Henry says Crosstown is feds responsibility

[Patrick]

Bike racks actually make a lot of sense. A few years back OCART made this its first goal as an interest group. Unfortunately, those in power at the time, weren't very transit oriented. Talking to them about improving transit, was kind of liek trying to talk to Luther Trent or Karen Carney about the need to build the East Concourse at the airport. They just didn't get it. Fortunately, young blood from the "creative class" is taking over our city government now. Our mayor, Mick Cornett, is jsut one example of this "young blood." I think he's more open to discussing the need for commuter rail transit for our city.

By the way....a rail trolley system wasn't needed for Salt Lake either. If oyu've ever been there, you'd see that it wasn't anymore needed than ours was. It still would've been nice to have a railed trolley system serving the downtown area and Meridian Hotel district.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

It is the damn feds responsiblity BECAUSE it is a federal highway with over 100,000 cars a day. 60% of which is freight trucks, which usually come in from OUR OF STATE. OKC is also a MAJOR travel hub. I 40 is absolutely their damn responsibilty.

About Henry: I just don't consider him the governor. Period. I consider Tom Coburn our "interim governor" lol. Things will look up in 2006, don't fret.

[renffahcs]

Hey, in my opinion grab all that good blue state money if you can!! They would just waste it anyway!

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

Crap. That OUR OF STATE, is almost what you could call Engrish. It is supposed to be out of state, lol.

[jt450]

I can't believe people on this thread that don't know what they're talking about.

Most of the major roads in Oklahoma are federal roads. They have federal highway designations. Yet the state pays to maintain them and helps pay to build and renovate them. That's the system. I-40 is no different, yet Brad Henry expects the state shouldn't have to put a penny into Oklahoma's biggest road project? How inane! Istook has helped get $180-million for I-40 so far--and that's a whole lot better than the projects in other states. How much has Brad Henry helped?? ZERO!

I think these folks that want light rail are the same type of folks. They aren't providing a single penny, but want to criticize Istook for not miraculously providing them hundreds of millions of dollars to fund their boondoogle.

People who do nothing are criticizing the only one who's accomplishing anything (Istook). Get real, folks!


[QUOTE=Patrick]Henry isn't completely against the state putting up a share of the money for the new Crosstown, but since it is a FEDERAL interstate, Henry doesn't think the state should have to pay half, which is what Istook was suggesting recently. I tend to agree with Henry. He's right on! It's a FEDERAL problem, not a state one. The FEDERAL government owns that highway. It's crucial to this nation.
It should be our representatives at the federal level (i.e. ISTOOK) lobbying for this.

[jt450]

I can't believe people on this thread that don't know what they're talking about.

Tens of thousands of Oklahoma City folks use I-40 every day. What would they do without it?

Most of the major roads in Oklahoma are federal roads. They have federal highway designations. But they carry our local traffice! And the state pays to maintain them and helps pay to build and renovate them. That's the system. I-40 is no different, yet Brad Henry expects the state shouldn't have to put a penny into Oklahoma's biggest road project? How inane! Istook has helped get $180-million for I-40 so far--and that's a whole lot better than the projects in other states. How much has Brad Henry helped?? ZERO!

I think these folks that want light rail are the same type of folks. They aren't providing a single penny, but want to criticize Istook for not miraculously providing them hundreds of millions of dollars to fund their boondoogle.

People who do nothing are criticizing the only one who's accomplishing anything (Istook). Get real, folks!

Henry isn't completely against the state putting up a share of the money for the new Crosstown, but since it is a FEDERAL interstate, Henry doesn't think the state should have to pay half, which is what Istook was suggesting recently. I tend to agree with Henry. He's right on! It's a FEDERAL problem, not a state one. The FEDERAL government owns that highway. It's crucial to this nation.
It should be our representatives at the federal level (i.e. ISTOOK) lobbying for this.

[mranderson]

Istook took money earmarked for Oklahoma City's light rail system and gave it to Salt Lake City. He does NOT look out for us. He can lobby for enough funds to build the freeway if he wants to. He clearly is not interested in his own state.

I suspect a few fleeting people are caught in the brainwashing Istook is spewing. Hence. I Took.

[Midtowner]

Istook took money earmarked for Oklahoma City's light rail system and gave it to Salt Lake City. He does NOT look out for us. He can lobby for enough funds to build the freeway if he wants to. He clearly is not interested in his own state.

I suspect a few fleeting people are caught in the brainwashing Istook is spewing. Hence. I Took.

