MAPS 3 Pushes Forward with Citizens Advisory Committee

By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY-- One day after Oklahoma City voters passed the MAPS 3 initiative, the city has already begun to move forward with plans.

The city is calling on the public to join a citizens advisory committee to keep a watchful eye over the projects.

Just like past MAPS projects, there has been citizen advisory committees. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett wants to see a MAPS 3 committee in place as soon as possible.

"We're enthused about the future of the city and anxious to get started on what I think is a giant assignment for city hall," Cornett said.

The extended one-cent sales tax will pay for several projects downtown including a 70-acre park, a rail system, a new convention center, sidewalks and walking trails, and improvements along the Oklahoma River.

"One of their first tasks will be to help us determine the order of the projects. We know the park needs to open in 2014, but the other seven projects really don't have a definitive timeline," Cornett said.

The state will build an at-grade boulevard downtown to replace the I-40 Crosstown once it's relocated. The city wants the park to be ready when the boulevard opens, so it will likely to be one of the first projects.

Work on the MAPS 3 projects is expected to bring in jobs. Construction jobs will be temporary but others permanent.

"The convention center will triple the economic impact of the current one. So depending when it comes on line, the activities on the river if we have national or international competitions, that will create a lot of economic activities," said Roy Williams, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce CEO.

But work won't start until after April 1 of next year when the tax money starts rolling in and building up.

"It won't be long before you see MAPS 3 projects come out of the ground. The citizen advisory committee will have a say in the order, so whether it's started sooner or later, we need to weigh in with them before I or others start guessing," Cornett said.

Each city council member will get to choose a person from their district to be on the board plus there will be one at-large member.

Find out more about the committee and how to submit an application to the city to serve on the oversight committee.