|
|
|
|
| Calendar |
| February 11 |
|
Intermodal Transportation Technical Committee, 10 a.m. |
| February 15 |
| ACOG Offices Closed for Presidents Day |
| February 16 |
| COUASI Budget Committee, 1:30 p.m.
Encompass 2035 Citizens Advisory Committee, 3:00 p.m. |
| February 25 |
9-1-1 Board of Directors, 1 p.m.
Intermodal Transportation Policy Committee, 1:20 p.m.
ACOG Board of Directors, 1:45 p.m.
Garber-Wellington Policy Committee, 2:30 p.m. | |
| Association of Central Oklahoma Governments |
www.acogok.org
21 E. Main Street, Suite 100
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Phone: (405) 234-2264
| |
|
ACOG Newsletter: February 2010
Welcome to the e-mail edition of Central Oklahoma Perspective! To see more information like this you may use the links at the bottom to update your profile, subscribe to our other topics, forward to a friend or unsubscribe. We appreciate your interest as we are excited to bring you news in this format.
|
|
Regional Aerial Photography Project Up, Up and Away 
Getting a birds-eye view of the ACOG region will soon get easier. ACOG staff has been working with local entities to develop a regional approach to acquiring digital aerial photography and associated data. By combining resources, the participating entities will receive better pricing for the project due to cost saving for the mapping contractor.
The regional group, known as the Central Oklahoma Alliance of Government Agencies (COAGA), have been working together on the project, which was approved by the ACOG Board of Directors at its February 2 meeting. COAGA entities include ACOG, Bethany, Edmond, Midwest City, Moore, Nicoma Park, Norman, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County and Yukon.
Pinnacle Mapping Technologies, Inc., an Indianapolis-based company, was selected among six applicants through a competitive bid process that began last fall. Pinnacle will begin shooting the aerial photos in late February, or early March to ensure that the trees haven't bloomed yet and that there's no snow on the ground.
Aerial data is used by local planners and administrators for 9-1-1 databases, transportation and water planning and economic development assessment. Aside from aerial photography, some entities will also contract with Pinnacle for Planimetric and Topographic mapping products. |
|
REAP Funds Awarded to Communities
 The ACOG Board of Directors recently awarded several communities in the Central Oklahoma region funding for transportation and capital improvement projects through the state's Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP).
Under REAP guidelines, the maximum dollar amount awarded is $50,000 per grant. Funds may be used for a variety of projects in the areas of economic/community development and transportation. Communities in the Central Oklahoma region with a population of fewer than 7,000 were eligible to apply.
There were 28 applications received for consideration of approximately $380,000 in funding in the transportation category. There were also 28 applications received for consideration of the approximate $253,300 in the economic/community development category. Total estimated funding awarded for this round of grants was $633,359.59. After applications were reviewed and ranked, the board approved funding the following projects at 100 percent at its February 2 meeting.
Transportation:
- Canadian County, Dist. 2 - $50,000 for road repair.
- City of Nicoma Park - $23,078.27 to replace faded street signs.
- Logan County, Dist. 1 - $50,000 for road repair.
- Town of Marshall - $50,000 for road repairs on city streets.
- Logan County, Dist. 2 - $50,000 for road repair.
- Oklahoma County, Dist. 3 - $50,000 for a drainage study.
- Township of Cedar Valley - $50,000 for road repair.
- Town of Forest Park - $9,681.50 for salt/sand spreader and box scraper.
- Town of Luther - $47,255.98 for road repairs on city streets.
Economic/Community Development:
- Town of Arcadia - $22,095 for dashboard video system for police vehicles.
- Logan County, Dist. 1 - $50,000 to purchase/install two storm sirens.
- Town of Luther - $49,994 for water system improvements.
- Township of Cedar Valley - $50,000 to purchase/install two storm sirens.
- City of Nicoma Park - $34,961.66 to rebuild park restrooms and soccer field fencing.
- Canadian County, Dist. 2 - $15,850 to purchase sand and salt spreader.
- Logan County, Dist. 2 - $30,443.18 to purchase/install two storm sirens.
ACOG staff plans to deobligate unused prior year REAP funds in March and will use that money to fund additional REAP projects. For more information, contact Diane McCullough, ACOG. |
|
Association Releases Transportation Projects Funding Report 
A report reflecting federally funded projects in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area during federal fiscal year 2009 was recently released by ACOG. Highway and transit projects were funded and implemented in the region through federal funds made available to the state and metropolitan area through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the economic stimulus bill.
A suballocation of funds, known as Surface Transportation Program Urbanized Area (STP-UZA) funds, helped provide for a number of street and intersection improvements, including adjacent sidewalks, which have been or will soon be constructed in communities within the ACOG region.
Along with the STP-UZA funds, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation provided federal Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to the region to promote and enhance air quality in Central Oklahoma, helping the region maintain its air quality attainment status with the Environmental Protection Agency. ACOG will be using these funds to continue its public education program, as well as for implementation of the Regional Rideshare Program and Public Fleet Conversion Program.
Central Oklahoma obligated nearly $14.8 million in suballocated SAFETEA-LU funds and $21.6 million in ARRA funds during FFY 2009. The majority of the region's ARRA funds were used to resurface arterial streets. Major street improvements that will be implemented using SAFETEA-LU funds include a widening project in Moore on Santa Fe from S. 4th to S. 19th Street, traffic signals at S. 4th and Tower Drive in Moore, signal upgrades at 11 intersections near the OU campus in Norman, widening of Rock Creek Road between Porter Ave. and Sooner Rd. (12th Ave NE) in Norman, widening of NW 164th between Penn and Western in Oklahoma City, various signal upgrade and pavement marking projects throughout Oklahoma City, and a project to resurface Douglas Blvd. north of NE 23rd to Spencer Road in the City of Spencer.