Federal funding is not a zero-sum game. You can't say that money from one project went directly to another. We've discussed this before, and if you recall the argument for light rail is pretty darned weak. The fact is that we did spend $500,000 studying how effective it could be, and we decided that it'd be a waste of money.

At this stage in the game, it would almost have certainly been a waste of money. No light rail system that I know of is not subsidized somehow by public funds. If you've ever ridden the trolley system downtown (and I do often), you'll note that the cars are absolutely never full. Higher capacity, more expensive light rail would accomplish nothing that the rubber tire system we have now doesn't already take care of.

[mranderson]

Let's not go there. The light rail was something a lot of people do not know exists... An example.

[Patrick]

I can't believe people on this thread that don't know what they're talking about.

Tens of thousands of Oklahoma City folks use I-40 every day. What would they do without it?

Most of the major roads in Oklahoma are federal roads. They have federal highway designations. But they carry our local traffice! And the state pays to maintain them and helps pay to build and renovate them. That's the system. I-40 is no different, yet Brad Henry expects the state shouldn't have to put a penny into Oklahoma's biggest road project? How inane! Istook has helped get $180-million for I-40 so far--and that's a whole lot better than the projects in other states. How much has Brad Henry helped?? ZERO!

I think these folks that want light rail are the same type of folks. They aren't providing a single penny, but want to criticize Istook for not miraculously providing them hundreds of millions of dollars to fund their boondoogle.

People who do nothing are criticizing the only one who's accomplishing anything (Istook). Get real, folks!

Oh, we know what we're talking about alright. We've researched all the facts.

Actually the majority of the roads in this state are state roads, not federal. The only federal roads are I-40, I-240, and I-35. The rest are state roads, including I-44 which is a state turnpike.

The majority of those that use I-40 are out-of-town trucks. Probably about 35% of the traffic is local. That's what ACOG told me last time I spoke with them.

I don't think the state should have to fork over HALF of the money for this project...again, it's a FEDERAL highway. Sure, I do think the state should invest something into this though....maybe 35% since that's the percentage of local traffic that uses that stretch. I'm sure Henry will make some sort of contribution, but it shouldn't be for half of the project. Afterall, why should he give $180 million to the Crosstown, when I-44 through the middle of Tulsa needs the money just as bad...and that's a state turnpike.

Concerning light rail....the money was there. Inhofe and Nichols had the federal grants already approved for our rail system. Istook voted against receiving it, saying it was a waste of federal funds. A lot of us here want light rail. Many of us would be willing to pay for it, if a bond issue or something similar came up for vote. It's hard to put a cent into a light rail system when there's no system in place to receive the funds for this purpose.

[Midtowner]

Tell the whole story about light rail. There was a $500,000 COTPA study that said that it'd be a waste of money. All of Istook's correspondence that is public record (and there is quite a bit of it) indicates that this was a major factor in his decision.

In this case, I have to hand it to him. If more congressmen/women would refuse to "Bring home the bacon" and ensure that federal money was going to the best use possible, we'd pay less taxes and have an improved quality of government.

Of course, I don't think that much of Istook really. I just think he was on point with this particular decision. The only additional factor that I could give you to support what he did in approving of light rail for Salt Lake would be that they have a HORRIBLE smog problem. I'm sure their studies came up with different numbers as well.

Patrick, this is to request that you unlock and 'bump' the light rail thread.

[Patrick]

This is just an issue we can agree to disagree on. Let's let the thread move on as you suggest.

[Midtowner]

This is just an issue we can agree to disagree on. Let's let the thread move on as you suggest.

I'd like to repeat my request that you reopen that thread. There are some new posters here, and I spent a lot of time researching my points. It's a conversation that keeps coming up, I'd like to try to move as much of that to one thread as possible.

[mranderson]

That thread is one of several that would open too many wounds.

We are at an empasse. Midtowner is against light rail, the rest are for it. Let it rest in peace. I am tired of the same old argument. We always go in circles.

[Patrick]

I think we've already stated our points here, and it wouldn't really be worth anything to reopen a thread from months ago. It would simply be beating a dead horse.

But, since Midtowner wishes for everyone to see his work that he put into researching this topic to back up his opinion, if you're interested, feel free to view the discussion at the following link:

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=797

This is the thread Midtowner was referring to.

[Jay]

I would agree definitely a dead horse.........However, rest easy Henry will only serve one term.

