NEWS

OKC Civic Life Journal: Streetcars' travel times improve

William Crum

It is the third week of February. The Oklahoma City Council's regular meeting is Feb. 26 at 8:30 a.m.

An Oklahoma City streetcar traveled south on Robinson Avenue. Transit officials added Sunday service on Feb. 10 and permanent funding for operating seven days per week is proposed for the 2019-20 budget. [Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman]

With traffic signal upgrades, streetcars are moving more efficiently through downtown Oklahoma City. Ridership has slipped since rides are no longer free; fare collection began Feb. 2.

Sales tax revenue extends a 22-month streak of consecutive monthly gains in Oklahoma City. Underlying economic activity as reflected in sales tax collections grew 1.65 percent but slowed from 4.7 percent in January.

Turnout for city council elections in Wards 2, 5, 6 and 8 varied considerably, topping out at 11.5 percent in Ward 2. Registration also varies, with nearly 60,000 voters in Ward 8 and only 23,700 in Ward 6.

Oklahoma City Public Schools has begun renovations of the former Central National Bank at 615 N Classen Blvd. for district offices. Steve Lackmeyer reports the wavy-roofed drive-thru may be demolished.

Create a partnership among Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County and suburban cities to address the twin crises of  mental illness and addiction. Build a treatment center with MAPS 4 proceeds. Those were ideas floated by Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan in an op-ed

A piece atgoverning.com suggested the state of Oklahoma's opioid lawsuit, slated for trial in Norman in May, could be a national sensation. One attorney said the trial "will pull the cover off the pharmaceutical companies’ fraudulent and deceptive marketing practices." Oklahoma City is pursuing its own opioid lawsuit; that case currently is in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.