https://sp.yimg.com/xj/th?id=OIP.M212d3d96208493ee937202a73d302030o0&pid=15.1&P=0&w=277&h=156 https://sp.yimg.com/xj/th?id=OIP.Me1c8e9c67b8fb51d57dcaa042b27d2e9o0&pid=15.1&P=0&w=286&h=157
Dallas Reunion Tower - 561 feet . . . . . . . . . . Seattle Space Needle - 605 feet with antenna.

Demand is not there.

What there is demand for: A streetcar that serves local residents and workers.

We are talking 15 years out. Also, at some point the streetcar has to move beyond MAPS funding and just become a public expense like roads are.

Looks like the streetcar will initially be a feather in the tourist cap until the city can work out some routes that will truly serve our community as meaningful transit.

We definitely need to explore the advantages for future streetcar expansion. Public transit is supported by subsidies. This could be our step in the direction of commuter rail through the light rail system. Edmond & Norman offers potential with major universities in those cities.

MAPS IV should include a modest expansion of:


The Bricktown Canal (1/2 to 3/4 mile) extension.
Improvements on the Oklahoma River (both north & south bank development)
Street Car (4 to 6 miles) extension.
Authorized commuter rail study for Edmond & Norman areas.

Oklahoma City has shown a lot of improvements post MAPS I. We need to continue the momentum...

have to start somewhere, might as well be where there is already critical massing of amenities/buildings AND where tourists can use it and have something nice to take back about OKC. With future visits and/or positive PR, that would help to further expand the system (via additional marginal revenue) where it then can reach more of the city (which itself will hopefully continue to add density as you leave downtown).

This is really NOT a chicken and egg scenario to me, it is more of an evolution where we already have the chicken but it needs to lay the egg and allow more eggs to be laid and matured. ..

With all of the outcry about how MAPS focuses just on downtown, I have a feeling that a MAPS IV will likely focus on improving neighborhoods.

With all of the outcry about how MAPS focuses just on downtown, I have a feeling that a MAPS IV will likely focus on improving neighborhoods.

I am starting to lean in the direction that there should not be a MAPS IV, especially if its going to be throwing money at fringe neighborhoods that have a questionable future regardless of any improvements. Not that they shouldn't be improved, but it should best be accomplished through a GoBond package. I would even support a permanent penny tax for infrastructure, projects as they become necessary (such as a new arena down the line), incentives for private developments in key locations such as the Cox site, and historic restorations i.e. First National, replacing MAPS. However, I think the MAPS model is beginning to show signs of outliving its usefulness. MAPS was needed to jumpstart a completely dead downtown following the previous failed urban renewal attempt but today the private market is doing a very good job at taking the reigns, and is in many ways doing a much better job.

One thing that the MAPS model would still be useful for is public transportation, but I think it will be difficult to get the city on board with a MAPS package dedicated entirely to it, being that most OKC residents live in the suburbs and would never use public transportation.