Public Transit Trumps Politics in Oklahoma City with Mayor David Holt
Usually on Transit Unplugged we bring you the voices and stories of transit leaders from around the world, but this week we have something a little different. Join Paul as he sits down with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt to talk about transit, politics, and changing how people view public transit in his city.
As David describes it, like many cities West of the Mississippi, Oklahoma City was planned, developed, and built for cars. Transit was seen as transportation of last resort. What this translated into was a sporadic and sparse transit system where people could wait a hour for the next bus after walking miles to get to a stop that's just a stick in the mud.
David and his predecessor thought it was time to change that and create a modern, robust transit system in Oklahoma's capital city. Now the city is building out its bus route network, putting in bus rapid transit (BRT), and looking at light rail to connect two key suburbs. David's plan hinges on doing big things in small steps over the course of a few years. Instead of proposing a massive light rail network, he's proposing this smaller, focused project to prove it out and build support for the project over the long-term.
We think you'll enjoy this refreshing discussion from a pro-transit politician who is building support regardless of your politics.
Coming up next week on the show we have Justin Stuehrenberg, General Manager of the Madison Metro Transit System talking about his big projects happening in his city.
If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.
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00:00 Welcome to Transit Unplugged
00:05 Introducing Mayor David Holt and Oklahoma City's Transit Vision
02:04 The Geography and Demographics of Oklahoma City
05:33 Embark: Oklahoma City's Public Transit System
07:42 The Evolution of Public Transit in Oklahoma City
12:37 Funding Transit: The Role of MAPS Initiatives
16:32 The Future of Transit: Regional Transit Authority and Light Rail Plans
22:32 Political Perspectives on Transit and Closing Thoughts
27:24 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged
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