(Re-posted from www.okc.gov)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2009 

MAPS 3 election set for December 8

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and members of the City Council passed a resolution today calling for the MAPS 3 election on December 8.
 
The MAPS 3 proposal calls for a seven-year, nine-month one-cent sales tax that will maintain the Oklahoma City sales tax rate where it currently stands.    If approved, the sales tax collection will begin on April 1, 2010, the day after the end of the sports facilities sales tax that voters approved in March 2008.
 
The estimated total cost of the initiative is $777 million.  The total cost includes $17 million in contingency funds.
 
The initiative includes eight projects:

• A new, approximately 70-acre central park linking the core of downtown with the Oklahoma River
• A new rail-based streetcar system, plus potential funding for other rail transit initiatives, such as commuter lines and a transit hub  
• A new downtown convention center 
• Sidewalks to be placed on major streets and near facilities used by the public throughout the City
• 57 miles of new public bicycling and walking trails throughout the City   
• Improvements to the Oklahoma River, including a public whitewater kayaking facility and upgrades intended to achieve the finest rowing racecourse in the world
• State of the art health and wellness aquatic centers for senior citizens throughout the City
• Improvements to the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds

Information on MAPS 3 will continue to be added at www.okc.gov/maps3.

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