Calendar

City and county leaders from across the greater metropolitan area have worked to develop a regional map that highlights the best route choices for motorists when winter weather strikes.

The end result is a map showcasing the roadways that Central Oklahoma communities consider their highest priorities during snow and ice storms. The management of roadways may include the spreading of abrasives (sanding), anti-icing applications (salt and chemicals) and snow removal and clearance (plowing).

Organized by ACOG and focusing on the Oklahoma City Area Regional Transportation Study (OCARTS) area, the snow route identification process involved the interaction of multiple municipal entities and agencies, including four counties, Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. All entities and agencies worked cooperatively to address "gaps" in coverage between municipalities, and several changes have been made since the Christmas Eve blizzard of 2009.

The impetus for the map and process came from a regional desire to improve public safety and accident avoidance. The map is not absolute. It does not reflect potential shortcomings in mechanization, manpower, remediation supplies or time. For example, snowfall can occur so rapidly, that roadway treatment and clearance may not be able to counter it. As such, the routes on the map indicate the roadways that municipalities realistically intend to first direct resources. It does not guarantee that the streets will be clear.

City and county leaders encourage motorists to observe winter driving rules and to only drive on snow and ice covered roads when necessary. The snow routes presented are the best routes to take if and when drivers are out in a severe winter weather event.

Every day, 9-1-1 dispatchers working in 20 different call centers across Central Oklahoma respond to approximately 1,000 different calls for help. That's 40 opportunities every hour that call-takers have to positively impact the lives of their fellow Oklahomans.

Starting in September, $4.35 million in upgrades began installation in call centers across the region. The changes include an upgraded mapping system and upgrades to the 9-1-1 software, hardware and network. In the past few weeks, Bethany, Guthrie, Del City, Cleveland County, Mustang, Moore, Newcastle, Noble, Edmond, Norman, the Village and Oklahoma County have been cut over to the new system technology. The remaining call centers are on schedule to be installed by mid-December.

"We are migrating from a traditional analog 9-1-1 system to an Internet Protocol based emergency services network," said ACOG Executive Director John G. Johnson. "The system will provide call centers with more flexibility and functionality. They'll be able to receive more information about 9-1-1 calls, and they'll make better assessments during emergencies." "It's crucial that we keep up with advancing communication technologies," Johnson added.

According to Steve Willoughby, ACOG's 9-1-1 Director, the new mapping system features a more user-friendly interface. "It's more visually engaging," he said. "It allows call-takers to capture more incident data that was not previously available with the old mapping system. Call-takers will be able to simultaneously view emergency calls anywhere within the region."

As the Central Oklahoma region grows in population, so too, does our interest in a more comprehensive public transit system. In ACOG's Encompass 2035 survey, conducted in 2009, enhancing transit was a consistent theme. When asked what the top priorities should be for the region's future transportation system, "improving the public bus system" and "developing passenger rail" generated the most reaction.

With public sentiment leaning in the direction of a more open mind to transit's potential, and a better understanding of its social, environmental and economic benefits, ACOG launched a process that would move the conversation from idle coffee talk to a robust discussion based on reality.

Last year, we initiated a Regional Transit Dialogue (RTD) to bring together public and private interests to collaborate on the future of public transportation within Central Oklahoma. The RTD is an ongoing process designed to gauge public appetite for a regional transportation system that places more emphasis on bus and rail travel.

One year later, we've wrapped up the first "phase" of the RTD. We hosted dozens of meetings of our planning team, four subcommittees, and a Steering Committee chaired by Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board Chairman Tom McDaniel. All told, there were over100 public and private stakeholders from all over the metro working on this project.

Through this process, we have made recommendations on potential governing structures for a future regional transit system. We also explored funding opportunities. We discussed the implementation priorities, as well as land use and development impacts. And, we learned that we need to continually engage citizens and generate public support.

There are other exciting transit-oriented activities going on in the metro. In December 2009, voters in Oklahoma City approved a modern streetcar system and an intermodal transit hub study as part of the MAPS 3 projects. A separate committee led by ACOG has recently contracted with Jacobs to begin the hub study.

Last session, the Oklahoma Legislature passed HB 2846, which allows for the creation of Regional Transportation Authorities through collaborative efforts of cities, towns and counties, and allows financing provisions through sales tax and other revenue measures. This lays the potential groundwork for the recommendations made through the RTD.

HB2846 was authored by Rep. Charlie Joyner (R-95) and Sen. Cliff Branan (R-40). The bill was also supported by championed by Rep. Bill Nations (D-44), who recently completed his tenure due to term limits. Nations also served on the RTD steering committee.

A dynamic public transportation system will change not only how we move from place to place, but how we think about our time, public spaces and the future of our cities.

Transit needs to move in a whole new direction if we are to embrace the menu of opportunities that our greater metro area has to offer, now and in the future. As a livable community, we need to address the way that we move, for tomorrow is going to be here soon.