OKC Regional Transit System

[HOT ROD]

Not specifically OKC but a nice article about mass transit systems opening/UC around the world: https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/...nned-for-2022/

Nicely OMITS OKC's NW BRT route scheduled for 2023 opening. ....

in fact, I've noticed the lack of coverage OKC gets nationwide/worldwide on projects or retail expansion. It's almost like we're an afterthought, if at all.

[Plutonic Panda]

Probably because that really isn’t true BRT lol

[HOT ROD]

haha, good point. wink.

I was checking out El Paso's transit and it could be a great example for OKC to adopt. https://sunmetro.net/routes/transit-centers/

[Laramie]

You posted a very interesting El Paso transit model.

December 2, 2021:

Mayors and tribes across Oklahoma have lists miles long of projects they hope to fund with some of the more than $5 billion that has been unlocked for Oklahoma by the federal Infrastructure Bill...

$4.6 billion for roads and bridges
$520 million for water infrastructure projects
$500 million for airport and public transportation
$100 million to improve internet access
$1.12 million low-income Oklahomans

Norman

“We have stormwater needs because we’re the largest city in the state of Oklahoma not to have a stormwater utility because we’re the only city in the state that has to vote on the creation or raising of the utility, so having funds to address gaps in that area will be fantastic,” said Norman Mayor Breea Clark.

According to the city’s website, the project involves widening 36th Ave NW from north of Tecumseh Road to north of Indian Hills Road from two to four lanes, with five-foot-wide on-street bike lanes.

Enid

Jerald Gilbert, Enid’s city manager, said the city is very excited about the prospect of additional infrastructure funding to fix the city’s aging and insufficient infrastructure.

“Roads, streets, and bridges are a huge need for us in Enid. Water and sewer lines are another exciting possibilities. Just about any infrastructure that you could imagine, requires repairs, replacements, or improvements,” he said.

Oklahoma City

Mayor David Holt said he is very interested in money for roads and bridges and the city’s transit dollars.

. . . passenger rail would potentially link us up to Newton, Kansas, which is a northern suburb of Wichita, making the whole Amtrak network more available to our residents,” he said.

“When I talk about these things, and the benefits I see for Oklahoma City, I also recognize we’re talking about years to award these dollars and years beyond that to begin construction,” Holt said.

Lawton

Mayor Stan Booker said “We have a lot of water-sewer infrastructure that we’re hoping can be advanced with infrastructure money, and also some industrial roadwork; those are roads used for industrial traffic.

Choctaw Nation

Randy Sachs said infrastructure money will allow the Nation to make intergenerational infrastructural investments in broadband expansion, road construction and surface improvements, electrification and power generation, and many other things.

Oklahoma municipal and tribal officials say infrastructure money is needed: https://gaylordnews.net/7217/news/ok...ney-is-needed/

[Plutonic Panda]

Lawton needs to fix its traffic signals. That is the only place I got so frustrated I just starting running red lights after looking for traffic, Lee BLVD.

[HOT ROD]

I know there is a pent-up need for roads and bridges to be maintained, but $4.6 billion seems like a ridiculously high number of the roughly $5.8 billion Oklahoma is slated to receive. Looks like the state is trying to get out of paying for any maintenance themself which is NOT the best use of these funds.

I think transit should receive a much larger amount and not be lumped in with airports which itself probably could be $500M. Oklahoma could put $4B into roads/bridges from the Federal alotment and $600M into transit would be a much better breakout. Of that $600M, $100M to Amtrak and stations, $250M to OKC for transit, $175M to Tulsa area, and $75M to the rest of the state. OKC's $250M could be split as $100M to Commuter Rail, $100M to Streetcar expansion, and $50M to BRT expansion.

Of course, these figures are JUST the federal alotment dollars with the state and/or city/regional govts pitching in more for their systems/projects.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City definitely needs to seek more infrastructure funds for WRWA, a second expansion and upgrades.

It's time to look at a massive expansion to the tune of $500 million for state airports with $200 million each going to WWRA Oklahoma City and Tulsa International and $100 million distributed to smaller airports throughout the state or however you want to distribute the funds.

If the funds are available, Oklahoma needs to get its share; regardless of whether our two U.S. Senators and five Congressional Representatives all voted against the infrastructure funds.

Someone needs to get this money and work with our two major cities and smaller airports for its use.

Oklahoma's Four Largest Airports:

1. Oklahoma City Will Rogers World Airport (Largest State Passenger Count)
2. Tulsa International (Largest State Cargo Count)
3. Lawton–Fort Sill Regional Airport
4. Stillwater Regional Airport

Do a needs assessment study and get the funds out to expand and or upgrade our airports.

A new wing at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City welcomed passengers once security measures were put in place, with flights anticipated to take off from the expansion’s four new gates by the end of September 2021.

The $90 million construction project began more than two years ago and will feature new lounges, amenities, security processes and the potential for future expansions and international flights.

“We don’t want to ever be in the position to say no to anybody because we don't have room,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt on the ability to accommodate more nonstop flights and for continued improvement of the airport.--Oklahoman, September 13, 2021

Texas is getting $35 billion from the Biden bipartisan Infrastructure bill.

.

