Idea to send: |
Topic | Airport for Regional NE OK |
Content | Long Range Background Thoughts:
The population of our GMSA does not constitute the numbers to warrant the growth, job opportunity and other amenities of the larger metropolises which are attracting talent and work force. We need to think regionally to attain the pure density and demand that can support these amenities. We need to think regionally to obtain the Federal support that could be brought to Oklahoma in benefit of our two major and several academic based Cities in N.E. OK.
Long Range Concept:
Taking advantage of the strongest industry in common in our region; the aerospace sector, we should tie that strength to one of our weakest regional options; air transportation and accessibility to other business centers. Oklahoma is known as one of the “Fly-Over States”. I was driving from an Urban Land Institute Conference in Denver to DIA and over the 50 minutes that it took to get from Denver to the Denver airport this thought occurred:
• N.E. Oklahoma could find a central environment to locate an International Airport to serve Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Stillwater and Norman.
• Employing parts of the rail lines in place, build a high speed (medium speed) rail system that would both connect the airport to all 4 points as well as causing transportation linkages between these Cities, workplaces, and the Universities which support them.
• The composite population of these cities probably significantly exceeds the population of Denver at the time they proposed, funded and built DIA.
• Aggressive petitioning for Federal and regional Grant and Transportation assistance could produce a wind-fall of regional construction jobs, coalescence of regional governments as one goal seeking collection, as well as produce a major mid central transportation hub.
Rachel W. Zebrowski, AIA
(918) 625-1495
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