The tunnel may be one of the things I am most excited about.

Yes, just EMBARK for now.

In some of the conceptual plans, it shows a Greyhound / long distance bus terminal on the vacant lot next to the UHaul building. But that was just an idea.

For what it's worth, that is actually in the Intermodal Transit Hub Master Plan (http://www.acogok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/hubreport.pdf), so while it isn't absolutely concrete, I fully expect the city will try to make that happen. One hurdle will be convincing Greyhound to move back into downtown from their current facility, however.

Call me crazy but i always figured when they left the current BOK site that it was purely a temporary move until this ante Fe project was completed (to include the cenptual plans in the parking lot Pete just mentioned).

Call me crazy but i always figured when they left the current BOK site that it was purely a temporary move until this ante Fe project was completed (to include the cenptual plans in the parking lot Pete just mentioned).

I think that would beneficial to both parties, their current station is in a rough area/intersection and doesn't give the best impression of OKC, at all. I've ridden a Greyhound from Dallas to OKC FWIW. Reno is something else down that way. The transition from Bricktown to MLK on Reno is an abrupt and jarring one.

I know right....prostitutes perusing the intersection one nearby hotels.....OSBI staking out behind dilapidated structures ......yeah it doesn't shine a good light on us to say the least

You can see they have pretty much finished the plaza fronting Gaylord and looks like they've finished the drop-off court on the north side.

Couch said in Steve's chat last Friday they hope to flip the traffic on Gaylord to the east side in a couple of weeks and be completely done with this stretch before the end of the year.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe090317.jpg

They've switched traffic over to the east side of EKG.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe091717b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe091717d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe091717e.jpg

My oh my that is going to be so much nicer with it shrunk down a lane.

Excellent pics Pete. Now can you grab some pics of the streetcar track progress?

Speaking of streetcar tracks, where do they plan to put the tracks on EKG? In the southbound traffic lanes?

Yes.

I thought EKG does not get streetcar tracks?
Just east/west on Sheridan and east/west on Reno.

I thought EKG does not get streetcar tracks?
Just east/west on Sheridan and east/west on Reno.

They are installing them now for possible future use.

Foresight? Nice!

^^^^^^
Also it has been stated publicly that it might be used to bypass Bricktown loop in case of congestion, street closures, etc.

There are great savings by putting in the rails now vs tearing up the streets all over again. And the inconvenience to businesses and motorists as well.

Which begs the question: How much extra money did it cost taxpayers to have to rip up P180 streets twice?

I realize that the route wasn't known until a year or so ago but Project 180 is still far from over and they could have done the streets first that had almost no chance of being on the route, then finish the others with the rails included.

But of course, we were told P180 would be finished years ago and there was no way we could wait on the streetcar.

^^^^^^
Also it has been stated publicly that it might be used to bypass Bricktown loop in case of congestion, street closures, etc.

that would be a great idea!. one of the big hurdles of the Atlanta street car is it being stuck in traffic a lot!

I realize this is a superficial observation but I am a bit disappointed that the outside of the building wasn't cleaned up more.

There are great savings by putting in the rails now vs tearing up the streets all over again. And the inconvenience to businesses and motorists as well.

Which begs the question: How much extra money did it cost taxpayers to have to rip up P180 streets twice?

I realize that the route wasn't known until a year or so ago but Project 180 is still far from over and they could have done the streets first that had almost no chance of being on the route, then finish the others with the rails included.

But of course, we were told P180 would be finished years ago and there was no way we could wait on the streetcar.

It's not ideal to tear up the street twice, but p180 streets are built in panels that allow for esasy removal/re-pouring of concrete. Also, most of the utility work in p180 (not sure about the earlier packages) was done with the streetcar in mind.

All concrete streets are poured in sections.

Still lots of expense with completely pulling out the pavement and then re-pouring it.

We are talking about several miles of this. It's not a small expense.

Pinkitzel actually survived this? Props to them.

All concrete streets are poured in sections.

Still lots of expense with completely pulling out the pavement and then re-pouring it.

We are talking about several miles of this. It's not a small expense.

