Streetcar

[HOT ROD]

Yes, excellent work UP, Tier 2, Hutch and all others!!

And I particularly like the idea of working WITH the other committees and also the alliance. It has been proven time and time again, that in OKC - working together gets things done! and done BIG.

ONLY if we could have adopted this approach with Project 180 then we could have truly redeveloped every street downtown AND had 6+ miles of streetcar with minimal disruption to streetfront business. ...

[Just the facts]

I don't think anyone has been hired for any actual building design, so I wouldn't pin my hat on anything at this point... This is purely a graphical representation of how it could be sited.

Why is it with anything in OKC the 'graphical representation' is always crappy? If money is no object at this point why not draw something nicer? Do brick colored crayons cost more than concrete colored ones or something? Maybe the artist can't draw bricks.

[warreng88]

COTPA.

They are HQ'd in Union Station.

I meant COPTA, not sure why I put OCURA. Thanks for the correction.

[OKCisOK4me]

I meant COPTA, not sure why I put OCURA. Thanks for the correction.

I always want to say COPTA too. It just comes out easier...

[Urban Pioneer]

And technically now it is "EMBARK". lol

[Urban Pioneer]

Reminds me of Em Park!

Empowers you to park! lol

If COTPA's parking revenues, even part of the revenue, went to transit, I would feel differently.

Just a reminder of the many battles we have had to fight with them... July 12, 2013 Potential Conflict with Rail Line - Parking Garage Discussion in OKC - YouTube

[Urban Pioneer]

Your right. It just has been a long 10 years.

[Bellaboo]

John Norquist to Ed Shadid (2012): Don't Allow Politics Delay Streetcar | News OK

Steve has a little insight to comments made to Ed from the Milwaukee mayor - 'Don't allow Politics to Stop the Streetcar project -'

Doesn't look like Ed listened though.

[Urban Pioneer]

Thanks for pointing out those comments Steve. I had forgotten about them.

[betts]

John Norquist to Ed Shadid (2012): Don't Allow Politics Delay Streetcar | News OK

Steve has a little insight to comments made to Ed from the Milwaukee mayor - 'Don't allow Politics to Stop the Streetcar project -'

Doesn't look like Ed listened though.

I don't think he listens. I know a couple of politically astute people who have given him good advice in the past that he has completely ignored.

[CaptDave]

I was present for a few discussions with Mr Norquist - agreed with him just about 100%; but many of his recommendations have been discarded evidently.

[betts]

New streetcar hailed for delivering development :: The Salt Lake Tribune

Building one line definitely increases the likelihood of getting future federal grants. My iPhone isn't letting me copy and paste, but read paragraph 7 and the comment about the Obama Administration.

[Garin]

Tram wars! Why streetcars are back ? whether you like it or not - Salon.com

[LakeEffect]

Tram wars! Why streetcars are back ? whether you like it or not - Salon.com

I hate articles like that... using retro trolley images and quotes from people that aren't pro-streetcar. In fact, re-reading it, I don't see a single quote from a pro-streetcar person (maybe I missed it). Further, calling them a direct response to the TIGER grant program is silly. It may have enabled some of them to happen faster, but it's certainly not the only means-to-the-end or a driver for the want/need.

[Spartan]

What proportion if TIGER grants actually go to streetcar systems and furthermore, isn't the flexibility of that grant program a direct result of the emergence of streetcars (is it chicken or egg) and ultimately every transit network we have ESPECIALLY freeways is just the result of how federal funding is made accessible.

[Garin]

2013 TIGER Grants Announced

U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx Announces $474 Million for 52 TIGER 2013 Projects in 37 States

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced that 52 transportation projects in 37 states will receive a total of approximately $474 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) 2013 discretionary grant program. Among these, 25 projects funded at $123.4 million will be designated for projects in rural areas of the country.

“These transformational TIGER projects are the best argument for investment in our transportation infrastructure,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Together, they support President Obama’s call to ensure a stronger transportation system for future generations by repairing existing infrastructure, connecting people to new jobs and opportunities, and contributing to our nation’s economic growth.”

Detailed information for each of the below awards can be found here.

