Investing in affordable housing supports families and the local workforce, stabilizes neighborhoods and reduces homelessness. Affordable housing helps residents avoid cost burdens so they can thrive in a safe community.

Needs

• The lower a household’s income, the greater their housing cost burden.
• Roughly 60% of low-to-moderate income renters are housing cost-burdened.
• Most low-rent housing is not in good condition.
• Homeownership feels out of reach for many people.

Community benefits

• Stable and affordable housing: helps prevent homelessness, reduces stress and health risks, strengthens neighborhoods, allows for spending on other essential family needs and provides homes for teachers, healthcare workers, young families and seniors.

Examples from 2017 Bond

• Provided support for 7 housing developments that will build 1,146 units.
• Leveraged $17 for every $1 from GO Bond (Private investment + Federal funds = $169.3 million).

Investing in bridges meets critical infrastructure needs, enhancing the community’s safety, reducing flood risks and ensuring reliable transportation.

Needs

• New bridges.
• Rehabilitation of bridges.

Community benefits

• Ensures current safety standards are met, reducing accidents risk and structural failures.
• Regular upgrades extend the life of bridges, preventing costly replacements and minimizing future maintenance.

Examples from 2017 Bond

• Upgraded bridges extending their lifespan.

By investing in maintenance and renovations to City-owned facilities, we can extend the life of essential infrastructure such as the City’s Central Maintenance Facility, the James Couch Municipal Building and historic City Hall. Investment in public libraries improves access to information and our community’s quality of life.

Needs

• Upgrades to City-owned buildings and facilities, including the Central Maintenance Facility.
• Renovations to existing libraries.

Community benefits

• Maintaining City facilities ensures they remain functional and relevant, preventing costly repairs or replacements in the future.
• As we grow, upgrades ensure that facilities can accommodate increasing demands, supporting a higher quality of life.
• Renovating older facilities helps maintain their historical significance while providing modern amenities.

Examples from 2017 Bond

• New permanent location for Almonte Library.
• Central Maintenance Facility improvements.
• Maintenance for the City’s downtown campus.

Investing in drainage projects and improvements creates safer neighborhoods by reducing flooding risks. Heavy rainfall and storm events can overwhelm exist­ing drainage systems, leading to flooding, infrastruc­ture damage and negative impacts to public health and safety.

Needs

• Upgrade drainage systems to help prevent flooding during heavy rainfall.
• Install larger or more efficient inlets and outlets to enhance water flow into and out of the drainage system.
• Enhance drainage systems to help manage storm water runoff, preventing pollution from entering local waterways and improving storm water quality.

Community benefits

• Drainage upgrades reduce erosion and water damage to roads, bridges and utilities, extending their lifespan and reducing repair costs.
• Effective drainage systems reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall or storms, protecting homes, businesses and public infrastructure from water damage.

Examples from 2017 Bond

• Improved and expanded drainage structures.

Investing in job creation incentives and redevelopment boosts OKC’s economy and helps our community thrive.

Needs

• Performance-based incentives for new jobs.
• Incentives that help diversify local jobs.
• Redevelopment and revitalization incentives.
• Funding to make-ready large sites for manufacturing and industrial employers.

Community benefits

• Growing employment base.
• Increasing wages.
• More resilient, diversified local economy.
• Keeping employers competitive.

Examples from 2007 & 2017 Bond

• Performance-based incentives for 17,600 new jobs with an estimated annual payroll of $975 million.
• Incentives expected to spur nearly $1.5 billion in private capital spending.
• Participating employers: AAA, Amazon, Boeing, Costco, GE and Paycom.
• Acquisition of over 1,500 acres to recruit new employees.

Investing in our Parks & Recreation system improves our residents quality of life. Bond funding will enhance park infrastructure, facilities and athletic fields that support a thriving, modern parks system that’s accessible to all.

Needs

• Modern infrastructure to maintain parks system.
• Upgrades to regional parks, like Route 66 Park and Wheeler Park.
• Replace 1954 Will Rogers Aquatic Center with a more modern facility.
• Expand youth performing arts program.
• Completion of the Deep Fork Trail to finish the 100-mile inner city trail loop.

Community benefits

• Promotes active, healthy lifestyles.
• Improved efficiency and environmental outcomes.
• Modernization and cost savings.
• More strategic land use to benefit residents.