No doubt! just less expensive and painful than the other sections of downtown that haven't been p180ized. And to be fair, while it would have been preferable to construct the streetcar at the same time as 180, there isn't several miles of P180 street being torn up. P180 makes up just over one and a half miles of the six and a half miles of the total project.

I realize this is a superficial observation but I am a bit disappointed that the outside of the building wasn't cleaned up more.

I noticed what I think you're seeing and so did a few others, but from comments up thread it seem that it is clean and what we are seeing (irregular brownish coloring) is the natural coloration of the stone veneer.

I noticed what I think you're seeing and so did a few others, but from comments up thread it seem that it is clean and what we are seeing (irregular brownish coloring) is the natural coloration of the stone veneer.

Correctamundo.


And to be fair, I almost always push the contrast on the photos I take which causes that variance in stone color to seem more extreme than it is. In person, it doesn't look bad or dirty.

There are great savings by putting in the rails now vs tearing up the streets all over again. And the inconvenience to businesses and motorists as well. [...]

Pete, if I'm not mistaken, the rails on EKG are being laid specifically because of the federal funding component of this overhaul; someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I remembered reading that part of the federal funding we received required us to put the streetcar tracks in front of the station.

Definitely the Santa Fe remodel is being paid for in part with a federal grant but I can't remember if that also helped pay for tracks. There are a number of posters here who can answer that question.

So, streetcar rails will be laid down in front of the station? I asked back in post #412 and was replied there wouldn't be.

Not directly in front (northbound), but on the other side (southbound).

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/skyline093017.jpg

Breath taking dynamic pic of the Oklahoma City skyline. Good drone shot Pete.

I was trying to photoshop this block from downtown Tulsa14153 over the cox center to try and simulate what it might be like once Cox goes down and something else is erected. My Photoshop skills are nonexistent and I couldn't make it work right. Anyone wanna give it a shot? You don't have to use the same block that I was trying to use, but be sure it has four full blocks with cross streets. :)

This article involves a lot of different developments (Streetcar, Heartland Flyer and RTA), but it mostly focuses on the Santa Fe Multi-modal hub, so I thought I would put it here:

State budget cuts not expected to slow OKC transit hub

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record October 10, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s budget cuts are unlikely to affect its contribution in developing a multimodal transit hub with Oklahoma City, officials said Tuesday.

“All indications are that there are no issues with that,” Public Works Director Eric Wenger told council members. “We are regularly speaking with ODOT, not just on this project but on a number of city projects. We’ve heard nothing to the contrary that there would be a problem at all.”

The City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with the Transportation Department Tuesday to partially fund the $28.4 million redevelopment of Santa Fe Station on the west edge of Bricktown. The department’s part of the money comes from a 2013 TIGER grant, federal funds through the Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery program, worth $13.6 million. The TIGER application required that ODOT and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments provide matching funds to the project.

To that end, ODOT pledged $500,000 and a parking lot valued at $1 million, or $1.5 million total. The council memorandum provides for the city to remit an invoice to ODOT for $500,000 toward construction costs, and the deed for the parking lot to be transferred to the city.

Transportation officials have cut back on dozens of road and bridge projects in the department’s eight-year plan in response to the Legislature’s handling of the state budget. The Transportation Commission voted to approve a rebalanced plan for projects for fiscal years 2018-2025, removing items for the first time since 2003. Overall, 40 construction projects worth about $204 million were cut from the calendar and 40 percent of all programmed projects were delayed at least one year.

City Manager Jim Couch said the Santa Fe project is of mutual interest to all involved parties because it adds value to an underutilized downtown asset while playing up amenities attractive to passenger rail service expansion across the state.

The hub is designed to allow travelers to move easily from one mode to another. Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer, for example, already stops at the depot. The MAPS 3 modern streetcar route will come through the hub. And new construction will allow bicycle and pedestrian traffic to flow more freely under the railroad track bridge between the entertainment and business districts. Bus and taxi parking space will be created as well.

Wenger said the first phase of development, which focuses on the Santa Fe depot facilities, is 90 percent complete, with completion scheduled by the end of this fall. The second phase involving Gaylord Plaza on the business district side of the bridge with the Pinkitzel shop is little further along with an opening date in November.