In addition to these developments, other transportation projects in the region were supported with other federal and state funds provided to ODOT. An additional $137 million in federal formula and earmarked funds and $42 million in ARRA funds were obligated in the past fiscal year for numerous projects. Some of these projects include phases of the I-40 Crosstown relocation project, widening and bridge improvements on I-35 near Main Street in Norman, improvement of I-40 from Garth Brooks Boulevard in Yukon west to US-81, and numerous resurfacing and bridge repair projects.
Finally, Federal Transit Administration funds assisted the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA) and Cleveland Area Rapid Transit (CART) with the purchase of various transit capital items, property and bus maintenance, provision of transit services to assist with federal workforce investment objectives, and provision of special transit services for elderly and disabled citizens. | |
|
|
|
|
Around the Region
 Lysa Baker has joined the ACOG staff as a Special Programs Officer for the 9-1-1 Division. She will manage 9-1-1 public education activities and calltaker training programs. She has over a decade of experience in emergency communications, previously working for both the Yukon and Nichols Hills Police Department. Lysa has a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in criminal justice and is pursuing a master's degree. She lives in Yukon with her 15-year-old daughter Kalynn.
 Blue Thumb of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma County Conservation District are sponsoring an Erosion and Sediment Control Workshop on March 24 at the Oklahoma Engineering Center, 201 N.E. 27th Street, in Oklahoma City. The workshop will be presented by Shirley Morrow, who will showcase the latest technology in erosion and sediment control and best practices that work in stormwater pollution prevention plans. Registration is $75 and includes lunch. E-mail oklahomaccd@conservation.ok.gov to register.
 The Oklahoma City Fire Department was awarded a $10,000 grant from Liberty Mutual Insurance to purchase smoke detectors for city residents. The grant award was the prize in a nationwide contest where residents were encouraged to go online to take a safety quiz. The grant, matched with federal funds, will allow the department to acquire about 4,000 smoke detectors. Firefighters will distribute and install the alarms.
 The University of Central Oklahoma has launched a rental car share program designed to reduce the need to own a vehicle, allowing students to rent cars when needed for short-term use. The Connect by Hertz program is also intended to reduce the number of vehicles on campus. It is modeled after similar programs that are successful in other cities and institutions. UCO is the first in Oklahoma to offer the program. The program is web-based and uses four low-emission vehicles that are housed on campus. Users can register at www.connectbyhertz.com, reserve a car, swipe the car lock with a special card, and drive the car whenever it is needed.
 Alec Smith, an eighth-grader at Guthrie Junior High School won first-place in the National Radon Poster Contest. The contest was organized as part of National Radon Action Month to raise awareness about the risks of radon, a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that exists in homes schools and buildings. Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in soil. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/radon/.
 Theta Dempsey, director of parking and transportation services at the University of Oklahoma, announced her retirement after directing CART for over a decade. She was named the 2005 OTA Professional of the Year. CART was the 2007 OTA System of the Year. When CART claimed the 2008 Marketing Award, it became the first OTA system to claim all three major OTA Awards for Excellence. Doug Myers will succeed Dempsey. Myers has run the Health Sciences Center Parking & Transportation operation for the last eight years.
 A statewide $3.5 million appliance rebate program to help consumers purchase more energy-efficient models will begin April 22. Only appliances with an Energy Star designation bought on or after April 22 will qualify for the rebates. Oklahoma consumers will be eligible for one rebate per appliance and two rebates per household. Qualifying appliances and rebate amounts include $200 for washing machines and refrigerators, $50 for room air conditioners, $100 for water heaters, central air conditioners and gas furnaces, and $250 for heat pumps. The Oklahoma Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, part of a nationwide energy-saving effort from the U.S. Department of Energy, is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and will be administered locally through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. For more details visit www.okcommerce.gov/recovery.
|
|
Regional Events
 211 Day on Thursday, February 11Visit any Johnnie's Charcoal Broiler in Central Oklahoma from open to 2:11 p.m. on February 11 and get one of their fabulous regular hamburgers for only $2.11! Visit www.johnniesok.com to find the nearest Johnnie's. Central Oklahoma 2-1-1 provides referrals for hundreds of social services and can be accessed by anyone including individuals with disabilities or limited English speaking skills. In times of disaster, 2-1-1 is part of our community's coordinated response by providing a number that people can call. Working with emergency management, law enforcement, and homeland security, 2-1-1 provides accurate information to callers about a wide range of concerns, helping to keep the 9-1-1 system open for true emergencies.
METRO Transit Health Fair, February 17-18
METRO Transit is coordinating a Health Fair at the Downtown Transit Centerr, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., February 17-18. The event is in collaboration with the Oklahoma City/County Health Department and the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic. The Fair will include H1N1 and seasonal flu shots, and blood pressure, bone density and dental screenings. |
|
The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) is a voluntary association of city, town and county governments within the Central Oklahoma area. The ACOG region includes Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian and Logan Counties. Originally established in June of 1966, ACOG is one of 11 Councils of Governments in the State of Oklahoma, and one of several hundred planning organizations across the country. |
|
|
|
|
|