Examples from 2017 Bond

• New parks and park expansion.
• Repairs and upgrades to existing parks and park buildings.
• Wayfinding signage and amenities on 90 miles of trails.
• Improvements to public golf facilities.

Signature athletic facilities draw athletes, spectators and visitors from around the world. Investment in our world-class venues will solidify OKC’s place as an elite athletic destination while serving residents.

Needs

• Whitewater and Riversport improvements in Regatta Park.
• New indoor and outdoor renovations at Devon Park, the softball complex.
• Upgrades like audio and lighting to modernize the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
• New show arena, exhibit space and cover between the Super Barn and OG&E Coliseum at the OKC Fairgrounds.
• Improvements to Civic Center Music Hall.

Community benefits

• World-class facilities for OKC residents.
• Positive economic impacts from visitors.
• Attractions and sports that boost tourism throughout the year.

Examples from 2017 Bond

• Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark field renovation.
• 4,000-seat addition to Devon Park.

Police, Courts & Fire

Investing in OKC’s public safety facilities ensures police officers, firefighters and the courts system have the facilities needed to accommodate our growing community. Bond funding will support essential upgrades to these facilities.

Needs

• New fire department maintenance and logistics center.
• Funding to complete the Public Safety Training Center.
• Add, rebuild and renovate fire stations.
• Court complex improvements.
• New annex police facility across from Police HQ.
• New 911 Center.

Community benefits

• Improved response times.
• Better training for life-saving services.
• Replacement of outdated facilities.
• Expansion of resources including a forensic lab and Real Time Information Center (RTIC).
• Improved emergency communication services.

Examples from 2017 Bond

• 3 new and renovated fire stations.
• New Public Safety Training Center.
• New helicopter hangar near OKC Will Rogers International Airport.
• Expanded and renovated Springlake and Hefner Division police stations.

Each year, our residents rank streets as their top priority. Continuous investment is required to meet expectations and maintain nearly 9,000 lane miles of streets. Bond programs are critical to improving our city’s transporta­tion system as our city grows.

Needs

• Enhancements (“streetscapes”) for major corridors.
• New sidewalks connecting neighborhoods to schools, parks, transit stops, shops and restaurants.
• Filling in sidewalk and bike lane gaps across the city.
• Pedestrian crossings that provide safe access across high-traffic streets.
• Bike and pedestrian bridges that connect sidewalks and trails across highways, rivers and streams.
• Maintaining and upgrading existing bike routes.

Community benefits

• More walkable, comfortable and attractive streets.
• Better network of ADA-compliant walking paths.
• Better and safer connections from neighborhoods to schools, parks, public transit, shopping, dining, and more.
• Easier to live an active lifestyle which improves public health.
• More bike and transit commuting means less traffic for drivers.
• Improved environmental conditions, including air pollution and heat-related illnesses.

Examples from 2017 Bond

• Built 200+ miles of sidewalks and 14 miles of bike lanes.
• Resurfaced streets along bike routes.

Investing in improvements to traffic signals and inter­sections will help traffic flow, promote safety and improve community connectivity. Continual upgrades to traffic needs will ensure a safer environment.

Needs

• New turn lanes at intersections.
• New traffic signals.
• Technology for traffic flow evaluations.
• Pedestrian street crossing signals.

Community benefits

• Decreased commute time saves time and money with better fuel efficiency.
• Improves air quality by reducing pollution.
• Enhanced connections between neighborhoods, schools and commercial areas improves access and mobility for residents.

Examples from 2017 Bond

• Modern signals added for vehicle and pedestrian connectivity.
• 20 traffic intersection improvements.

System Modernization

Investing in transit ensures residents have access to reliable transportation options and builds a more connected community. Bond funding will support essential upgrades, so EMBARK can support the expected growth in demand for public transit.

Needs

• New maintenance and operations facilities, as well as the EMBARK bus fleet.
• Replace outdated vehicles.

Community benefits

• More efficient, low emissions and dependable buses.
• More reliable, accessible and efficient transit services.
• Improved mobility and reduced congestion and pollution.

Examples from 2017 Bond

• Improved sidewalk connections to transit stops.
• Concrete pads, shelters and benches for up to 500 bus stops.
• Pedestrian signals at intersections near transit stops.
• Bus fleet replacement and expansion.
• Park-and-ride parking lots.