“They’ve indicated that it will happen,” Couch said of ODOT’s intentions.

The pedestrian underpass is due for completion in 2019 after review by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad. The final phase, focusing on Bricktown plaza, has not been scheduled yet.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe102217.jpg

How are people getting on and off the Heartland Flyer right now? Didn't know they were re-working those tracks.

They aren't. They ride the train forever.

They aren't. They ride the train forever.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/snowpiercer.jpg

+1

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/snowpiercer.jpg

Actually a decent movie...

How are people getting on and off the Heartland Flyer right now? Didn't know they were re-working those tracks.

The track to the west of the platform (to the left in the above picture) is actually still in service; however, there is no direct access from the south right now and operational trackage ends near the north edge of that yellow area on the ground. To enter the station track, the Heartland Flyer has to pull past the station to a switch off the mainline near NE 2nd St, and then back up into the station. BNSF will eventually reconnect the station track to the mainline on the south end of the station, but I don't think there's a definite timeline for this right now.

How are people getting on and off the Heartland Flyer right now? Didn't know they were re-working those tracks.

Tuck and roll

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/p180111917.jpg

I either didn't realize how small the Santa Fe Station is or how large the Cox Convention Center is...

I either didn't realize how small the Santa Fe Station is or how large the Cox Convention Center is...

Both. But judging by the size of the excavator compared to COX, the convention center is huge. I'll be glad to see it tore down and replaced with something more pleasing to the eye and useful

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/p180112617.jpg

They have now opened one of the southbound lanes to the west of the median. Both northbound lanes are now open.

Also note: The plans were revised to accommodate a left-turn lane into the Cox parking garage from the northbound lanes. My understanding is that this was done to appease Harold Hamm as Continental has employees that use that garage.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/p180121017.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe070317n.jpg

I suppose every time a decision is made it is an “appeasement” to someone. Perhaps it was just pointed out that it would facilitate parkers and downtown workers there, period....now and when it is re-developed. I guess to not put it there would have been an “appeasement” to us anti parking and anti business persons. Now that Aubrey has passed and Larry Nichols is retiring and fading away, do we now turn to Harold Hamm to hate? I am sure you understand the connotation of the word and it’s intent to define the party as belligerent and the resulting action as unfair. Is this the way you see it?

I suppose every time a decision is made it is an “appeasement” to someone. Perhaps it was just pointed out that it would facilitate parkers and downtown workers there, period....now and when it is re-developed. I guess to not put it there would have been an “appeasement” to us anti parking and anti business persons. Now that Aubrey has passed and Larry Nichols is retiring and fading away, do we now turn to Harold Hamm to hate? I am sure you understand the connotation of the word and it’s intent to define the party as belligerent and the resulting action as unfair. Is this the way you see it?

Perhaps Pete has information that you don't. If you look at the renderings, you will see the median without a left turn lane, which I assume represented the original plans.

Perhaps Pete has information that you don't. If you look at the renderings, you will see the median without a left turn lane, which I assume represented the original plans.
I’m sure he does. Let’s hear it. I just get weary of both sides these day....local, state, national... that throw out insinuations and innuendos but not the facts. I understand any business advocating their point, but the implication in a statement like this is that the position was gained unfairly and allowance made unjustly to the public. If it was, let’s hear it. If not, let’s not pick one more fight.

I’m sure he does. Let’s hear it. I just get weary of both sides these day....local, state, national... that throw out insinuations and innuendos but not the facts. I understand any business advocating their point, but the implication in a statement like this is that the position was gained unfairly and allowance made unjustly to the public. If it was, let’s hear it. If not, let’s not pick one more fight.

Fair enough.

Perhaps Pete has information that you don't. If you look at the renderings, you will see the median without a left turn lane, which I assume represented the original plans.

Yeah, but I think they would have continued the curbed medium(in the rendering) if they didn't always intend to use it as a turning lane or left the option open. Its not hard to just paint lines differently from what is shown in a rendering.