State

Applicant Organization

Project Name

Funding

AK

Village of Alakanuk

Alakanuk Community Streets Improvement

$2,200,000

AL

City of Foley

Foley Transportation Regional Infrastructure Pedestrian System

$4,728,507

AR

Arkansas DOT

Highway 92 Roadway Improvement and Bridge Replacements

$4,960,000

AZ

Pima County

Port of Tucson: Container Export Rail Facility

$5,000,000

CA

City of Fresno

Fulton Mall Reconstruction

$15,924,620

CA

San Diego Association of Governments

Pacific Surfliner Coastal Railway Bridges

$14,000,000

CA

Town of Truckee

State Route 89 Railroad Undercrossing

$1,500,000

CO

Colorado DOT

Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnel Fire Suppression

$10,000,000

CO

Town of Windsor

Great Western Freight Improvement

$2,790,185

CT

Connecticut DOT

State Street Station Expansion

$10,000,000

DE

Diamond State Port Corporation

Rehabilitation of Wharf Unit 1 (Berths 5/6)

$10,000,000

FL

Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization

Lee County Complete Streets Initiative

$10,473,900

FL

Florida DOT

South Florida Freight & Passenger Rail Enhancement

$13,750,000

FL

Florida International University

University City Prosperity Project

$11,397,120

GA

City of Atlanta

Southwest Atlanta BeltLine Corridor Trail

$18,000,000

IA

Winneshiek County

Northeast Iowa's Livable Rural Communities

$1,651,475

IL

City of Springfield

Springfield Rail Improvements

$14,400,000

IN

Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation

IndyGo Electric Bus

$10,000,000

IN

Indiana DOT

White River Freight Railroad Bridge Replacement

$8,245,220

MA

City of Boston

Connect Historic Boston

$15,523,700

MD

Maryland Port Administration

Port of Baltimore Enhancements

$10,000,000

ME

Eastport Port Authority

Eastport Breakwater Replacement

$6,000,000

MI

Michigan DOT

Kalamazoo to Dearborn Rail Improvements

$9,383,036

MN

Minnesota DOT

Minnesota Rural Roads ITS

$1,457,307

MN

Duluth Seaway Port Authority

Port of Duluth Intermodal

$10,000,000

MO

City of Kansas City

Kansas City Downtown Streetcar

$20,000,000

MS

Mississippi DOT

I-20 Mississippi River Bridge Rehabilitation

$4,250,000

MS

Jackson County Port Authority

Port of Pascagoula Intermodal Improvement

$14,000,000

MT

Missoula County

Missoula to Lolo Trail

$4,580,363

NC

City of Goldsboro

Goldsboro Main Street Revitalization

$10,000,000

NC

City of Raleigh

Raleigh Union Station Phase 1B

$10,000,000

NH

New Hampshire DOT

New Hampshire Northcoast Rail Corridor Improvements

$1,400,000

NM

Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo Veterans Highway

$3,290,121

NV

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

Pelican Point Roads

$2,949,513

NY

City of Rochester

Inner Loop East Reconstruction

$17,700,000

NY

Port of Oswego Authority

Port of Oswego: East Terminal Intermodal Connector

$1,527,000

NY

City of Olean

Walkable Olean: Complete Street Transformation

$6,500,000

OK

Oklahoma DOT

Erick to Sayre Freight Railroad Rehabilitation

$1,831,000

OK

City of Oklahoma City

OKC Intermodal Transportation Hub

$13,591,178

OR

Port of Garibaldi

Port of Garibaldi Wharf Revitalization

$1,474,761

PA

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

SEPTA-CSX Separation Project

$10,000,000

RI

Rhode Island DOT

Apponaug Circulator Improvements

$10,000,000

SD

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Improvements to BIA Route 2

$8,777,960

TN

Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority

Nashville Transit Signal Priority System

$10,000,000

TX

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Moving Central Texas

$11,337,989

TX

Sun Metro

Northgate Transfer Center

$10,302,054

TX

Port of Houston Authority

Port of Houston: Bayport Wharf

$10,000,000

VA

Virginia DOT

Delta Frame Bridge

$11,957,984

VT

Vermont DOT

Western Corridor Rail Rehabilitation

$8,992,007

WA

Sound Transit

I-90 Two Way Transit and HOV

$14,000,000

WA

Sound Transit

Tacoma Trestle Replacement

$10,000,000

WY

Town of Jackson

Jackson Transit Facility

$8,000,000

2013 Webinar Series

Please join us for a series of online webinars on the FY 2013 TIGER application process. There are no registration fees for these sessions, however space is limited so advance registration is required. Register for the webinars by clicking on the webinar topics listed below. Recordings and presentation materials are available for past sessions.

