OMALiNK Provides Designated Driver Service For Downtown Crowd

OMALiNK Shuttle and Limousine Service is announcing plans to begin groundbreaking service in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Project Safe Ride Home will provide downtown Lincoln and its patrons a safe alternative to driving under the influence after a night on the town. 

 “Besides a handful of taxis, Lincoln has never had a convenient, safe, and reliable way for people to get home after an evening at the downtown bars and restaurants,” says Chris Stokes, the president of OMALiNK, Inc.  “For too long the people of Lincoln have been held hostage by a lack of transportation alternatives,” continues Stokes, “patrons of downtown Lincoln have few options.  People are faced with the choice to wait sometimes an hour for a taxi, or to take the risk of driving home under the influence of alcohol…Too many times people choose the latter.” 

The decision to begin Project Safe Ride Home was based on discussion with members of the downtown Bar and Restaurant owner's association, and pleadings of community members and university students who asked OMALiNK to commit to improving the lack of adequate evening transportation options. 

With six years experience in the Lincoln transportation market, Stokes has heard repeated pleas for other options for the city of 262,000 people. “Over and over I hear the appeals of my customers for another transportation option…Programs like Project Safe Ride Home will help make Lincoln the great city that it has the potential to be; and an efficient transportation system is crucial for our future and the 2015 vision.”  To operate within the city of Lincoln, authority must be granted by the Nebraska Public Service Commission, the entity that governs and regulates the transportation industry in the state. 

In 2007, Stokes received that authority for OMALiNK in a decision made by the commission, which allowed the company to operate within the city limits using a fare system based on zones. During the hearing process and on public record, story after story of late pickups, rude behaviors, dirty vehicles and drivers, and other examples of poor service were revealed in the existing system.   “The system is clearly broken, and it needs to be fixed,” says Stokes, “and OMALiNK's Project Safe Ride Home is the solution.”

OMALiNK Shuttle and Limousine has been in service since 2002 and is the premier van shuttle and luxury ground transportation provider based in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. OMALiNK owns a fleet of 10 passenger vans, Limousines, and Town Cars, and employs 20 full and part-time employees.  OMALiNK's fleet departs regularly from Lincoln and travels to destination of choice.  Typically the vans conduct a city-to-city loop throughout the day between Lincoln and Omaha.  However, Town Car, Limousine, and van services are also offered for intra-Lincoln destinations, special events, Lincoln airport transfers, and other transportation needs.  For more information, OMALiNK may be contacted at 402-475-5465 or info@omalink.com.