Omaha's public transportation system - Metro Area Transit (MAT) - is limited, and most residents drive to get to where they're going. Dodge is the main east-west road through town, and typically north-south streets are numbered, starting from the river and heading west. Keep in mind there are frequently 2 or even 3 streets with the same number sitting right next to each other; sometimes there is a 90th STREET and a 90th AVENUE, and sometimes they throw a CIRCLE in there too just to keep it interesting. The interstate system consists of I-80 going east-west, I-680 heads north off of I-80 in west Omaha, and I-480 heads north off of I-80 downtown.

Vehicle Licenses - If you wish to maintain your home state registration for your car license plates, you will need a Tax Exempt sticker from the Douglas County DMV (for Omaha residents). The cost is $5.00. To change your plates to Nebraska, you must first get your car inspected at the Douglas County Vehicle Inspection Office downtown. The cost is $10. Then you must bring your insurance and registration information to one of the County Treasurer's Offices.  To give you an idea of what the costs are, a 6 year old Volkswagen Passat cost $210 for a title transfer, license fees, and property tax.

Driver's Licenses - By law, you must get your Nebraska driver's license within 30 days of moving here. The cost is $23.75 and you will have to give them your current license in exchange for a Nebraska one.

Visit the Nebraska Dept. of Motor Vehicles FAQ to find out more.

If you are bringing a spouse or significant other to Omaha, you will undoubtedly be concerned about employment opportunities. Below are some emloyers in the area.  Be sure to check out the careerlink.org website below. Most of the spouses or significant others had no problems finding a job suitable to their level of expertise, experience, and payscale.  Omaha has a vibrant employment scene and features many jobs.

The area's largest employers include

1. University of Nebraska Medical Center
2. First Data Resources
3. Mutual of Omaha
4. Nebraska Health System
5. Con-Agra Foods
6. Avaya
7. Union Pacific Railroad
8. University of Nebraksa-Omaha
9. Oriental Trading Company
10. Gallup

• www.CareerLink.org (Great site for Omaha area jobs)
• www.theomahachannel.com/employment/
• www.discoveromaha.com/shared/jobs/
• www.employmentwizard.com/

• Electric: Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) Call 402-536-4131 to set up service and for billing inquiries.
• Gas and Water: Metropolitan Utilities District serves the Omaha metropolitan area, including municipalities in Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington counties. Call 402-554-6666 for gas and water connections.
• Telephone: Qwest 800-244-1111 or Cox Communications 402-933-3000
• Cable TV: Cox Communications 402-933-3000
• High Speed Internet: Cox Communications (Cable) or Qwest (DSL)
• Garbage Collection: Free to residents of the city of Omaha; includes recycling and seasonal yard waste

Public Schools

All the school districts have some great schools. We've heard parents from every district rave about their kids' schools. The quality of the public school has a lot to do with the neighborhood you live in. Typically though, the schools out West (Millard, Westside District 66, and some Omaha Public School District schools) have the best reputations. If you have kids K-12, you might want to consider living out west even though it is a longer commute to Creighton and housing costs more. Below are links to the school districts:

Mall shopping is abundant with many national chains: Dillards, Younkers, Old Navy, Gap (kids and baby included), Gymboree, Children's Place, etc.

• Crossroads Mall (midtown)
• Westroads Mall (northwest)
• Mall of the Bluffs (Council Bluffs, Ia.)
• Oak View Mall (southwest)
• One Pacific Place (southwest)

Consignment for Children:

• Eco-kids: good quality and prices, lots of name brands (2 locations: 76th and Pacific, 158th and Dodge, 402-399-9113)
• Kids-go-round: fair quality and prices (30th North and 90th, 573-9102)

• Goodwill (4 locations in Omaha - 42nd & Pacific, 84th & Center, 108th & Maple, 144th & Old "L")
• Salvation Army: fair selection, great prices