Ideas 4 MAPS

[rte66man]

I just got back from a trip to Austin where they have a big vote next week on something called Proposition A, which is supposed to provide more "affordable" housing. Here's one viewpoint:
https://www.austinchronicle.com/news...promised-land/

[dankrutka]

I'm afraid Dallas and other cities would be shipping them up by the bus loads again if the City Of OKC was giving away free housing/sleep - living qtrs. They may still be doing that anyways.

Is there evidence to support the claim that the City of Dallas or other cities in the region “ship” their homeless population to other cities? Thanks in advance.

[Rover]

Is there evidence to support the claim that the City of Dallas or other cities in the region “ship” their homeless population to other cities? Thanks in advance.

Some cities have programs where they pay for bus tickets for homeless who show they have somewhere they can go where they have a place to stay or someone they can live with but can’t afford to get there.
This is viewed as humanitarian by liberals and nefarious by conservatives.

[Laramie]

Are we in need of an indoor Olympic size swimming facility inside Oklahoma City limits.

Sechrist cited $280,000 per year in annual maintenance, and a architecturally-generated estimate of $6 million to repair.

Could the city purchase and take over the one at OCCC: https://swimswam.com/historic-occc-p...fter-25-years/


OCCC Aquatic Center features a 50-meter long competitive pool; separate diving well equipped with 2 one-meter springboards, 2 three-meter springboards and platforms at five, seven and 10 meters

Any idea what a new Aquatic swimming pool facility would cost; might be a perfect fit for the Boathouse or Adventure Districts. ASA Hall of Fame Stadium area possesses city owned land.

[chuck5815]

Some cities have programs where they pay for bus tickets for homeless who show they have somewhere they can go where they have a place to stay or someone they can live with but can’t afford to get there.
This is viewed as humanitarian by liberals and nefarious by conservatives.

Yeah, that’s absolutely a waste of taxpayer money. I’d rather finance/subsidize low-income housing in the core.

[OKC Guy]

I know this won’t be popular but I say we do a 100% road Maps until all roads are up to par. We’ve spent a majority of money subsidizing downtown its time to spend zero downtown and fix roads all over the city. They have one going now but its not enough, its a bandaid to go from worst in country to still below average.

A lot of new jobs are not in downtown. People from out of area travel all over the city and our roads are an impression on them. And if we could fix our roads to high standards that would be good for business as much as downtown projects. It would let voters have a break from over 20 years of mostly MAPS being spent downtown. It would be seen by every voter too. This would be positive in the big scheme and at least get voters to buy back in to MAPS type projects.

Right now it seems they want to spend money just because, with no clear plan ahead. To ask for ideas means you have none of your own, and want to find new ways to spend our money.

I am on record as saying the streetcar will not be a smashing hit long term. I feel people are weary of most money going downtown. If the city fails to recognize this then future MAPS will fail and all momentum lost. You have to appease all residents to keep support. Other than here on this posting board I have not found one person who is for street car, because of other needs.

To illistrate how problems are getting worse for city services, I use the city app to report problems. 3-4 years ago when I reported a problem they were fixed fast. I was super impressed. I reported tree branches obscuring school zones and they got fixed within a few days. Same for potholes. At that time the app showed all “active” reports so you knew if someone already reported it plus could tell how fast it was fixed. Then at some point they changed the app and took off ability to see other active reports other than your own. I thought that was fishy, as if to hide bad service.

Fast forward to this year and its almost criminal what is going on. I reported tree branches covering up a flashing school signal 2 weeks prior to school starting. Over 3 weeks it never got fixed but check this out “it was signed off as completed”! So I called it in using the app work order number and lady said they would get to it but after Labor day was over. So a week after I had to call again now mid Sep. still no dice. So I got in touch with superviser and he said they were short staffed and had to subcontract it out. It finally got fixed. But my point is they signed it off as done.

So 3 weeks ago I reported potholes on my street. Waited and waited finally noticed “they signed it off as completed again”. Both of them, I used 2 reports to report 4 bad potholes (2 each were close to each other). So again they are intentionally signing off uncompleted work! And yet now we want to spend more money dreaming up more projects?

I am all for what MAPS has done to our downtown. But ots time to fix the rest of our city. I will vote against any new MAPS that does not address other parts of our city first. And I am not alone.

[Plutonic Panda]

A good use of MAPS a could be used to widen I-35 and add HOT lanes which would actually bring back revenue for the city.

[OKC Guy]

A good use of MAPS a could be used to widen I-35 and add HOT lanes which would actually bring back revenue for the city.

No, that is Fed road and should not be paid for by MAPS. ODOT is involved in interstate projects and should have factored that in years ago to at least start it when roads are expanded.

Another point I told my friends when they moved I-40 crosstown. Even though we were not ready for light rail we should have designed light rail into the plans. By that I mean spemd a bit extra and engineer it so we could build it in future. Meaning you make sure groundwork is done so don’t have to move things later. Overpasses designed so room for light rail someday. Yes it costs more but you save cause you already have it tore up and equipment there.

