By: Kamrin Baker
Driving past the historic homes in the Dundee and Memorial Park neighborhoods near campus, students are bound to see an influx of royal blue signs with a uniform message: “Fix Farnam.”
This campaign started under the leadership of the Dundee-Memorial Park Association (DMPA) after years of disdain for the set-up of Farnam Street. Ever since 1957, Farnam, from Saddle Creek Road to Dodge Street, converts to a one-way street from 7 to 9 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. At all other times, Farnam is a two-way street.
Peter Manhart, the president of DMPA, said the street has been a safety hazard for years. The neighborhood has gone to the city with signed petitions, requested transportation surveys and tried to communicate with representatives.
Manhart said the city has yet to agree to address the problem.
“The Councilmen who work for this area, developers, our state senator, the majority of the neighborhood, agree that it’s an issue,” Manhart said. “But the traffic engineer says it’s fine, and the mayor’s opinion only hinges on the traffic engineer. So, if he’s wrong about it, and the whole neighborhood agrees that it’s a problem, what is she [Mayor Jean Stothert] going to do? We know what’s best for the neighborhood.”
Manhart said he is very vocal about the issue and that his thoughts echo the sentiments of the mayor’s constituents in the area.
UNO student Emily Brandon said she occasionally walks to her classes at UNO from her house right off of Farnam Street.
“It’s really scary during one-way hours because of how fast people drive along the street,” Brandon said. “When it is one-way, it seems like people are less cautious. Even while using crosswalks and looking both ways, I am nervous to cross the street.”
Not only are homeowners irritated by safety hazard of Farnam Street, Manhart said other factors are at play. Out-of-town guests who stay in AirBnb residences, Uber drivers and delivery drivers are at risk for accidents, as they do not frequent the area or may miss a sign telling them which side of the road to be on.
“These people won’t be going slow; they don’t know the area,” Manhart said. “I want the road to be a normal road for everyone. It’s not because you’re dumb or you’re not paying attention; you just have to be right every time. And even if someone is dumb and should be reading the signs, it doesn’t mean they deserve to die in a head-on collision.”
Business owners in the area also express their disdain for the current conditions of the street. Kelly Newell, owner of Scout Dry Goods & Trade in Dundee, said she worries about the safety of herself and her customers.
“I typically just avoid Farnam all together,” Newell said. “Dundee is already very walk-able but making Farnam two-way all the time would be good for the neighborhood and reduce the chances of car accidents.”
Manhart said he and the DMPA plan to speak with the mayor again soon. He is hopeful for some sort of resolution.
“Now more than ever, the city has changed. This is a 1957 road, and it’s 2019,” Manhart said. “When you have city councilors, state senators, former mayors, when you have all these blue signs—never in the history of this issue have we been this close to it changing.”
