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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Thank
you Mr. Waldrop, and please note that the <b>Alliance for Public Transportation</b>
APT is being very unfairly portrayed here. The Kessler piece was handed
out at meeting was handed out at some OTHER coaliation</span><span
style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>’</span><span
style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>s meeting. The questions
about APT are either from someone who has not paid much attention to APT or it
is an unfair smear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>APT
has many accomplishments and is very much a grassroots group, getting more so
every month! As its elected, unpaid secretary who volunteers considerable
evening and weekend time, let me give the APT facts to this Yahoo group’s
readers. Mr. Kessler is a bright man and means well but he has the APT
all wrong. This is an excellent yahoo group, by the way, and I enjoy
subscribing! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>To
Kessler Question #1: What accomplishment in public transit can be shown by the
Alliance for Public Transportation? The current APT CEO said to the OKC
Council that APT is "grassroots". What was APT's grassroots
start? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>APT
started in about late 2003 as the OPT, and thanks to various health, disability,
green movement, and urban planning advocates and thanks to staff at the Dept of
Rehab services. The <b>Alliance for Public Transportation</b> evolved in
2004 and gained a wider citizen base and was incorporated as a nonprofit in
2005 and as an IRS 501c3 in 2009. It is still a lean nonprofit and yet
has many accomplishments among its three dozen or so community and membership
meetings, its some 600 followers, and even its somewhat outdated website with a
series of position statements. Transit has many, many facets and so APT
has a diverse board composed of passengers, citizens, and business leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>APT
is a broad organization, now Oklahoma’s oldest transit coalition, and it
has been helped by various followers along the way in their spare time and has
attracted quite a following. A membership fee was approved this fall by
the Board and will be $10 per year. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Come
visit APT and perhaps procure a $10 membership at Gold Dome (cash bar) at its
Holiday Mixer from 5:30 pm to 7pm on Thursday December 17. APT’s entire
treasury has come from private sector and individual donations. Its
current treasury is now down to under $2,000 and APT has no staff, so its
reliance on grassroots volunteers has become even more important. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>APT,
by the way, has held numerous events and reached out to passengers, the
sustainabilty groups, faith based leaders, social equity groups, and others. In
fact, in spring 2007 it sponsored a well attended session at the statewide
sustainability conference in Norman and APT’s followers are often found
at sustainability events. Come out December 17 at 5:30 for a mixer
and fellowship (no speeches). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Kessler
Question 2. Why did the APT Board of Directors vote to support MAPS 3 before
this was discussed with its membership (October 15th meeting)? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>APT
took a wonderfully inclusive approach in the face of tight timelines.
Yes, APT supports MAPS3 and this question is offensive: and it is either or the
question of someone who has not paid much attention or it is an unfair
smear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>APT
held five very public meetings in spring and summer 2009 to gain its
followers’input about MAPS3 and to gain a good sense of what the
grassroots would want. Then in early August its volunteers sent its own
MAPS3 survey to all 600 or so of it followers and urged others to answer.
The response by 120 or so seemed to be enough and was consistent and was
followed well by the wording in the APT Board resolution approved on September
3, 2009 and sent to all the followers. Then, APT leaders addressed the
City Council and later also sponsored, publicized and APT held three grassroots
MAPS3 meetings in November away from Downtown but all along bus routes.
