MAPS 3 Update: 4/10/2013

City staff, consultants and citizen subcommittee and advisory board members are deep into the planning and preparation stages of several MAPS 3 projects, while others are already under construction. Over the next few months, construction will begin on the first sidewalks and trails, and racecourse lighting at the Oklahoma River will be completed. Construction on the Fairgrounds Parking Improvements project is currently underway and design work is in progress for the new Expo Center. The consultants for the Transit/Modern Streetcar, Convention Center and Park are regularly participating in coordination meetings as they plan for these projects. City staff recently received RFPs for the first Senior Wellness Center operating partner.

MAPS 3 is a 10-year, $777 million construction program designed to improve the quality of life in Oklahoma City. It’s funded by a one-cent tax initiative that began in April 2012 and ends in December 2017. Eight citizen subcommittees comprised of more than 60 members provide input to an 11 member Citizens Advisory Board. MAPS 3 updates are available by subscribing to the MAPS 3 e-newsletter at www.okc.gov/maps3/. Updates are also available on www.twitter.com/maps3 and www.facebook.com/maps3okc.

Downtown Public Park:
A series of well-attended public meetings and focus groups was conducted by Hargreaves Associates. The firm was selected to create a Master Plan for the Downtown Public Park and it is nearing completion. The City has acquired more than 95 percent of the property for the upper park. Enercon Engineering is conducting an environmental assessment of the park property, and Johnson and Associates has completed utility investigations. Lower park property acquisitions will begin in 2014. Demolition of the old Federal Post Office and several other small structures is complete, and more demolitions are scheduled for late spring 2013.

Transit / Modern Streetcar:
In order to maximize the economic benefits and ridership potential of the Transit/Modern Streetcar project, consultants are investigating the streetcar route recommended by the subcommittee as well as other possible routes. Potential routes are being reviewed for utility and other possible conflicts, the ability to extend the system and opportunities for economic development. The Santa Fe Railroad Station at 100 South E.K. Gaylord Blvd, was recommended as the multi-modal transit hub, and the acquisition process is currently underway. Jacobs Engineering is performing the initial engineering work on the project. Community meetings will be scheduled in early summer 2013.

Convention Center:
After completing a Convention Center Site Location Study, the Populous/GSB team recommended the site between Reno Avenue and the future Oklahoma City Boulevard (north and south), and Robinson Avenue and Walker Avenue (east and west). Site appraisals are underway and land acquisition is being planned. Populous/GSB is in the process of completing conceptual designs which will allow for future integration with the Downtown Public Park and Transit/Modern Streetcar projects.

Oklahoma River:
At the river, several improvements to the race course are underway. The Race Course Starting Systems have been delivered and installed, and construction of the Race Course Lighting Improvements is nearing completion. In addition, the Race Course Windscreen Study by Elliott and Associates is complete and a preliminary design has been completed. Work is proceeding on final construction documents. Additional enhancements to the race course are also in the design phase. S20 Design is designing the public Whitewater Facility.

Fairgrounds:
Triad Design Group has completed the design and engineering work for the Phase 1 parking and site improvements, and construction is underway. FSB/Populous, the design architect, has begun conceptual design of the new Fairgrounds Expo Center which will serve the State Fair and numerous other community events, such as Affair of the Heart.

Trails:
Construction of Phase 1 of the Trails project from Lake Overholser to the Oklahoma River is scheduled to begin this summer. Phase 1 (the West River Trail Connection) has been divided into two sections using two design firms. Triad Design Group was selected to design the section from the current trail end at South Meridian Ave. to South Council Road. Garver Engineers was selected to design the section from South Council Road to where the current trail ends at NW 10th Street near Lake Overholser. Design is nearly complete. Construction will begin following completion of right-of-way acquisition.

Sidewalks:
Development of a MAPS 3 sidewalks master plan has been completed by Smith, Roberts, Baldischwiler Engineering. Design and engineering of a part of Phase 1 of the Sidewalks is complete and construction of the first project is scheduled to begin in late spring of 2013. The remainder of Phase 1 will begin construction this summer. Design of Phase 2 is scheduled to begin this summer.

