[oklahoma-l] FW: Public Meetings to Discuss Downtown Transit

[Vicky Golightly]

Vicky Golightly
Public Information Officer
and Braille Coordinator
Oklahoma Library for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped
300 N.E. 18th Street
Oklahoma City, OK  73105
(405) 521-3514
Toll Free:  1-800-523-0288
Direct Line:  (405) 522-0526
E-Mail:  vgolightly at okdrs.gov


From: Jody Harlan
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 11:24 AM
To: All Oklahoma City Offices
Subject: Public Meetings to Discuss Downtown Transit

Public Meetings to Discuss New Downtown Transit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2010
Meetings to Collect Input from Community on Destinations and Routes
The Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority and the City of Oklahoma City are seeking citizen input through a series of public meetings and online forums to begin planning for enhanced public transit in downtown Oklahoma City.
COTPA will launch www.LetsTalkTransit.com<http://www.letstalktransit.com/home> and host the first "Let's Talk Transit" public discussion on March 29 to collect input about the initial five-mile modern streetcar routes in downtown Oklahoma City. Together, the public and COTPA will work through the process to identify destinations and routes that will best serve downtown's public transportation needs. Included in the area of focus will be various downtown districts such as the Automobile Alley, Bricktown, Central Business District, Deep Deuce, Film District, Oklahoma Health Center, Midtown and the Core to Shore area.
"This is the first step toward a new transit vision for our City," said Mayor Cornett. "We're encouraging every citizen to offer input.  These meetings will help us identify the service areas that are most important to those who work in, live in and visit our downtown."
Citizens can provide their input online or through a series of Let's Talk Transit public meetings. Meetings will be held:
§  March 29 City Hall- 200 N Walker (11:30 am - 1 pm OR 6 - 7:30 pm)
§  April 13 Civic Center Hall of Mirrors - 201 N Walker(6 - 7:30 pm)
§  April 29 Civic Center Hall of Mirrors - 201 N Walker(6 - 7:30pm)
§  May 11 Civic Center Hall of Mirrors - 201 N Walker (6 - 7:30 pm)
§  May 27 City Hall - 200 N Walker (11:30 am - 1 pm OR 6 - 7:30 pm)
The agenda for each of the five meeting dates will change because it will build on the information and input from the previous meeting. On the first and last dates the community will have the option to attend a morning or an evening meeting with the same agenda.
This accelerated process is necessary to identify what streets the streetcar may travel and to coordinate the plan with Project 180 - Oklahoma City's downtown streetscape plan starting in May 2010. Through cooperative planning, the projects will minimize disruption due to construction and maximize cost savings.
Included in MAPS 3, passed by Oklahoma City voters in December 2009, is approximately $130 million in funding for public transportation. The transit package includes approximately five miles of downtown streetcar and a multimodal transit hub in downtown.
"Five miles of streetcar will only allow us to cover a limited area," said Rick Cain, Administrator of COTPA and Director of Public Transportation and Parking for the City of Oklahoma City. "That's why it's critical we get input from citizens about their preferred destinations and routes in downtown Oklahoma City."
In hopes of building on the MAPS 3 modern streetcar project, an Alternatives Analysis (AA) study is underway. The AA study will provide a broader scope of the transportation needs of downtown Oklahoma City and is required to qualify for future federal funding. While a modern streetcar will provide improved mobility in the area, the AA will look at planning with emerging technologies and services for further enhancing downtown public transportation for the next 30 years.
An AA Steering Committee made up of citizens is currently being formed to review input from transit consultants, city planners and engineers about capital, operating costs and other infrastructure that must be considered, as well as to listen to input from the public about where they want to go. The input from the Let's Talk Transit public discussion will be reviewed and considered by the Alternatives Analysis Steering Committee for their recommendation to the City Council.
For more information or to provide input, visit www.LetsTalkTransit.com<http://www.letstalktransit.com/home>.
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People with Disabilities Awareness Day 2010

[cid:image003.jpg at 01CACCD6.D379E850]

Wednesday, April 7, 2010
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
State Capitol
Preregister now! <http://www.okdrs.gov/pwdad/>


Jody Harlan
________________________________
OK Department of Rehabilitation Services
3535 NW 58th Street #500
Oklahoma City, OK  73112-4824
office 405.951.3473   toll free 800.845.8476
cell 405.203.1318  email jharlan at okdrs.gov








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