Published: September 21, 2008 12:00 am            

Council to consider rail resolution

Norman city councilmembers will consider at their regular Tuesday meeting a resolution requesting Gov. Brad Henry to appoint a special commission to consider future rail transit options in the Oklahoma City area, future uses of Union Station and its rail yard and alternative routes for the Interstate-40 Crosstown Expressway.

Councilmembers heard a presentation at their Sept. 16 study session by members of OnTrac, a group formed "to ensure the future of multimodal and intermodal transportation opportunities for the citizens of Oklahoma."?

Marion Hutchison, OnTrac communications director, said it's possible to preserve the Union Station rail yard and still rebuild the Crosstown Expressway.

The resolution states that the rail yard "lies at the center of the state's unique network linking the state's major towns, Tinker Air Force Base and Will Rogers World Airport and is the last grand urban passenger rail yard in the west that remains virtually unused with all of its original space and much of its essential infrastructure intact, including numerous tracks connecting every corner of the state."

A study of eight cities' rail system by Garl Latham showed the economic development potential from having an intermodal system.

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit or DART system utilized a coalition of 13 cities and used a one-cent sales tax to fund the system, which serves 700 square miles.

The DART system has resulted in $127 million in total state and local tax revenues, from transit-oriented development attributable to DART of $4.2 billion.

"It's an asset that just seems very foolish to give up," said Tom Sherman, vice president of McClain Bank and a OnTrac board member, at the study session. "This is an asset of the state of Oklahoma. It seems like if there is a reasonable solution that can continue the Crosstown (Expressway) in it --?it seems to make a lot of common sense."

The Latham study and a presentation on the DART are available on the OnTrac Web site at www.OnTracOK.org.

Councilmembers will also consider changes proposed by the Reapportionment Committee to reduce population differences between Norman's eight wards.

The average ward population is 13,794, with a 2,752 difference in population from the largest and smallest wards of 19.95 percent. The proposed plan reduces the overall range between largest and smallest wards to 1,058 or 7.6 percent.

The current and proposed ward maps are on the City of Norman's Web site at www.NormanOK.gov.

Included in the consent agenda is the potential purchase of the Rhodes Granary site north of Acres Street and west of the railroad tracks for $350,000. The site has been mentioned as a potential site for a new library or expansion of the City of Norman municipal complex.

Other items on the regular council agenda are:

· Consideration of a revised preliminary plat for Summit Valley Addition.

· Consideration of a preliminary plat for Vector Rock Creek Addition and waiver of alley requirements.

· Consideration of an ordinance closing a portion of the public utility easement at 1811 Creighton Court.

· Consideration of an amendment of the Norman 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan from very low density residential designation to office designation on a .43-acre tract at 1770 W. Main St. Rezoning from single family residential district to suburban office commercial district is also requested.

· Consideration of an amendment of the Norman 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan from office designation to high density residential for a 1.25-acre tract of land at 401 E. Boyd St. Rezoning has also been requested from general commercial district and suburban office commercial district to planned unit development district.

·?Consideration of an amendment of the Norman 2025 Land Use and Transportation Plan from office designation to commercial designation for a 8,000-square-foot tract at 770 Copperfield and a 10,000-square-foot tract at 840 Copperfield Drive. Rezoning is also requested from suburban office commercial district to general commercial district. Applicant is Prina Hotel LLC and Trishna Hotel LLC. The change is requested in order to provide 60-foot pole signage for hotels there.

The council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 201 W. Gray St. A special session will be at 5:30 p.m., with an executive session to consider purchase of real property for fire stations and settlement of a lawsuit.

Carol Cole-Frowe 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com

        

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