Yeah, but I think they would have continued the curbed medium(in the rendering) if they didn't always intend to use it as a turning lane or left the option open. Its not hard to just paint lines differently from what is shown in a rendering.

I don't really understand what you are trying to say here. Half of the median as shown in the rendering was not constructed. It was supposed to be tree lined all the way to the southern tip, but instead there will be a turn lane with a concrete tip.

They are calling this project complete apart from the tunnel connection and plaza in Bricktown.

However, somewhere along the way they completely deleted the pavers from what they call 'Gaylord Plaza', the huge expanse on the west, north and south sides of the station.

It's just a sea of bare concrete; not even stained or colored. All original renderings showed pavers throughout but clearly this got cut due to budget over-runs.

Notice they didn't even continue the small amount of Project 180-like pavers between the trees in front of the station.

Contrast this to the newly completed P180 pedestrian plaza shown in the last photo.

Yet another example of the city failing to deliver what was promised and way, way behind schedule.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafedeletions.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe121717a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe121717b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe121717e.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe121717c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe121717f.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe121717d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/p180111217b.jpg

Here is a look at the schedule for this project. What was originally pitched as a 1.5 year duration is now projected to run at least 5 years and it appears that even the last update is already off schedule.


This is from April 2015 which was submitted to City Council to gain final approval; shows the entire project finishing in the fall of 2016:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe040715.jpg



Another update in October 2016, at which time the project was already supposed to be complete as per the original schedule; everything is now pushed out to spring of 2018:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/santafe102616.jpg



In August 2017, an update presentation showed the following:

- Santa Fe Depot to be complete Fall of 2017
- Gaylord Plaza to be complete Fall of 2017
- Bricktown Pedestrian tunnel construction to run from 2017-2019 (construction has not started as of 12/19/17; recent press release about the station opening says work to start Feb. 2018)
- Bricktown Plaza would start after the tunnel and run 6-9 months, placing completion some time in 2010
- Project 180 work on EK Gaylord to be complete December 2017 (lots of work left as of 12/19/17 -- see below)

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/p180121617.jpg

Why is this happening? Why hasn’t the tunnel started yet? Lack of funds? Poor management? Very disappointing to see. They should be sparing no expense at all on this project. This should be made into a world class space.

Pete, you should see if News4 would be down to start a regular(weekly or monthly) segment dedicated to this kind of stuff. Pointing this out. Then going after the political leaders involved in this. Asking them questions. Coming back to see if the things originally pitched ever got built. Seeing if it happens again with the same kind of project or from the same political leaders that led the last one that was botched.

Really wish they would have used some of the MAPS contingency funds and/or MAPS extra funds to complete that plaza properly.

Is it possible they will come back and redo this portion?

Is it possible they will come back and redo this portion?

Very unlikely because the concrete has already been poured and is flush with all other surfaces.

Don't think they could merely place the pavers on top without some sort of odd work around at all the various locations where they would intersect with existing hardscape.

I think it's safe to say the pavers were history as soon as they took them out of the bid package.

Just really disappointed out how this turned out.

Why is this happening? Why hasn’t the tunnel started yet? Lack of funds? Poor management? Very disappointing to see. They should be sparing no expense at all on this project. This should be made into a world class space.

Pete, you should see if News4 would be down to start a regular(weekly or monthly) segment dedicated to this kind of stuff. Pointing this out. Then going after the political leaders involved in this. Asking them questions. Coming back to see if the things originally pitched ever got built. Seeing if it happens again with the same kind of project or from the same political leaders that led the last one that was botched.

Because the railroad is involved.

Just really disappointed out how this turned out.

Have you been there yet in person? It still is a nice space, feels good to be there. Sure, pavers would have been more attractive, but the project as a whole isn't disappointing to me. It is certainly heaps better than what it was before.

Have you been there yet in person? It still is a nice space, feels good to be there. Sure, pavers would have been more attractive, but the project as a whole isn't disappointing to me. It is certainly heaps better than what it was before.

Yes have been inside and it's very nice; just talking about the plaza.

And of course it's better... It's costing taxpayers more than $28 million. BTW, the ceilings and other aspects were done prior to this project.