Originally Posted by ssandedoc

This issue is so dead.

Originally Posted by gblatham

Dear Pete:

I appreciate your desire to keep things civil. I only wish you had intervened earlier. The vitriol has been a bit thick.

In fact, since attempting to join in on this conversation, my industry and its technology, my home town, the sincerity of my feelings...they've all been targets of attack. I've even been personally insulted!

I suppose it's not a big deal; but, such things do tend to reduce the possibility of constructive dialogue.

I've already made a few comments within this thread - and some of my Oklahoma City work is available on the internet. We'll just leave it at that.

Thanks to everybody for your time.

Garl B. Latham
Dallas, Texas

Originally Posted by betts

I've been thinking about it. What do I hate more than anything when I take mass trans, which I do a lot, because I travel a lot and I like mass trans? Transferring lines, or transferring from a train to a bus. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I'll do just about anything to avoid transferring, including walking, taking a cab or driving. Unless we can figure out a way to make a north-south line come straight to Union Station, there's no way it's going to be the real hub regardless of what we call it. And the only way to do that is to build a subway under the CBD. Think that'll cost more money than building a new multi-modal hub where east-west lines intersect???? If the north-south line runs east of Bricktown, people will get off there and they'll take a bus or a cab or walk to the CBD or Bricktown. If it runs west of the CBD, the same thing will happen. No one is going to change trains just so they can go to Union Station, and I believe the north-south line is the key line. It's the only one that will have any stops of significance on it.

And there are different kinds of development. I want more open space and residential space in downtown. That's not trolley-tracks development. That's surrounding park development.

We're going to have to agree to disagree on this topic, clearly.

Originally Posted by blangtang

"If we had a light rail line from downtown to the airport, who would use it?"

Maybe all those out of towners coming for conferences and staying in downtown hotels during their stay...nah!

Originally Posted by Kerry

I am all in favor of a line from downtown to the airport. Self-service airport check-in keyosks could be placed at every train station so when you get to the airport all they have to do is check their bag. If demand grew there could even be a baggage check at a downtown station or in Edmond/Norman. That way a family could travel to the airport and not worry about toting luggage on the train.

Originally Posted by betts

I love the check-in idea, but I believe 9/11 removed check in kiosks at the train stations as an option.

Originally Posted by bombermwc

Again, another topic from another state that has absolutely nothing to do with our city.

Originally Posted by bombermwc

Again, another topic from another state that has absolutely nothing to do with our city.

Originally Posted by lasomeday

If you build it they will come....

Mass Transit will cause a building boom along it. Just look at other cities that have it. The trendy new areas have developed around the mass transit. Look at Salt Lake and Portland.

Originally Posted by bombermwc

Again, another topic from another state that has absolutely nothing to do with our city.

Originally Posted by Kerry

You can check in at the MARTA Airport station - you can also check your bag. Granted it is on-site at Hartsfield Airport but it is still not part of the normal check-in area.

Originally Posted by hoyasooner

Of course they would use light rail... if it was convenient.

If we really, truly want to use light rail in this city, and not just make a half-assed attempt at it, throw up our hands, and say "okay, we tried", then we need to do a long term study on the subject. One has not been done.

We have two key issues preventing passenger rail from working in OKC. First, this city is already incredibly accessible by car. This lessens the need to use mass transit. You can find parking downtown and in bricktown very quickly. I lived in Washington DC for 3 years, and the difference between the two cities as far as parking and accessibility by car could not be greater. We need a greater downtown density before this will be needed. Downtown traffic actually needs to be more than a minor annoyance. The second problem is that we have no plan. We don't have any idea where we need to put stations. We've got zero indication as far as where likely passenger depots would need to be placed, or where people want to go. That's why we need a major study. When DC implemented the metro, it was a major project that had input from everyone in the city. We need something of a similar level of public input and planning. We need real numbers, a real plan.