Will MAPS 3 Change Public Transportation in Oklahoma City?

For a year, members of the Modern Transit Project have worked to get a downtown street car onto the list of MAPS 3 projects, and finally on Thursday&nbsp;their hard work paid off.<BR><BR><A href="http://www.news9.com/global/Story.asp?s=11148425" target=_blank>Mayor, Oklahoma City Leaders Unveil MAPS 3 Projects</A>&nbsp;| <A href="http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=11153223">Poll: How Would You Vote on MAPS 3?</A>

Thursday, September 17th 2009, 9:40 pm

By: News 9


By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- For a year, members of the Modern Transit Project have worked to get a downtown street car onto the list of MAPS 3 projects, and Thursday morning, Mayor Mick Cornett announced the MTP's hard work paid off.

One component of MAPS 3 includes funding for railways and the streetcars in the downtown area.

The goal is to create a more effective transportation system downtown than the current bus or trolley options.

MTP supporters gathered downtown Thursday evening to celebrate and renew their campaign to get MAPS 3 passed.

"This streetcar system we're proposing will be the largest in the country. A good transportation system is a big key to the success of our future. This is about Oklahoma City's future," Mayor Mick Cornett said to the crowd Thursday evening. 

Exact routes will not be determined unless and until MAPS 3 passes. However, MTP members have ideas of their own.

Jeff Bezdek is the campaign director of the Modern Transit Project and sees the streetcar as running a six mile course through downtown neighborhoods from Deep Deuce all the way to Midtown.

Early critics wonder why more money is going to downtown Oklahoma City instead of areas outside of it.

"Downtown Oklahoma City is for everyone. Most people will come downtown for recreation. It's something we all share. Having a streetcar downtown will only help enhance Oklahoma City which will then attract more people to want to live here. That benefits all of us," Bezdek said. 

Cornett said the streetcar is just the beginning of a much larger vision that could combine with regional light rail lines to connect the metro.

"We have to start somewhere, and downtown Oklahoma City is the place to begin," Cornett said.

There are some who wonder if MAPS 3 will pass in a tougher economy. The Mayor Cornett said he recognizes that this round of MAPS campaigning will be significantly different from previous campaigns. 

"I know that voters aren't just going to rubber stamp this proposal because it has the name MAPS on it. We're not in the same place as we were in previous years. This is going to be a tougher sell, but I'm 100 percent behind all the projects included in this package," Cornett said.

Take the poll below on which way you would vote on the proposed MAPS 3 plan.

More on News9.com: Mayor, Oklahoma City Leaders Unveil MAPS 3 Projects

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