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Oklahoma City mass transit plans take first step

 
BY BRYAN DEAN | Modified: March 30, 2010 at 10:47 am | Published: March 24, 2010    Comment on this article Leave a comment

Oklahoma City leaders took an early step Tuesday toward an overhaul of the city’s mass transit system as promised in MAPS 3.

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Mar 30This is an important time for MAPS 3.

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Also at Tuesday’s meeting ...

→The city approved final plans for about $3 million worth of improvements to the Cox Convention Center as it prepares to host an American Hockey League team. The improvements include a new locker room for the team, box seating, a VIP club, team store, press room and new dasher boards. Dasher boards are the barrier between the hockey rink and the crowd. Bids on the improvements will be received April 13.

→Council members approved a $6,500 lease with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park to use Bicentennial Park for its 2010 season. The group used the Water Stage at the Myriad Botanical Gardens for its last three seasons, but the gardens are scheduled to close in May for a major overhaul. Organizers asked to move Shakespeare in the Park to the west end of Bicentennial Park, 500 Couch Drive, as an alternate site. Performances will take place on a temporary stage and visitors will be able to use rest rooms at the nearby Civic Center Music Hall.

On NewsOK: Read previous stories on the MAPS 3 project at NewsOK.com/MAPS3.

City council members voted to approve a partnership with the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, which will hire a consultant to study the costs and possible locations for a downtown transit hub.

The MAPS 3 plan approved by voters in December includes $130 million for public transportation. Part of that money will go toward a modern streetcar system in the downtown area. The rest will pay for the transit hub, which would link the city’s bus system with the streetcar and Amtrak rail line. The hub also will allow for future forms of transportation such as light rail and express rail.

Doug Rex, transportation director for the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, said, "What we hope to accomplish is to actually recommend a location for the future regional intermodal hub. We expect to have a consultant on board by July 1 and hope to have some results available in this calendar year or early in 2011.

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Related Topics: Domestic Policy, Political Policy, Politics, Transportation, Public Transportation, Economic Policy, Train Travel, Local Politics, Economic Stimulus, Government and Politics



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