Ideas 4 MAPS

[Ross MacLochness]

Yes it has to go north at some point, whether along walker, shartel, western or classen. You have to connect homes and residents to the line. It wont be successful being a service that shuffles CBD workers to lunch and back, has to be more. This is also why im skeptical of having it circle the health center/OU/OMRF without connecting to homes first.

Absolutely. I like this particular route because in addition to serving the northern inner city neighborhoods, it connects visitors in staying in Bricktown to Uptown, Paseo, western Ave, Classen Curve, and Whole foods. In addition, It would allow CHK employees and all those folks who work in the area to hop on after work and ride downtown for a game or whatever.

[hoya]

I think the #1 priority for streetcar expansion should be to the Capitol Hill area. The city should do that regardless of anything else.

The city should also get with OU and OCU, and say "we're considering an additional route, but we need you to partner with us if you want it to extend to your campus". The northwest line that would go up to the Plaza District can be extended to give a stop at 23rd and Penn. We'll even call it the OCU stop. But they need to fork over some cash to cover some of the cost. Same thing with OU Medical Center and getting their own dedicated line.

[FighttheGoodFight]

OU football would alone pay for the line for gamedays. Going to and from the games via train would be a big sell for people.

[Pete]

OU football would alone pay for the line for gamedays. Going to and from the games via train would be a big sell for people.

Occasionally, I'd take the train from San Jose (had a cousin there) to SF to see the Giants play.

It was just awesome fun. By the time we got to the stop near the stadium the train was packed with fans, all in a great mood and ready to support their team.

Was really easy to take back, too. It's a great way to move a lot of people into and out of a small area. And trains that serve such facilities usually put on extra cars and trains for the events.


The Norman station isn't super close to the stadium but I've parked almost that far away and walked many times. And of course the could easily add shuttle busses.

[FighttheGoodFight]

Occasionally, I'd take the train from San Jose (had a cousin there) to SF to see the Giants play.

It was just awesome fun. By the time we got to the stop near the stadium the train was packed with fans, all in a great mood and ready to support their team.

Was really easy to take back, too. It's a great way to move a lot of people into and out of a small area. And trains that serve such facilities usually put on extra cars and trains for the events.


The Norman station isn't super close to the stadium but I've parked almost that far away and walked many times. And of course the could easily add shuttle busses.

That would great. Make it almost like a fan experience. Also would bring some more business to area around the train station for that part of Norman. A lot of people still just come down for tailgating and being in Norman for the experience. This would do nothing but help that.

Plus less traffic for everyone else....

[Pete]

^

Plus it could really boost occupancy in the downtown OKC hotels.

Come to town for the weekend, take the train down for the game, spend Saturday night downtown.

Would be great for both OU and rival fans.

[jedicurt]

^

Plus it could really boost occupancy in the downtown OKC hotels.

Come to town for the weekend, take the train down for the game, spend Saturday night downtown.

Would be great for both OU and rival fans.

but this is more suited to talk about with the Regional Transit Authority work... not Maps 4

[dankrutka]

You can take the morning Amtrack down now, right? Why couldn't Amtrack run back and forth between Norman and OKC a couple times on gameday mornings and advertise it?

[Pete]

You can take the morning Amtrack down now, right? Why couldn't Amtrack run back and forth between Norman and OKC a couple times on gameday mornings and advertise it?

Only one train: Leaves OKC at 8:25A and then leaves Norman on the way back north at 8:48P.

These routes lose money (and usually a lot of it) so it would have to be regionally subsidized.

In California, commuter trains ran on the Amtrak lines but were a completely separate operation.

[Hutch]

Plus it could really boost occupancy in the downtown OKC hotels. Come to town for the weekend, take the train down for the game, spend Saturday night downtown.

Great observation. One of the misguided concerns we had to deal with in our early work on the RTA was the idea that by developing rail transit between OKC and the surrounding suburbs that somehow that would be detrimental to OKC. Most everyone now understands that trains run both directions, and that there will be equal benefits for all cities, including OKC. Yours is a great example of that point.

Also, there have been a number of discussions during the RTA work, and as part of Norman's recent Transportation Plan, about the idea of having a train station on the east side of the Duck Pond for game days and other special events at OU.

[Hutch]

Absolutely. I like this particular route because in addition to serving the northern inner city neighborhoods, it connects visitors in staying in Bricktown to Uptown, Paseo, western Ave, Classen Curve, and Whole foods. In addition, It would allow CHK employees and all those folks who work in the area to hop on after work and ride downtown for a game or whatever.

ACOG's Commuter Corridors Study that was completed in 2015 recommended a streetcar line extending from the northwest end of the current system north on Classen to 63rd as part of the Locally Preferred Alternative for the North Corridor (OKC-Edmond).



