I think it’s important for Project 180 to go forward as planned, only because it will provide a strong visual representation of forward momentum, even while most of the MAPS 3 projects are still in their planning phases.

Also, I see the already-completed streetscapes as being an asset to the streetcar construction process. If lanes are torn up again, we will have new pedestrian-friendly sidewalks to enjoy. By then, walking could be a preferred mode of travel downtown.

Steve: How exactly was the 2020 date derived?

Relieving congestion on city streets should be the priority and the streetcar system can help with that. And since the OKCU School of Law would only move downtown based on passage of MAPS 3 (and it’s streetcar), I think it’s important to first get the streetcar and then the park. We need to do it now before the money gets spent on other projects and eventually runs out without ever funding the streetcar.

My personal thoughts:

1- Pick a spot for the convention center (2012)
2- Park to open with the boulevard as planned ($130 million, 1.5 years of taxes, 2014)
3- Streetcar. This will spur more private development and will help bring in more taxes ($130 million, 1.5 years of taxes, 2015)
4- River Improvements ($60 million, 6-7 months of taxes, 2016)
5- Convention Center ($280 million, three years of taxes, 2019)
6- Senior Aquatic Centers ($50 million, 5-6 months of taxes, 2020)
7- State Fairground Improvements ($60 million, 6-7 months of taxes, 2020)
7 & 8- trails and sidewalks in between.

What is the link to the story about 2020?

I’m not a “streetcar enthusiast” at all, but I was most irritated to learn that downtown streets would be torn up not once, but twice because the timing of Project 180 did not line up with the timing of MAPS 3. I think the city leaders have made a pretty significant misjudgment on this and I’ve been very supportive of them up to now. For those of us who work downtown, this is no minor inconvenience (i.e. street work on the already congested downtown street); to have to endure it TWICE is infuriating.

It makes people wonder if they are really the best planners, the best managers and the wisest stewards of the money entrusted to them. It doesn’t seem fiscally responsible to renovate streets only to tear them back up a couple years later for another “improvement”.

I can understand those who feel that they’ve been hoodwinked. Mayor Mick et al should take note.

IF they are going to do the streetcar project, then it should have come first to try to better coordinate with Project 180. I personally would love to see the new convention center built first because the Cox Convention Center is inadequate now. However, I like even less that we’re going to be tearing up downtown streets TWICE simply because we couldn’t plan things better.

yeah 2020 was pretty ridiculous! I agree wit Gary on the order

1.) Final analysis on transit routes, site selection for convention center, aquire C2S property as reasonably allowable.

2.) Start work on laying transit lines as soon as possible. Hopefully study can get done early enough to sync some of the routes with Project 180.

3.) Get streetcar system going, while still doing preliminary work and site selection on other projects.

4.) Convention Center

5.) Central Park

6.) River Improvements

7.) Senior Centers

I can guarantee it won’t happen this order though.

1. Select location for convention center, streetcar, and transit hub.
2. Begin slow, methodical work on sidewalks and trails (to be completed over the course of MAPS3.
3. Central park, opening with boulevard in 2014.
4. Streetcar, hopefully early enough to get some synergy between this and Project 180.
5. Oklahoma River improvements
6. Senior aquatic centers
7. Convention center
8. Fairgrounds

You state it might not start until 2020. Could it be postponed even later because of the economic downturn still going on? What are the projected sales tax income for the next ten years for the MAPS projects?

The projection for the 7-year, 8-month MAPS 3 is 777 millions dollars; thus it’s pricetag.

Why not do the most expensive project first? Costs will rise in the future as the economy recovers. Lock a lower cost in now. The price of the street car system will go up every year you delay it. What will the true cost be in 2020?

there is simply no excuse to not coordinate the streetcar project with project 180. the sensible thing to do is to get an agreement with the 180 stakeholders to delay construction long enough to do the planning for the streetcar project NOW so that the infrastructure can be built into the street project ONCE. this obviously requires moving at least part of the streetcar project to the top of the list. it is also more efficient, less expensive, and creates less of an inconvenience to the public.

life isn’t without risk, though. it would also lock us into the technology and marketplace of today for the entire streetcar system. i am reminded of the debate over led light fixtures. that said, i’m standing by the above statement.

Although I like the idea of locking in the costs now if possible, if MAPS 3 is truly pay-as-you-go then the most expensive item would be the Convention Center ($280M or roughly 3 years of collecting the tax) then you have the next 2 items @ $130M apiece (1 year, three months) and which one comes first, the Park or the Streetcars? A few of the MAPS 3 projects are dependent on each other to fully maximize them (Convention Center/Park/Streetcars) and should ideally open at the same time. Unfortunately that is not the way the funding is set up…unless “for cash flow purposes” they use bonds or other borrowing to get things rolling (just as they did with the Ford/NBA tax). They are authorized to do it in MAPS 3 but that goes against the whole “we aren’t going into debt” for the projects (check out the City’s MAPS 3 websites where they state that is the case).

The streetcar ($130 million) needs to be the first project because of the timing with the current Administration’s commitment to federal matching dollars for public transportation. Also no matter what te mayor or chamber says there isn’t another project in MAPS3 that will have a larger economic impact of private investmet than the
streetcar….nothing will even come close.