Welcome to the Virtual Open House for the Midtown to Arboretum Transmission Project!

Project Overview

OPPD is improving and expanding its transmission system to support growth and development in midtown Omaha. OPPD will work on the project in two key segments:

Segment 1

Arboretum to Midtown Transmission Line

OPPD will rebuild roughly five miles of existing transmission line from the OPPD Arboretum, located near 108th and Blondo streets, to 72nd and Pacific streets.

Additionally, OPPD will build a new half-mile line on Pacific from 72nd to 66th and rebuild roughly two miles of existing transmission line from 66th to Saddle Creek Road and Leavenworth Street.

Segment 2

Aksarben to Midtown Transmission Line

OPPD will build roughly two miles of new 161-kV transmission line from 72nd and Pine streets to Saddle Creek Road and Leavenworth Street.

Project Benefits

As part of this project, OPPD will provide an additional transmission source to the urban core, enhancing resilience and reliability as demand grows.

Benefits include:

• Supporting growth in midtown Omaha.
• Improving reliability by adding another transmission source to the area.
• Increasing system capacity to meet growing electricity demand.
• Strengthening the electric grid to serve customers today and in the future.

Without these upgrades, the system could become less reliable and may not be able to meet increasing peak electricity demand as the community grows.

Project Area

Segment 1 - Arboretum to Midtown Transmission Line

OPPD will work with landowners who have existing easements to determine if additional right-of-way is needed. For the portion of line that is new, OPPD will obtain new easements.

Segment 2 - Aksarben to Midtown Transmission Line

Because this segment includes building a new transmission line, OPPD will follow its full routing, siting and public involvement process:

• A study area is the geographic boundary within which all potential transmission line routes are evaluated.
• The team will present route options to the public for feedback.
• After evaluating all routing and siting criteria, OPPD will select a final route for the transmission line.
• Nine to 12 months later, OPPD will hold a public hearing for directly impacted landowners.

Routing, Siting and Public Involvement Process

OPPD uses a routing, siting and public involvement process to determine where to place rebuilt and new transmission lines. During this process, OPPD considers stakeholder feedback in addition to carefully evaluating environmental, engineering and community concerns.

January - April 2026 Virtual & In-Person Open House

We are here

Project Initiation & Study Area

Segment 1: Arboretum to Midtown

• Analyze environmental, social, engineering and cost factors.
• Identify necessary modifications.

Segment 2: Aksarben to Midtown

• Analyze environmental, social, engineering and cost factors.
• Determine the study area.

May - July 2026 Virtual & In-Person Open House

Route Options

Segment 1: Arboretum to Midtown

• Begin right-of-way activities.

Segment 2: Aksarben to Midtown

• Identify and evaluate route options.

August - September 2026 Outreach with Directly Impacted Landowners

Final Route Announcement

Segment 1: Arboretum to Midtown

• Begin right-of-way activities.

Segment 2: Aksarben to Midtown

• Announce the final transmission line route.

October - Mid 2027 Outreach with Directly Impacted Landowners

Next Steps

Segment 1: Arboretum to Midtown

• Continue survey and engineering activities.

Segment 2: Aksarben to Midtown

• A tentative public hearing is held to share the final alignment and kick off right-of-way activities.
• Survey and engineering activities occur.

All dates are subject to change.

Routing and Siting Criteria

The project team uses the following criteria to develop and narrow down a final transmission line route:

Project Schedule

Phase 1 - We Are Here

• January - March 2026: Identify study area and constraints
• April 2026: Public open houses

Phase 2

• May - June 2026: Determine route options
• July 2026: Public open house

Phase 3

• Fall 2026: Final route announcement

Phase 4

• Summer 2027: Tentative public hearing and property acquisition
• Mid-2027 - Mid-2028: Survey, engineering and right-of-way activities
• Mid-2028: Construction begins
• End of 2028: Construction ends

All dates are subject to change.

Transmission Line Structures

What will the new transmission line structures look like?

• The transmission line will use engineered steel poles over 100 feet tall.
• Poles will be spaced approximately 450-600 feet apart.
• The distance between poles is equivalent to 1.5 football fields.
• Monopoles vary in size but will generally be taller than the Stinson Park tower.

About OPPD

OPPD is your energy partner. As your partner, we are committed to being your first trusted source of information. Working with you, our customer-owners and stakeholders, we embark on key decisions together - decisions that will shape the future of our utility and our community.

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OPPD is a member of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), a regional transmission organization that coordinates the electric grid and power markets for members in 14 states. Membership helps improve reliability and gives OPPD access to more cost-effective energy for its customers.

Company Highlights

Electricity 101

• 1Electricity is generated by OPPD.
• 2Electricity moves over high-voltage transmission lines.
• 3Substation lowers voltage to be distributed.
• 4Distribution lines bring energy to customers.
• 5Transformer lowers voltage again for homes and businesses.

What is an Easement?

An easement gives OPPD the right to use another’s land for a specific, limited purpose. It does not grant full ownership of the land to the utility.

Our team is working to minimize the right-of-way needed for construction, operation and maintenance of the transmission lines. OPPD will work with directly impacted landowners to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement for the easements.

Learn More

Leave a Map Comment

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  Project Hotline

  531-242-6929
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  Project Website

  oppd.com/midtown

Take the Survey

Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Your feedback is important to OPPD and helps our team better understand community interests, priorities and concerns related to this project.