Calendar 

Encompass 2035 Citizens Advisory Committee, 3 p.m.

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.

Areawide Planning Technical Advisory Committee, 9 a.m.

Intermodal Transportation Technical Committee, 10 a.m.

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.

ACOG offices closed for Memorial Day

The Central Oklahoma Emergency Management Association (COEMA) announced the publication of regional guidelines for outdoor warning systems, formerly known as tornado sirens.

The guidelines coordinate the activation, operation and testing of outdoor warning systems between jurisdictions in Central Oklahoma.  Participating cities and counties include Bethel Acres, Del City, Edmond, Midwest City, Moore, Norman, Oklahoma City, Tecumseh, Yukon, Canadian County and Oklahoma County.

These guidelines provide a consistent message to Central Oklahoma citizens about outdoor warning sirens.  "It's critical that we communicate clearly during times of crisis," Task Force Chair Frank Barnes said. "These guidelines let people know what they should do when they hear a siren - regardless of where they live in Central Oklahoma."   

The guidelines are:

• When a siren is sounded, people should take shelter immediately and seek more information.  With more information, they can decide what further protective measures to take.  When the sirens stop, it does not indicate the threat of a tornado has passed. 
• Sirens may be activated more than once, as new or additional threats are identified.
• Cities and counties will never sound an "all clear" signal.
• Activation of sirens are based on: National Weather Service (NWS) Tornado Warning; credible report of tornadic conditions; location of the hazard or threat and timing of the hazard or threat.

Cities and counties have a local option that allows them to activate their sirens for hazardous conditions that pose a significant threat to life.  Examples include: potential dam breaches, wildfires or hazardous material incidents. These situations may involve a different siren tone, use of the public address (voice message) or both. Sirens will be tested at least once per month for three minutes at noon on Saturday.

A report reflecting federally funded projects in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area during federal fiscal year 2010 (Oct. 1, 2009 - Sept. 30, 2010) was recently released by ACOG. Highway and transit projects were funded and implemented in the region using 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.

View the full news release. 

A draft of the future regional transportation plan for the Oklahoma City metropolitan area is now available for review and comment. The proposed plan, known as the 2035 Oklahoma City Area Regional Transportation Study (OCARTS) plan, or Encompass 2035, provides a vision for transportation in the Central Oklahoma region, which includes Oklahoma and Cleveland counties and portions of Canadian, Grady, McClain and Logan counties.

The plan was prepared by the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG), its partners and stakeholders, which includes elected officials and staff from communities throughout Central Oklahoma, as well as state and local transportation agencies. A Citizens Advisory Committee was also actively involved in the planning process.

The Encompass 2035 Draft Plan Summary is currently available for review at acogok.org/2035 and at all metro area public libraries. Comments can be made online at this site. Comments on the proposed plan will also be accepted through April 25.