Quote Originally Posted by Frustratedoptimist View Post
FWIW, less than 2 cents, I interpreted the transit part of the MAPS 3 vote as a larger, more regional-focused bus system and then once enough funds were secured through a regional tax, we would have commuter rail, then a streetcar. Bus improvements first, commuter rail second, streetcar third. I never thought we would be investing in the streetcar without the other two first. I also assumed that the MAPS funds were to pay for the capital items and equipment only (buses, trains, stops, hubs, etc.) and the regional tax would be in place to pay to operate all of it. I think this was why many voted for MAPS 3 and for Cornett to see it through. Now that I see that the order of things appears to have shifted and priority is with the downtown streetcar, I probably won't support Cornett again. I know RTD2 is underway, but last I heard, it is moving at a snail's pace with Cornett chairing again.
Whatever regional tax or funding mechanism for OKC and the region would be separate from MAPS. The point of MAPS is we build it with the MAPS tax.

I share your desire to see improvement in OKC proper for buses and a better regional system. But the MAPS literature was very clear we were voting for a downtown streetcar.