If we wanted to run light rail east to west then 40 is the best path. If anyone notices all overpasses have massive pillars in middle so it would be major cost to ever undo/redo that. They could have built them just as strong using 2 pillars on each side of middle for a bit more cost yet not major. Now its too late to ever put light rail in middle. We never plan ahead.

[Plutonic Panda]

Many major cities use sources of funds such as MAPS to pay for freeway and transportation improvements. So I’m not sure why you think that isn’t feasible. I had no idea what your second sentence means.

MAPS 4 would be a great source of funds to use to partially fund HOT lanes on I-35. They’d bring back revenue for MAPS. Could be used to pay for maintenance for other MAPS projects. It would provide a steady stream of revenue.

[Dob Hooligan]

The former Speeedway location at State Fair Park is the best location for a soccer stadium, IMO. Less than one mile from a cross country interstate intersection, traffic access and control in unmatched. The land has no long term use dedicated. It is a bland sea of asphalt, and has poorly designed traffic layout in it’s current configuration. Ideal for an aluminum bleacher and colorful fabric siding panels pop up stadium. Which could be expanded and enclosed with more permanent materials as the revenue steams grow. Much as the Chickasaw tribe did with the WinStar casino: enclosed and expanded out of free cash flow, every part of the original casino from 20 years ago is still there.

[gopokes88]

Lets see how the near billion dollars helps the roads before we commit another billion.

[Plutonic Panda]

Lets see how the near billion dollars helps the roads before we commit another billion.

More than likely the backlog of projects is worth billions.

[OKC Guy]

Lets see how the near billion dollars helps the roads before we commit another billion.

Same holds true of Streetcar, before we expand it. Needs 2-3 years to see how ridership is before we commit more funds.

[Plutonic Panda]

Same holds true of Streetcar, before we expand it. Needs 2-3 years to see how ridership is before we commit more funds.

There have been reports that of major investment as a result of the streetcar. Color me very skeptical of that-- even if the company says so. That being said, with transit systems(same said for roads and freeways), the more people it reaches the more people that are likely to use it. If the streetcar does perform poorly, I'd still be in favor of a modest expansion as long as it doesn't go citywide like some posters here want. City wide should be it's own light-rail rapid transit lines that are grade separated.

[MagzOK]

I know this won’t be popular but I say we do a 100% road Maps until all roads are up to par. We’ve spent a majority of money subsidizing downtown its time to spend zero downtown and fix roads all over the city. They have one going now but its not enough, its a bandaid to go from worst in country to still below average.

A lot of new jobs are not in downtown. People from out of area travel all over the city and our roads are an impression on them. And if we could fix our roads to high standards that would be good for business as much as downtown projects. It would let voters have a break from over 20 years of mostly MAPS being spent downtown. It would be seen by every voter too. This would be positive in the big scheme and at least get voters to buy back in to MAPS type projects.

Right now it seems they want to spend money just because, with no clear plan ahead. To ask for ideas means you have none of your own, and want to find new ways to spend our money.

I am on record as saying the streetcar will not be a smashing hit long term. I feel people are weary of most money going downtown. If the city fails to recognize this then future MAPS will fail and all momentum lost. You have to appease all residents to keep support. Other than here on this posting board I have not found one person who is for street car, because of other needs.

To illistrate how problems are getting worse for city services, I use the city app to report problems. 3-4 years ago when I reported a problem they were fixed fast. I was super impressed. I reported tree branches obscuring school zones and they got fixed within a few days. Same for potholes. At that time the app showed all “active” reports so you knew if someone already reported it plus could tell how fast it was fixed. Then at some point they changed the app and took off ability to see other active reports other than your own. I thought that was fishy, as if to hide bad service.

Fast forward to this year and its almost criminal what is going on. I reported tree branches covering up a flashing school signal 2 weeks prior to school starting. Over 3 weeks it never got fixed but check this out “it was signed off as completed”! So I called it in using the app work order number and lady said they would get to it but after Labor day was over. So a week after I had to call again now mid Sep. still no dice. So I got in touch with superviser and he said they were short staffed and had to subcontract it out. It finally got fixed. But my point is they signed it off as done.

So 3 weeks ago I reported potholes on my street. Waited and waited finally noticed “they signed it off as completed again”. Both of them, I used 2 reports to report 4 bad potholes (2 each were close to each other). So again they are intentionally signing off uncompleted work! And yet now we want to spend more money dreaming up more projects?

I am all for what MAPS has done to our downtown. But ots time to fix the rest of our city. I will vote against any new MAPS that does not address other parts of our city first. And I am not alone.

+1

[mugofbeer]

Many major cities use sources of funds such as MAPS to pay for freeway and transportation improvements. So I’m not sure why you think that isn’t feasible. I had no idea what your second sentence means.

MAPS 4 would be a great source of funds to use to partially fund HOT lanes on I-35. They’d bring back revenue for MAPS. Could be used to pay for maintenance for other MAPS projects. It would provide a steady stream of revenue.

Respectfully, l think you are confusing state funds with local. I've lived several places in my life. I've seen states issue special bonds to pay for hiway construction (because interest rates were next to nothing it made sense). I've never heard of a local city voting money to work on Federal hiways. They are different jurisdictions.

