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Infrastructure FactsOur city government believes proper maintenance of our roads and bridges is extremely important. In fact, they believe this so strongly that they put a package before voters in 2007 that pledged more than a billion dollars towards repairing and maintaining our city infrastructure. Those opposing this MAPS are trying to divert attention from the issues by making it seem as if our city leaders are being negligent by not including infrastructure funding in this MAPS proposal. They're not negligent. They just beat the opposition in their concern by two years. Myth: This MAPS does not address basic infrastructure needs. The "Not This MAPS" website states that "out of ¾ of a billion dollars, not one dime is being spent on ... roads, bridges, (or) infrastructure." (1) Fact: Oklahoma City is aggressively funding infrastructure needs through more than a billion dollars of programs passed in 2007. This claim isn't so much a myth as it is just flat misleading. While MAPS does not directly earmark funds for roads and bridges, the City and its citizens addressed roads and bridges in a big way with the 2007 GO bond program. On December 11, 2007, the citizens of OKC voted in favor of raising $497,490,000 for street repairs. That's more than half of all the funds raised by the GO bond program. When finished, those funds will finance resurfacing, widening and rebuilding of more than 750 lane miles of streets, mostly in residential areas. The same bond program also included $19,760,000 to rebuild or repair 17 of Oklahoma City's bridges and $23,590,000 for 34 traffic improvement projects, including new traffic lights, signs, street lighting and improved synchronization. (2) In total, that's an impressive $517,250,000 earmarked for infrastructure products by the 2007 bond program, which is approximately two-thirds of all the projected revenue from this MAPS proposal. Myth: This MAPS will build an unneeded park downtown while neighborhood parks go neglected. Fact: The important needs of neighborhood parks were addressed in the 2007 GO bond program. Again, this is more misleading than a myth. The 2007 GO bond program included $89,755,000 for Parks and Recreational facilities. This includes 14 new playgrounds, eight basketball courts, 47 walking paths, two new parks and improvements to 13 community centers, as well as the Myriad Botanical Gardens. (2) The fully-programmed destination park proposed in this MAPS initiative would be unlike anything else in Oklahoma. Think more Millennium Park in Chicago or other signature parks in cities like Houston, New York, or Paris. This park will provide a critical catalyst to attract private investment and take full advantage of the opportunity presented by the relocation of I-40 and the new boulevard. It will connect the core of the city to the Oklahoma River and all of its redevelopment progress. Comparable parks in other cities report millions of dollars in private investment in the area following completion of their parks.(3) Myth: This MAPS does not address education. The "Not This MAPS" website states that "out of ¾ of a billion dollars, not one dime is being spent on education." (1) Fact: Oklahoma City is greatly addressing the needs of its 24 school districts through MAPS for Kids. To mention that this MAPS initiative doesn't address education is ironic, given that the MAPS initiative immediately preceding it is the most ambitious funding project for education ever undertaken by our city. The $700 million OCMAPS school program, also known as MAPS for Kids, includes hundreds of construction, transportation and technology projects - all for the benefit of Oklahoma City's public school students. In addition, voters also approved a $180 million bond issue to fund additional projects within Oklahoma City Public School District I-89. Bottom LineOklahoma City is aggressively funding education and infrastructure through more than a billion dollars of programs passed in 2007, as well as MAPS for Kids. Our city voted yes for education and infrastructure, and now it is time to vote Yes for MAPS on December 8. (1) Not This Maps Coalition. Web. 16 Nov. 2009. <http://nomaps3.com/index.html> (2) City of Oklahoma City Public Information Office. "2007 City Bond Election" 2007 Bond Issue Proposal. Web. 16 Nov. 2009 <http://www.okc.gov/news/go_bond_2007/index.html> (3) "World-Class Destination Park." Yes For Maps. Web. 16 Nov. 2009.<http://www.yesformaps.com/park.html>
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