Senior Wellness Centers:
A design architect has been chosen for the first of the Senior Health and Wellness centers. The MAPS office received four responses to a Request for Proposals for an operating partner in April 2013 for the first Senior Wellness Center. The selected operating partner will be responsible for the day-to-day programming and operations of the facility. Final selection of the operating partner is expected to take place early this summer.
Other representatives to the City Council include: Ward 2, Ed Shadid; Ward 5, David Greenwell; Ward 6, Meg Salyer and Ward 8, Patrick Ryan.

MAPS 3 Update: 10/28/2012

City Council approved a sidewalk master plan (PDF) report on October 28, 2012 that prioritizes where MAPS 3 sidewalks should be located based on criteria set by the project’s citizen subcommittee.

The report examines sidewalk locations for more than 215 miles and identifies where new sidewalks should be constructed. Budget constraints are forcing the reduction of the number of sidewalk-miles planned from 70 to approximately 25 to 36 miles (link to list below). Estimates are conservative and are based on a range of recent bids.
The estimate was also based on sidewalks that are four feet wide rather than the required five or in some areas, six-foot-wide sidewalks.

The criteria for sidewalk locations was set by the MAPS 3 Trails and Sidewalks Subcommittee, City Council and City staff to identify locations with the greatest need for sidewalks. They include proximity to schools, bus routes, parks, libraries, hospitals, population and employment density, pedestrian-involved accidents and desire paths. Desire paths are well tread trails along the side of the street created by pedestrian or bicycle use.

The first phase of construction on the sidewalks is expected to begin in spring 2013.

1 Western Avenue from Hefner Road to Britton Road
2 MacArthur Blvd from Wilshire Blvd to Britton Road
3 Western Avenue from SW 104th to SW 98th
4 May Avenue from SW 59th & SW 61st to SW 80th & SW 89th
5 May Avenue from NW 50th to NW 63rd
6 Penn Avenue from SW 96th to SW 104th
7 May Avenue from NW 36th to NW 50th
8 Penn Avenue from SW 59th to SW 74th
9 Penn Avenue from SW 77th to SW 84th
10 NW 63rd from Meridian Avenue to Ann Arbor Terrace
11 Classen from NW 34th to NW 35th to NW 38th to NW 49th
12 May Ave from Hefner Rd to Quail Creek Rd north of NW 122nd
13 May Avenue from SW 29th to SW 59th
14 SE 44th from Shields to Walker
15 May Avenue from NW 63rd to Wilshire Blvd
16 Penn Avenue from Memorial Road to N 122nd
17 Meridian Avenue from NW 63rd to NW 50th
18 Western Avenue from SW 74th to SW 80th
19 Western Avenue from South of SW 39th to SW 29th
20 NW 122nd from May Avenue to Penn Avenue
21 SW 44th from Blackwelder to Penn Avenue
22 Meridian Avenue from NW 36th to NW 23rd
23 NE 63rd from East Broadway to Martin Luther King
24 NW 50th from MacArthur Blvd to Meridian Avenue
25 Western Avenue from SW 59th to SW 44th
26 SW 44th from Penn Avenue to May Avenue
27 Martin Luther King from NE 23rd to NE 32nd
28 Penn Avenue from NW 122nd to Hefner Road
29 SW 89th from Western Avenue to Santa Fe Avenue
30 May Avenue from NW 10th to NW 19th

MAPS 3 Update: 8/24/2012

Downtown Public Park:
Hargreaves Associates was selected in July to develop the Downtown Public Park Master Plan. The first public input meeting took place in September and more will take place over the next couple of months. Property acquisition for the upper park is underway and expected to be complete by the end of the year. An environmental assessment of the park property is being conducted by Enercon. Johnson and Associates is under contract to conduct utility investigations. Lower Park property acquisitions will begin in 2014. Demolition of the old Federal Post Office and several other small structures is complete.

Transit / Modern Streetcar:
The Transit/Modern Streetcar subcommittee has recommended a streetcar route and the proposed route is being investigated for utility and other possible conflicts. The Santa Fe Railroad Station, 100 South E.K. Gaylord Blvd, has been recommended as the multi-modal transit hub. Appraisal is currently underway. Jacobs Engineering has been contracted to perform initial engineering work on the project.