I have a feeling the govenors race will be interesting to say the least. Sleepy Brad will have his doors blown off by most of the canidates.

My guesses are Humphreys, Watts, Anthony, Nickles or maybe a local businessman that is tired of seeing this state spinning its wheels.

2007 will be a banner year for Oklahoma, the centennial, a new govenor and fewer crusty legislators.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

He might run for president. On whatever level, state or nation, he will get blown away by his "Read Y'all" program. Isn't that funny?

[Midtowner]

I would agree definitely a dead horse.........However, rest easy Henry will only serve one term.

I have a feeling the govenors race will be interesting to say the least. Sleepy Brad will have his doors blown off by most of the canidates.

My guesses are Humphreys, Watts, Anthony, Nickles or maybe a local businessman that is tired of seeing this state spinning its wheels.

2007 will be a banner year for Oklahoma, the centennial, a new govenor and fewer crusty legislators.

Think Orza might run again? I really like Orza. He said he was done last time, but I think he'll go. He's one of those guys where you know that if he wins the primary and can appeal to the extremist voters of the party that he appeals enough to the moderates that he can be elected.

When I was on UCO's TV station, I gave Orza a lot more coverage than I gave to other candidates. Yeah, I was the biased media... how 'bout that?

[mranderson]

He might run for president. On whatever level, state or nation, he will get blown away by his "Read Y'all" program. Isn't that funny?

Who is "he?"

[Keith]

We are used to bias media around here, it's nothing new.

In 2007, I do hope Orza runs against Henry. I would definitely vote for Orza, unless the republican candidate is better, and send ole Brad out to the pasture.

I don't care for Humphries at all, however, it wouldn't bother me to have Anthony, Watts, or Nickles as our governor. As oklacity75 put it, at least we would not be spinning our wheels.

[Midtowner]

We are used to bias media around here, it's nothing new.

In 2007, I do hope Orza runs against Henry. I would definitely vote for Orza, unless the republican candidate is better, and send ole Brad out to the pasture.

I don't care for Humphries at all, however, it wouldn't bother me to have Anthony, Watts, or Nickles as our governor. As oklacity75 put it, at least we would not be spinning our wheels.

I like Orza and Anthony because they tend to say exactly what's on their mind. They are both above corruption and completely trustworthy. I can't say much for Watts or Nickles. They don't have much track record when it comes to exposing the 'good 'ol boys'.

Orza really made a name for himself ferretting out corruption when he was an investigative reporter for Channel 5. Of course, we all know what Anthony did when he was approached with bribe money by SBC.

Those two are pretty well beyond reproach. It is because of that though that the big money will be against them as it always has been. The big donors want someone that will listen to them and deliver what they want. In the past, Humphries has been that guy (hence the huge donations he commanded). I'd really like to see a race between Orza and Anthony though.

But people tend to vote for whoever has the flashiest commercials. Who knows what could happen in this state if we had politicians that answered to the people and not to the special interests?

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

(quote^)

"He" is Henry.

[Patrick]

Since when was the last time this state voted against an incumbent? Doesn't happen very often.

I'd actually vote for Oraza too. I voted for him in the last primary. Oraza is a real Oklahoman, not a Democrat or Republican.

Of course, I liked Gary Richardson too. If you read his platform, you definitely concluded that he knew what he was talking about.

The only reason Henry won was because the Republicans didn't run a better candidate.

To be real honest with you, I don't think we've had a decent governor since George Nigh. It's been awhile. Keating definitely wasn't great....he sure wasted tax payer money on a dumb dome and left Henry with a huge budget loss.

[Midtowner]

I really like what Henry has done with this crosstown money. He's effectively killed it without opposing it. By saying that it is a federal responsibility, he's requiring money that will never come. Kind of smart actually.

[jt450]

It sounds like you agree with me now. Istook never asked the state to pay for half the project. He said it was wrong for the state and the city to pay zero (which is what they've paid so far). 35% is a lot better than zero, and I bet Istook would also agree with you about 35% being fair.

But so far Brad Henry hasn't agreed to a single penny.

I don't think the state should have to fork over HALF of the money for this project...again, it's a FEDERAL highway. Sure, I do think the state should invest something into this though....maybe 35% since that's the percentage of local traffic that uses that stretch. I'm sure Henry will make some sort of contribution, but it shouldn't be for half of the project. Afterall, why should he give $180 million to the Crosstown, when I-44 through the middle of Tulsa needs the money just as bad...and that's a state turnpike.