OKC sets first MAPS for streets projects

Sixteen critical street resurfacing projects are the first projects to be funded by the MAPS for streets sales tax extension approved by voters in September.

In a nod to politics, the initial list contains two projects in each of the city's eight city council wards.

The 16 are among road projects identified as top priorities last year when residents were asked for their opinions on the city's most pressing needs.

Listed by ward, the street repairs are:

Ward 1

• N Rockwell Avenue from W Wilshire Boulevard to W Britton Road.

• N MacArthur Boulevard from W Wilshire to W Britton.

Ward 2

• NW 50 from N May Avenue to N Pennsylvania Avenue.

• NW 36 from N Pennsylvania Avenue to N Western Avenue.

Ward 3

• S Portland Avenue between SW 44 to SW 29.

• W Reno Avenue from S Portland Avenue to S Meridian Avenue.

Ward 4

• SW 29 from S Western to Shields Boulevard.

• S Peebly Road from SE 74 to SE 59.

Ward 5

• SW 104 from S Western to S Santa Fe Avenue.

• SW 89 from S Western to S Santa Fe.

Ward 6

• SW 29 from S Western to S Pennsylvania Avenue.

• W Reno from Western to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Ward 7

• Martin Luther King Avenue between NE 23 to NE 36.

• NE 63 from Midwest Boulevard to Douglas Boulevard.

Ward 8

• N Pennsylvania Avenue from NW 122 to W Memorial Road.

• N MacArthur Boulevard from W Hefner Road to NW 122.

Total budget is $18.9 million, and individual budgets range from about $1.8 million to $2.6 million.

Voters approved extension of the 1-cent sales tax on Sept. 12. Collections began Jan. 1 when the MAPS 3 sales

tax expired, after seven years and nine months.

MAPS for streets is expected to raise $240 million over 27 months to improve streets and build sidewalks, trails and bicycle lanes.

Poor streets are the No. 1 complaint cited by residents in annual citizen surveys, and the level of dissatisfaction has grown the past several years.

The first proceeds of the sales tax extension are expected this week, when sales tax collections for the first two weeks of January are reported.

MAPS for streets includes $168 million for street resurfacing, enough to repave about 500 lane miles.

The sales tax extension passed with 56.1 percent of the vote in September's bond and sales tax election.

The 2017 bond issue includes another $293 million for residential and arterial street resurfacing.

Proceeds of the sales tax extension will become available almost right away, and the 27-month crash program of street improvements will quickly produce results evident to residents.

Bond projects will be spread out over 10 years, taking longer to show results.

The sales tax extension is overseen by an 11-member citizen advisory panel, the Community and Neighborhood Enhancement Advisory Board.