OKC MAPS PROJECTS – 25 YEARS
Other Related City Development Efforts Along with the three MAPS initiatives, Oklahoma City has engaged in other major non-MAPS investments focused on improving city infrastructure and quality of life for residents in the MAPS era. These efforts have worked to enhance the outcome of MAPS and include the following: 2007 Bond Program In 2007, Oklahoma City voters approved a 10-year series of annual bond issues totaling $835.5 million to improve or replace city infrastructure. Projects include the repair of 750 miles of residential and arterial streets, bridge repair, park improvement, drainage system improvement, sidewalk and trail construction, new police and fire stations, bus replacement and public library updates. The bond program also provided $75 million for an incentive fund for economic development. I-40 Realignment The relocation of I-40 to replace the old elevated Crosstown Expressway Bridge dramatically altered much of the landscape just south of downtown Oklahoma City. Following the I-40 realignment, the city created the iconic Skydance Pedestrian Bridge spanning a stretch of the new interstate south of downtown. The bridge was intended to break the development barrier presented by the interstate and allow foot traffic to easily move across the busy I-40 corridor between downtown and the river. The $688 million project also opened a considerable stretch of developable land along the path of the original bridge on the south edge of downtown. Core to Shore The city’s Core-to-Shore project was implemented in 2008 to reconstruct the south entrance to downtown and build a corridor stretching from the city center to the revitalized Oklahoma River to the south. Another important component of the Core-to-Shore plan called for the creation of a new urban corridor using land opened by the I-40 realignment to create a new entrance to the city on the south side of downtown. The Oklahoma City Boulevard is now complete and development along the new route is brisk. Project 180 In 2009, the city embarked on an eight-phase $176 million project for the redesign of downtown streets, sidewalks, parks and plazas to improve appearance and make the central core more pedestrian friendly. Plans called for the addition of landscaping, public art, marked bike lanes, decorative street lighting and additional on-street parking spaces. Better Streets, Safer City Approved on Sept. 12, 2017, by Oklahoma City residents, the Better Streets, Safer City initiative temporarily extended the MAPS 3 1-cent sales tax for an additional 27 months (through March 2020) to generate $240 million for infrastructure. Initiatives include $168 million for street resurfacing, $24 million for streetscapes, $24 million for sidewalks, $12 million for trails, and $12 million for bicycle infrastructure. The vote included approval of a 10-year series of bond issues totaling $967 million to invest in streets, police and fire facilities, parks, and other basic infrastructure needs. The final component is a permanent 1/4-cent sales tax rate increase to support increased public safety. The tax will generate an estimated $26 million annually to the general fund.
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