[Spartan]

The point I'm making was rhetorical but is heavily backed up by posting that, TIGER is not the impetus for all these new streetcars. Anyone who thinks that is a neocon, pro-highway hack. The impetus for all these new streetcars is a grassroots, locally born desire in all of these cities for a transformative capital project.

[soonerguru]

I hate articles like that... using retro trolley images and quotes from people that aren't pro-streetcar. In fact, re-reading it, I don't see a single quote from a pro-streetcar person (maybe I missed it). Further, calling them a direct response to the TIGER grant program is silly. It may have enabled some of them to happen faster, but it's certainly not the only means-to-the-end or a driver for the want/need.

Did one of Ed's minions write that piece? It was absolute $hit. I noticed it featured noted streetcarphobe Jarrett Walker offering his groundless, douchey opinions.

[betts]

Jarett will freely admit people prefer streetcars over buses, as has been demonstrated in Portland where they've noted riders passing up a bus to wait for these streetcar. I understand
his points about buses, but I never felt he understood transit attitudes in OKC. He also did not understand MAPS, and when Ed brought him here it was clear he either misinformed Jarett or at least left him uninformed. In a perfect world, all of Jarett's points are reasonable and logical. But we don't have that perfect world here. We have a ways to go before we're ready for that, IMO.

[soonerguru]

nm

[soonerguru]

Sad you feel this way. I've known Jarrett for many years and consider him a good friend. Never thought of him as a douche.

It isn't like he doesn't have experience. The man lives and breaths public transit. And I agree with much of what he says about streetcars. However, as I've said before, we are post-vote and it's time to move on. I introduced Ed to Jarrett and so please don't toss Jarrett on the Ed bus just because of a affiliation of them both via the talk he gave at one of Ed's events.

We're better than that. We can agree to disagree with folks without calling them names. If you really think he's a douche, I'd love to hear your reasons why.

On edit: If anyone is curious about who Jarrett is and what he believes, he has hosted a great blog for many years at Human Transit. His book is also good. I think most urbanists on here would be very hard pressed to find fundamental positions you'd disagree with Jarrett on.

The guy hates streetcars and is immune to facts that might alter his opinion. He's a bus expert who has a bane toward streetcars. He may be a very nice guy, and I didn't call him a douche, I called out his douchey opinions, which are extremely biased against streetcars. I didn't call him a douche, I wasn't trying to insult his person, I was insulting his ideas. I'm sorry it came out otherwise.

[Spartan]

Sad you feel this way. I've known Jarrett for many years and consider him a good friend. Never thought of him as a douche.

It isn't like he doesn't have experience. The man lives and breaths public transit. And I agree with much of what he says about streetcars. However, as I've said before, we are post-vote and it's time to move on. I introduced Ed to Jarrett and so please don't toss Jarrett on the Ed bus just because of a affiliation of them both via the talk he gave at one of Ed's events.

We're better than that. We can agree to disagree with folks without calling them names. If you really think he's a douche, I'd love to hear your reasons why.

On edit: If anyone is curious about who Jarrett is and what he believes, he has hosted a great blog for many years at Human Transit. His book is also good. I think most urbanists on here would be very hard pressed to find fundamental positions you'd disagree with Jarrett on.

Um, the streetcar? For one?

What I don't disagree with him on: the importance of transit equity and even the role a bus system plays in that. But not at the expense of an easy, slam-dunk win, transformative project we all (mostly) voted for.

[Just the facts]

If a measly $500 million over 5 years (or 1/2 billion if you want it to sound like more) resulted in a doubling of the number of streetcar systems then that is an endorsement of the streetcar, not an inditement.

[betts]

A four mile streetcar route in a city the size of ours cannot be evaluated only as transit. It has to be viewed as part of the big picture: transit for some, TOd driver, attitude changer, "last mile" of a comprehensive system. If ours can do all that, and I think it can, it's a great investment in our transit future.

[BoulderSooner]

I can appreciate this for sure. But it isn't "last mile", which would be my favorite of the reasons you've given. It doesn't connect to the bus system so any of the 10k bus riders that use our buses can't get off a bus and then use the streetcar in that way. Your other reasons are certainly good reasons to support it.

How does it not connect to the bus system ?