The great thing about being identified as part of the LPA of the study is that it qualifies the line to receive matching federal funding. That could be a big deal. Those type of studies are expensive and take a long time to complete. For this line, things are ready to go.

[Mott]

You can take the morning Amtrack down now, right? Why couldn't Amtrack run back and forth between Norman and OKC a couple times on gameday mornings and advertise it?

History is amazing, back when Santa Fe had it’s own pasanger dept. they ran a special train from the downtown depot, to Norman, and back on game days, as well running a special to Dallas for the OU-Tex game. You never know what you have till it’s gone!

[Ross MacLochness]

The Norman station isn't super close to the stadium but I've parked almost that far away and walked many times. And of course the could easily add shuttle busses.

Maybe if this ever became a reality, Norman could build a Brooks Street Station for gameday/campus visits

[BG918]

Maybe if this ever became a reality, Norman could build a Brooks Street Station for gameday/campus visits

I think that would be part of the plan, possibly partially funded by OU. I don’t know if it would have hourly service but definitely would have higher frequency for football games and campus events. The main Norman station with frequent every-30-minute service would be downtown/Main Street.

[HOT ROD]

^

Plus it could really boost occupancy in the downtown OKC hotels.

Come to town for the weekend, take the train down for the game, spend Saturday night downtown.

Would be great for both OU and rival fans.

I suspect people are already doing this without transit but you're thought is wonderful.

Recall the OU-KSU game from Saturday, Fox did a wonderful video montage about Norman/Oklahoma which began with the rural then Norman/OU then had very nice shots of downtown OKC. Really very nicely done giving the feeling that OU is in an urban oasis on the prairie. While that may not be totally true since Norman is a suburb and not the city, OU is in the OKC metro area and the video gave the feeling of what you would do when coming here; fly into the city - game at OU - fun back up in the city.

Also equally impressive was when one of the announcers said he LOVED coming to Norman (meaning OKC) for OU games - and he has called every Fox game for OU thus far. .. You know that was his itinerary and likely is that of most visitors. Was just so thrilling to see.

[HOT ROD]

ACOG's Commuter Corridors Study that was completed in 2015 recommended a streetcar line extending from the northwest end of the current system north on Classen to 63rd as part of the Locally Preferred Alternative for the North Corridor (OKC-Edmond).



The great thing about being identified as part of the LPA of the study is that it qualifies the line to receive matching federal funding. That could be a big deal. Those type of studies are expensive and take a long time to complete. For this line, things are ready to go.

I love the LPA I just disagree that there should be a stop at 23rd. Why have a stop there when it's not that far to downtown and then connect to shuttle or streetcar. I think it would be too many stops for CR, where the point is to have a MASS of people not have a mass of stops. Also, you would likely diminish the viability of the downtown station a bit if half of the trains got off/on the stop just before.

Save the money for the would be needed 23rd station and shuttles/streetcar and just go from 63rd to downtown, then have a proper transfer to the last mile mode be it shuttle bus, streetcar, or whatever to the CBD or the capital area.

[TheSteveHunt]

Based on his emails, it sure looks like Holt will be upset if he doesn't get another
publicly subsidized stadium. Worst case scenario he doesn't get it, and we start pursuing
sane economic growth models that can benefit everyone, including getting the Country back
on track.....

[Zuplar]

I’m starting to regret my vote for Holt. He ran on the coattails of Mick and got my vote that way. So far he’s been a disappointment.

[Pete]

Based on his emails, it sure looks like Holt will be upset if he doesn't get another
publicly subsidized stadium. Worst case scenario he doesn't get it, and we start pursuing
sane economic growth models that can benefit everyone, including getting the Country back
on track.....

The people on that email are all with the Chamber... Then there is Funk who owns the Energy, and then the rest (Couch, Hill, Fox) are city staff.

The Chamber runs the MAPS promotions and what they want has a lot to do with what makes it to a vote.

[Jersey Boss]

Wow, what a breath of fresh air and transperancy elected to the office of mayor. Stuff like this is surely just the tip of the iceberg. Suggestions made on just letting the program expire and raising the sale's tax for needed improvements and not toys for the elite should be considered by the electorate and those paying the freight.

[BoulderSooner]

Nothing about that email is remotely controversial

[Midtowner]

Nothing about that email is remotely controversial

Right? That business leaders would converse with government about projects to benefit the community? Shocking. Appalling.

[TheSteveHunt]

Yah. But I think the trip to Sacramento was a big shady...

[king183]

Right? That business leaders would converse with government about projects to benefit the community? Shocking. Appalling.

Yeah, I don't get it. What was in that email that indicated Holt would be upset if he doesn't get a publicly subsidized stadium? It seems like he merely mentioned beginning a discussion. Am I missing something?

[BoulderSooner]

How is visiting a peer city “shady”?