The Oklahoman & NewsOK

NewsOK: Oklahoma City News, Sports, Weather & Entertainment

What could Oklahoma City buy for $5.7 billion?

William Crum
by William Crum
Published: Tue, January 15, 2019 11:32 PM Updated: Thu, January 17, 2019 10:51 AM
The Oklahoma City streetcar system has about five miles of track installed on downtown streets. Construction took almost two years, at a cost of about $50 million. [Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman]
The Oklahoma City streetcar system has about five miles of track installed on downtown streets. Construction took almost two years, at a cost of about $50 million. [Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman]


Given the current projection that the 1-cent MAPS tax brings in about $8.9 million per month, it would take Oklahoma City taxpayers 53 years to raise $5.7 billion. 

With the White House and Congress at odds over President Trump's insistence on $5.7 billion for a wall to be built on the U.S-Mexico border, MAPS finances lend some perspective.

For instance, for $5.7 billion Oklahoma City could:

• Resurface every city-maintained street (8,000 lane miles), twice, or...

• Construct 22,800 miles of sidewalks, or ...

• Install 570 miles of streetcar track, or ...

• Build 5,700 miles of trails, or ...

• Build 385 senior health and wellness centers.

CityCare plans to use an $850,000 grant from the Inasmuch Foundation to finance renovations and operations for a 200-bed, "low-barrier" overnight shelter for some of the city's most vulnerable people.

At that rate, $5.7 billion would provide 1.7 million beds.

Oklahoma City transfers water from reservoirs in southeast Oklahoma, and is readying construction of a new pipeline parallel to the more than 50-year-old Atoka pipeline.

For $5.7 billion, the city could build eight new Atoka pipelines.

The Airport Trust awarded a $61.9 million construction contract to add four gates at Will Rogers World Airport. 

For $5.7 billion, the airport could build 92 new gates.



Related Photos
The Oklahoma City streetcar system has about five miles of track installed on downtown streets. Construction took almost two years, at a cost of about $50 million. [Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman]

The Oklahoma City streetcar system has about five miles of track installed on downtown streets. Construction took almost two years, at a cost of about $50 million. [Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman]

Aerial drone photo. Looking northeast at downtown with BOK Park Building and Devon Energy Tower in foreground. Photo by David Morris, The Oklahoman
<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-59284289d7ce23db1112e30deca30d9b.jpg" alt="Photo - The Oklahoma City streetcar system has about five miles of track installed on downtown streets. Construction took almost two years, at a cost of about $50 million. [Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman]" title="The Oklahoma City streetcar system has about five miles of track installed on downtown streets. Construction took almost two years, at a cost of about $50 million. [Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman]"><figcaption>The Oklahoma City streetcar system has about five miles of track installed on downtown streets. Construction took almost two years, at a cost of about $50 million. [Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman]</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-8424fcd0029de1d570d3fbd0054fc128.jpg" alt="Photo - Aerial drone photo. Looking northeast at downtown with BOK Park Building and Devon Energy Tower in foreground. Photo by David Morris, The Oklahoman" title="Aerial drone photo. Looking northeast at downtown with BOK Park Building and Devon Energy Tower in foreground. Photo by David Morris, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Aerial drone photo. Looking northeast at downtown with BOK Park Building and Devon Energy Tower in foreground. Photo by David Morris, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure>
William Crum

OU and Norman High School graduate, formerly worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press, the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, and the Norman Transcript. Married, two children, lives in Norman. Read more ›

Comments