[Plutonic Panda]

That is awesome. Hopefully OKC is ambitious with its proposal.

[Richard at Remax]

As someone who went to Seattle recently, the city is woefully under served as far as rail transportation.

[Plutonic Panda]

This article from VeloCity outlines the chambers agenda and provides a summary of several road projects as well as mass/active transit projects.

It also mentions the future I-35 bridge over the Oklahoma River which will be an iconic and larger bridge:

https://www.velocityokc.com/blog/pol...ack=super_blog

[shawnw]

Replacing existing river bridges with iconic bridges would showcase Oklahoma City at the confluence of two major U.S. interstate highways (Interstates 35/40) and facilitate increased sporting events and tourism in the boathouse district.

I'm down with iconic bridges, but not sure I understand how they will facilitate increased sporting events and tourism in the boathouse district. It's not like you can't see that stuff from the current bridges.

They also didn't do their homework. The 2005 fixed guideway study isn't the lastest, and they didn't catch that the RTA lost a member city.

[Bellaboo]

I'm down with iconic bridges, but not sure I understand how they will facilitate increased sporting events and tourism in the boathouse district. It's not like you can't see that stuff from the current bridges.

They also didn't do their homework. The 2005 fixed guideway study isn't the lastest, and they didn't catch that the RTA lost a member city.

The drag boat races have to run a shorter length due to the bridge supports on the I 35 bridge. Clear span will not have a support column in the water. Also with the longer distance rowing boats, same issue exist.

[Plutonic Panda]

I'm down with iconic bridges, but not sure I understand how they will facilitate increased sporting events and tourism in the boathouse district. It's not like you can't see that stuff from the current bridges.

They also didn't do their homework. The 2005 fixed guideway study isn't the lastest, and they didn't catch that the RTA lost a member city.

Yeah they’re a bit behind but I believe this article was summarizing their meeting from last month. Not sure why they are going off of the 2005 guideway study.

[Urbanized]

I'm down with iconic bridges, but not sure I understand how they will facilitate increased sporting events and tourism in the boathouse district. It's not like you can't see that stuff from the current bridges…

The existing I-35 bridge is not clear-span as it crosses the river, and more importantly, the racing course. With pillars in the water in the racing course it disqualifies OKC as a true USOC qualifying venue.

Riversport has done a tremendous job in putting together rowing events thanks in large part to having world-class boathouse facilities - and has certainly attracted a fair number of Olympic athletes to live/train here - but OKC is severely limited on what type of events can be hosted due specifically to the obstructions in the race course. I believe this also creates limitations on championship-level NCAA events.

I’m sure there are other factors driving this desired bridge replacement, but enabling USOC qualifying and championship-level rowing - plus attracting the types of events and tourism that will result once OKC is fully capable - is definitely a prominent one.

[Urbanized]

The drag boat races have to run a shorter length due to the bridge supports on the I 35 bridge. Clear span will not have a support column in the water. Also with the longer distance rowing boats, same issue exist.

Sorry, I posted upthread before reading this post. This is exactly right, though it’s very much driven by crew events, with the potential for enhanced drag boat racing being a bonus much more than a driving factor.

[shawnw]

Thanks for the clarifying why this is good, all.

[MagzOK]

Yes, they could do a beautiful bridge, something similar to the beautiful Margaret Hunt Hill bridge in Dallas. It is something like 40 stories tall and just breathtaking, especially lit up at night. I believe there was a Trinity River Trust, a private organization, that contributed, as did the city, as did TxDOT. OKC could do something similar.

The Hill bridge cost nearly $180 million, but a lot of that came from right of way that had to be purchased for the new river crossing. I35 obviously already exists so there's no right of way issues, but it is a much wider bridge. Maybe a good use of MAPS money to help contribute? IDK, just throwing out thoughts.

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^ that bridge was what I thought of as well.

[chssooner]

Not sure how a beautiful bridge benefits the city, as a whole. If the money is set aside, sure. But it should be highly illegal (it isn't, but should be) to use a material amount of MAPS funds on a bridge, just to make it pretty. It won't help the city, at all. That same amount of money could fix 10 bridges, which does help the city. Just my opinion. Not bashing at all.

[shawnw]

When did maps funds come into this?

Edit: Oh I see. Yeah, no thanks if maps money.

[Plutonic Panda]

Where is saying MAPS Funds are being used for that?

[chssooner]

Where is saying MAPS Funds are being used for that?

The post right above yours.

[baralheia]

Beautification absolutely benefits the city. I would have zero issue with future MAPS funding being used (in part) to rebuild the I-35 bridges over the N Canadian River. I say "in part" because ODOT should share in the cost of the bridge, given that it's an interstate highway.

[Plutonic Panda]

Beautification does benefit the city I agree. I haven’t seen any proposal talk about MAPS funds for this though. When might we see MAPS 5? After 2030? Hopefully we get a new bridge proposal before then at least begin planning.

Maps 5 should be all about transit. The big five. Pick five large transit projects to fund and operate with the biggest maps proposal ever. Include this bridge as part of it.

[shawnw]

I'm on the beautification subcommittee (because they threw that in with connectivity) and the budget is very, very low. There will be no bridges in that (MAPS4 beautification) budget.