fit with one of Omaha by Design’s core areas of focus – access and mobility. Members of the ObD Street Team, Metro staff, and other volunteers will help execute the promotion.
The May 31 service changes directly reflect the most requested improvements by Metro passengers through onboard surveys and community meetings – more service on weekends, later night service and improved frequency. Metro’s Executive Director Curt Simon, said “Our upcoming service changes add over 2,300 miles of service and extend many routes until midnight or later. Partnering with Omaha by Design to create a mobile dance party is a funky way for us to share our excitement about the upcoming improvements.”
The disco bus is intended to highlight that riding the bus can not only be convenient, but also fun. Beginning on May 31, notable improvements to Metro’s service will enhance connectivity and ease of use throughout Metro’s service area. For example, passengers traveling along Dodge Street on the Route 2 enjoy service every 15 minutes until 7 p.m. on weekdays in addition to later night service all seven days a week.
Two information/giving stations located at the Westroads Transit Center and 16th and Dodge will provide details about Metro’s service changes and Omaha Gives on May 20. For a 24-hour period starting May 20 at Midnight, the public can donate to the participating nonprofits of their choice via the Omaha Gives website. The minimum donation is $10, and there is no maximum amount. All donations received by Metro’s partner in this event, Omaha by Design, will be used to support Omaha by Design’s 2015 operating budget.