These efforts plus the APTs role with the MTP and OnTrac about MAPS3 show APT to
be in the mainstream of transit supporters and at the front of leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Come
out December 17 at 5:30 for a mixer and fellowship (no speeches). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Larry
Hopper<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> okc-bounces@sustainableokc.org
[mailto:okc-bounces@sustainableokc.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Robert Waldrop<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, December 05, 2009 12:48 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Sustainability Issues in Oklahoma; Sustainable Oklahoma City<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [OKC] Ed Kessler on MAPS 3<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Long time
sustainability and transit advocate Ed Kessler has prepared the following
thoughts on MAPS 3 and sustainability.<br>
<br>
Bob Waldrop<br>
<a href="http://www.energyconservationinfo.org">www.energyconservationinfo.org</a><br>
</span><br>
++++++++++++++++<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Before
supporting, opposing, or voting for or against MAPS 3, citizens of OKC may seek
address to the following questions regarding MAPS 3 and public transit: </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>What
justification is provided by the people or organizations that support MAPS
3 for having the public pay twice for a hub?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Why
is the existing potential hub at Union Terminal being destroyed in the absence
of a justifying professional study? </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>There
is apparently no professionally-based justification for destruction of the
existing rail yard, and there have been numerous pleas from professionals and
citizens for saving the Union Terminal rail yard. Why, then, have many
opportunities for a moratorium on its destruction been avoided by the OKC
Council, by the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG), and by the
Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), and still avoided today?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>What
are the comparative costs of restoring the damage done at Union Terminal and
developing another hub? What are comparable benefits?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Completion
of a new highway through the Union Terminal rail yard is sometimes justified in
terms of need to replace a deteriorating existing elevated Crosstown. But
why has an engineering study of the existing Crosstown not ever been
presented? ODOT Director Ridley uses it to commute to work and has said
that if a serious identified structural problem were identified, the road would
be closed immediately. Couldn'’t deteriorated pavement be
permanently repaired?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Why
should MAPS 3 be passed now when the ACOG transportation study won't be
available until well into next year? (ACOG has not yet taken action on
the September request of the OKC Council, according to an ACOG spokesperson.) </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Why
have rail tracks that would provide a direct route from Will Rogers Airport to the
Union Terminal in downtown OKC been removed when they weren't interfering with
anything and might have served a future good purpose? </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Are
MAPS3 promoters committed to a downtown trolley system in advance of
professional study? Should it first be determined whether less costly
buses would serve well, as in Paris, France, for example?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>What
is the power of the OKC Chamber of Commerce (C of C) and why does it support
destruction of the Union Terminal rail yard? How does the C of C’s
policy of non-discussion serve the public interest? </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Why
has rail transport capability at such as the Boardman company in southwest
Oklahoma City been eliminated? Have C of C policies contributed to
reduced availability of rail transport to businesses? </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>How
can any of the several components of MAPS 3 be properly designed and located
when the location, attributes, and functions of the transportation hub have not
been well identified? </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>What
accomplishment in public transit can be shown by the Alliance for Public Transportation?
The current APT CEO said to the OKC Council that APT is
"grassroots". What was APT's grassroots start? </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Why
did the APT Board of Directors vote to support MAPS 3 before this was discussed
with its membership (October 15th meeting)? </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Will
the new hub serve bus transportation, and how should the new hub relate to the
existing hub for buses? Why do we now hear of a tight relationship
between a new hub and Bricktown although the existing bus hub was purposefully
located away from Bricktown? </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Why
has our local government facilitated relocation of rail transport of freight,
including hazardous materials, from the Union Terminal to the Packing Town lead
bypass line south of the N. Canadian River, through and adjacent to a
low-income area? Why has substitution of at-grade crossings for much
safer grade-separated crossings been permitted in violation of federal
policy? </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Why
did government in Oklahoma facilitate relocation of rail traffic that increases
rail congestion, causes rail delays, decreases public safety, and diminishes
national security, all associated with use of the Packing Town Lead
and new need to use the BNSF Red Rock line to cross the North
Canadian River? </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Why
is the lower-income public being asked to pay proportionally more than others
for MAPS 3?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>Is
MAPS 3 seriously premature? Shall we trust our leadership? <span
class=apple-style-span>Past "open" meetings for citizens' input have
been held about these issues, but public input at some meetings has been restricted
and even cut off! </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'> </span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","serif"'>
Prepared, printed and distributed by Edwin Kessler, November 2009.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Q
Why does a citizen of Norman, Oklahoma, who is not registered to vote in
Oklahoma City, become involved in these Oklahoma City issues?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>A. Because Oklahoma City is at the
center of Oklahoma, and policy and actions in Oklahoma City affect all
of Oklahoma and even our Nation.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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