[Plutonic Panda]

Respectfully, l think you are confusing state funds with local. I've lived several places in my life. I've seen states issue special bonds to pay for hiway construction (because interest rates were next to nothing it made sense). I've never heard of a local city voting money to work on Federal hiways. They are different jurisdictions.

No. it’s a local sales tax. It adds a sales tax to fund several transit projects including freeway projects. Some cities do that. I would expect for OKC to eventually go this route once billion dollar freeway projects start to become the norm. So far, OKC has yet to have a freeway project cost over a billion dollars. I am wondering if the I-44 Belle Isle reconstruction will be the first.

BTW, the agency doing it is Metro which is the equivalent to ACOG . Metro is MPO for Los Angeles area.

Here’s a link if you want to read more about it. http://theplan.metro.net

It funds 120 billion dollars worth of projects.

My I-35 plan would partially fund two express lanes in each direction from I-40 to HWY 9 in Norman. This would provide adequate capacity for a very long time. Eventually a general purpose lane in each direction from I-240 to I-40 would be needed, but that’s down the line. Please notice I said partially fund. So MAPS wouldn’t be paying for the full price but rather pledge funds for OkDOT to produce their own expediting the project. The revenue would be split up and decided afterwards.

[OKC Guy]

No. it’s a local sales tax. It adds a sales tax to fund several transit projects including freeway projects. Some cities do that. I would expect for OKC to eventually go this route once billion dollar freeway projects start to become the norm. So far, OKC has yet to have a freeway project cost over a billion dollars. I am wondering if the I-44 Belle Isle reconstruction will be the first.

BTW, the agency doing it is Metro which is the equivalent to ACOG . Metro is MPO for Los Angeles area.

Here’s a link if you want to read more about it. http://theplan.metro.net

It funds 120 billion dollars worth of projects.

My I-35 plan would partially fund two express lanes in each direction from I-40 to HWY 9 in Norman. This would provide adequate capacity for a very long time. Eventually a general purpose lane in each direction from I-240 to I-40 would be needed, but that’s down the line. Please notice I said partially fund. So MAPS wouldn’t be paying for the full price but rather pledge funds for OkDOT to produce their own expediting the project. The revenue would be split up and decided afterwards.

This would require more than OK County to fund since your idea goes out of County. No way citizens will vote for this at this point. You also have the light rail push which this would compete with.

MAPS needs to focus on OKC projects. If planners venture too far off they will lose support. I already feel they lost support with the Streetcar. What I mean is voters are declining for each MAPS and the streetcar is not well liked around town other than downtown. Any new MAPS will have to appease a bigger area than downtown to pass.

[Plutonic Panda]

Good point about the county issue. The project would only partially fund so it could be brought to the county line. Anyways you are right it isn’t happening so no point in discussing it further. This project is needed however.

[OKC Guy]

Good point about the county issue. The project would only partially fund so it could be brought to the county line. Anyways you are right it isn’t happening so no point in discussing it further. This project is needed however.

What we need is the area cities/counties to work on both light rail and road ideas jointly. If they had a plan and engaged the state to get fed funds, that would be best. Feds want a plan to give money and we have none. We do have toll roads already run by OTA.

[dankrutka]

Some cities have programs where they pay for bus tickets for homeless who show they have somewhere they can go where they have a place to stay or someone they can live with but can’t afford to get there.
This is viewed as humanitarian by liberals and nefarious by conservatives.

This is very different than the other post where a poster claimed cities "ship" homeless to other cities to rid themselves of the population. Helping someone without finances reach a destination -- whether it's a good policy or not -- is not what was discussed. So, do cities actually have this policy?

Now, there's plenty of argument as to whether such a policy of helping those in need reach a destination is a worthy expenditure, but why would it be seen as "nefarious"? I'm unsure what that means. Thanks in advance.

[Plutonic Panda]

What we need is the area cities/counties to work on both light rail and road ideas jointly. If they had a plan and engaged the state to get fed funds, that would be best. Feds want a plan to give money and we have none. We do have toll roads already run by OTA.

I agree. This will be especially crucial with rail. It would be nice to see this with freeways as well such as how Metro does it.

[redhardy]

"little band of players"? You're entitled to your opinion but that's a pretty ignorant statement that discounts and ridicules a wide swath of the OKC area that is a fan of soccer - especially the Hispanic community. Grow up OKCRT.

[BoulderSooner]

We’ve spent a majority of money subsidizing downtown

This is not close to the truth. Downtown subsidizes the rest of Okc. And it is not close

[baralheia]

What we need is the area cities/counties to work on both light rail and road ideas jointly. If they had a plan and engaged the state to get fed funds, that would be best. Feds want a plan to give money and we have none. We do have toll roads already run by OTA.

This is part of the reason why there's been a push to get the regional transportation authority going; we've lost out on a lot of federal matching dollars for transit because we didn't have one. We're very close to having ours established now. ACOG also does a lot of planning work that combines road and transit projects, but they don't have the power to implement such planning themselves; it's up to the member cities and ODOT to make their planning happen.