Convention Center:
The Convention Center Site Location Study is complete. The recommended site is between Reno Avenue and the old I-40 (north and south), and Robinson Avenue and Walker Avenue (east and west). Site appraisals are underway and land acquisition is anticipated to take place in the coming months. A consultant will soon be selected for a small amount of preliminary design, to allow for future integration with the Downtown Public Park and Modern Streetcar projects.

Oklahoma River:
Race Course Starting Systems have been delivered and installed. Construction of the Race Course Lighting Improvements has begun. The Race Course Windscreen Study by Elliot and Associates is complete and preliminary design is underway. S20 Design has been selected to design the Whitewater Facility and design is underway.

Fairgrounds:
Triad Design Group is designing Phase 1. Construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2013. A consultant will soon be selected for Phase 2.

Trails:
The OKC Trails Master Plan will be used as a guide for the MAPS 3 trails projects. Phase 1 (the West River Trail Connection) has been divided into two trail sections and design firms. Triad Design Group was selected for the section from where the current trail ends at South Meridian Ave. to South Council Road, and Garver Engineers was selected for the section from South Council road to where the current trail ends at NW 10th Street near Lake Overholser. Design is underway and phase 1 construction is scheduled to begin in late 2012.

Sidewalks:
The development of a limited MAPS 3 sidewalks master plan is underway as part of phase 1, which is scheduled to begin in 2012. The limited master plan is being created by Smith, Roberts, Baldischwiler Civil Engineering.

MAPS 3 Update: 8/20/2012

Public input sought on MAPS 3 Downtown Park design

Everyone is invited to a community meeting to provide information and solicit design and programming ideas for the 70-acre MAPS 3 Downtown Park.

The meeting will be held from 6 – 8:30 p.m. on September 13 in the fourth floor auditorium of the Downtown Library, 300 Park Avenue.

“We want to hear everyone’s ideas on how this iconic park should look and function,” Mayor Mick Cornett said. “Our goal is to design a unique gathering space that will be a frequent destination for residents and set Oklahoma City apart from other cities.”

The $132 million park is made up of a 40-acre upper section and a 30-acre lower section which is connected by Oklahoma City Skydance Bridge. The park is within the boundaries of Hudson to the west, Robinson to the east the Oklahoma City Boulevard to the north and the Oklahoma River on the south.

Land acquisition for the upper park is 95 percent complete and construction is expected to begin in 2013. The meeting will be facilitated by park consultant Hargreaves Associates.

En español.

MAPS 3 Update: 8/1/2012

Tom McDaniel, Chairman of the MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board, provides a project update during the 2012 Mayor's Development Roundtable held May 16.

Downtown Public Park:
Hargreaves Associates was selected in July to develop the Park master plan. Public meetings will take place over the next few months to solicit the public’s input on the project. Property acquisition for the upper park is under way and expected to be complete by the end of the year. An environmental assessment of the park property is being conducted by Enercon. Johnson and Associates is under contract to conduct utility investigations. Lower Park property acquisitions will begin in 2014. Demolition of the old Federal Post Office and several other small structures is complete.

Transit / Modern Streetcar:
The Transit/Modern Streetcar subcommittee has recommended a streetcar route and the proposed route is being investigated for utility and other possible conflicts. The Santa Fe Railroad Station, 100 S EK Gaylord Blvd, has been recommended as the multi-modal transit hub. Appraisal is currently underway. An engineering consultant has been selected and contract negotiations are now underway

7/17/12: Mike Mize, MAPS 3 Program Consultant from ADG, updates the Council on improvement plans for the Oklahoma River.

Oklahoma River:
Race Course Starting Systems have been ordered and scheduled for delivery this fall. Construction of the Race Course Lighting Improvements has begun. The Race Course Windscreen study is ongoing. A consultant has been selected to design the Whitewater Facility.

Fairgrounds:
State Fair staff completed their update to the Fairgrounds Master Plan. The plan was provided to the MAPS 3 Fairgrounds subcommittee for review. Triad Design Group is designing phase 1. Construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2013.

Trails:
The OKC Trails Master Plan will be used as a guide for the MAPS 3 trails projects. Phase 1 has been divided into two trail sections and design firms, Triad Design Group and Garver Engineers have been selected. Design is underway and phase 1 construction is scheduled to begin in late 2012.

Sidewalks:
The development of a limited sidewalk master plan is underway as part of phase 1, which is scheduled to begin in 2012.