Let’s Talk Transit – I’m Coming…..
UPDATE: Whatever lack of responsiveness that was reported to me this morning vanished with the evening session. In light of the late hour, here’s an abbreviated update showing answers given at tonight’s Let’s talk Transit session.
- Why was the Cox Center left off of all three route options? Please don’t avoid answering this question as I’m told you did this morning. CONSULTANT’S ANSWER: Don’t know. It was an oversight.
- The Urban Land Institute indicated Core to Shore will take 50 years. Why the concern over getting the first phase of the transit system into an area that won’t be developed for a half century? Please don’t avoid answering this question as I’m told you did this morning. ANSWER: Would advise against putting transit system in Core to Shore if it’s just empty land with no buildings or commercial development.
- Which is more likely to happen by the time the transit system is set to happen – the OCU law school, Film Row and Devon Tower, or Core to Shore? Please give a concrete answer to this question. ANSWER: The areas with some development already underway should take precedence.
- You identified constraints this morning with each option. You showed a picture of trying to get under the railroad underpass at Reno. Have you also considered economic constraints – that passing Bricktown could hurt a district that is already established. I’m told you simply answered “we know all about Bricktown” at this morning’s meeting. I expect a better answer than that. If you haven’t considered the economic impact to Bricktown being left off the transit system, please just say so. If you have, please share the details. ANSWER: Talk of constraints shouldn’t be confused with any reluctance to go into Bricktown. Based on citizen input and importance of area to downtown, a connection into Bricktown is a must.
- Will the plan that will be submitted to the MAPS 3 oversight board and city council reflect citizen input? If so, how? YES. Citizen’s input will continue to be sought through the Let’s Talk Transit website.
- Further, attendees were told tonight it was a mistake to not reflect their desire for a Walker/Broadway coupling and to further suggest the lines go along the Boulevard.
God bless ya – Steve
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Comments
Nick, only if I can’t get them to give straight-forward answers. I’m rude in my questions – I’ve discovered over time being nice just gets a sidestep dance, and I don’t dance well.
I was not at the meeting this morning. Were the routes changed again?
According to the red,blue,green all 3 routes go by the Cox center on Sheridan.
WT_?
I haven’t viewed it yet, but are you seriously saying the proposed routes:
1) Don’t go to Bricktown?
(City said during MAPS 3 campaign that a Bricktown stop was a no-brainer) then there is that rendering used showing the Streetcar passing in front of Spaghetti Warehouse.
2) No Convention Center link?
While I can understand not necessarily putting tracks next to the Cox since it is theoretically being replaced by the MAPS 3 Convention Center, does that also mean it isn’t linking to the new C.C. either?
Steve,
Some good-natured, dialogue-enhancing questions for you:
1) Which of the 3 proposals presented at the final meeting, do you think are attempting to serve the Film District, Core to Shore, or the OCU law school?
2) Which of the 3 proposals do not touch at least one side of the Cox Convention Center?
3) Which of the 3 proposals do not run through Bricktown?
captcha = ment dopiest
1) Which of the 3 proposals presented at the final meeting, do you think are attempting to serve the Film District, Core to Shore, or the OCU law school?
- Not seeing any of the proposals going to the potential UCO law school or the full Film Row. The plans show part of the routing going along the unfunded hoped for boulevard.
2) Which of the 3 proposals do not touch at least one side of the Cox Convention Center?
- Not saying they don’t touch Cox – the question brought up by folks attending the morning session was that the maps act like Cox doesn’t exist.
3) Which of the 3 proposals do not run through Bricktown?
- The concerns raised by some folks attending the morning session was that the presentation made it appear as if there were groundwork being laid for it not to go through – the talk of “constraints” going under the bridge. Multiple parties said the response of “we all know about Bricktown” left them very unsettled. Part of this appears to be distrust based on how some felt the Core to Shore process ended up – there are a lot of people who have a bitter taste from that experience and are ready to pounce on anything that now follows. The consultant, who may not be aware of such sensitivities, was much more responsive during the evening session.
1) It is not as if any of the lines are going down to SW 9th street. One proposal does show the boulevard and I had assumed that it was there to service the park (which will not take 50 years to build) and the convention center (whichever side of the RR track it lands).
2) I think that is being a bit nit-picky, but fair enough.
3) I’ll preface this by saying that I am a Sheridan proponent. The graphic used to market the streetcar as part of the MAPs 3 proposal showed it on Sheridan and every survey has shown that the public wants a Bricktown-CBD connection. I trust the consultants when they say they get it.
I attended that morning meeting and I really tried to listen to what Mike McAnelly was saying about street couplets. The question I left with was – If I rode up to 9th and Broadway for lunch, would I really want to ride all the way over on 9th or 10th to Walker to get back to the CBD or would I want it to cut back south sooner on Hudson, Robinson, or Harvey?
None of the routes appear to serve the Arts District well. I’ve always pictured the streetcar stopping alongside City Hall, OKCMOA, and the Civic Center.
What about connecting the two Health Centers downtown? Maybe it is there and I missed it.
Saw you last night at McSmellies but you were deep in convos and I had had a few pops. Next time I will introduce myself.
McSmellies… heh heh…
I was meeting with the famous Nick Roberts. Next time feel free to introduce yourself!
I’ll repeat what I just commented upon in Blair’s guest blog post because I think that Let’s Talk Transit deserves credit where credit is due. I said,
———
I’ve finished my own analysis of the final Let’s Talk Transit session … it is here. From comments by Mike McAnalley both during but most particularly after the evening session concluded, the omission of Walker in the 3 proforma routes was a mistake and he took the blame for it. I am now quite satisfied that Let’s Talk Transit was legit in its desire to (1) get public input and (2) use that input in forming the streetcar routes.
Whether those higher in the pecking order will do the same remains an open question, but hopefully the sincerity of the Let’s Talk Transit people will have a “trickle-up” effect. My article goes into much greater detail than I’ll present here.
But, in short, I give Let’s Talk Transit a 5-star rating … they did very well.
These questions sound like an enhanced interrogation. Let me know if you want me to bring my water bucket and the ironic board..