Is Elizabeth Romero still the FHWA/DOT local contact?

Elizabeth.Romero@dot.gov

And copy the Federal Government at this email address. In fact, I would recommend addressing it to Ms. Romero first and making your council person and mayor the copy.

And start of the letter with your disappointment about when the public meeting was held and the short notice. Ask for a 90 day extension so that other citizens have time to submit their input. In the environmental process, the ability to have public input is the first piece to approval. Obviously, many folks feel that this public meeting time, place, late notice, and conflict with the Thunder game was contrived.

And copy the Federal Government at this email address. In fact, I would recommend addressing it to Ms. Romero first and making your council person and mayor the copy.

Was just about to repost the same thing. If the Feds get a strong negative reaction to this again, they will begin to wonder what is going on at ODOT? Remember, the emails and letters we (citizens) sent back in 2012, caused the Federal government to force ODOT into delaying this and do a new assessment. If we don't like this result, the feds (fhwa) need to know what we think.

We do have a voice -- and email makes it much easier than in the past. Take advantage.

My email to the FHWA:



Ms. Romero,

I wanted to express to you my frustration with the recent events regarding the subject project being built in the right-of-way of the former I-40 route. I've been to every public meeting on the subject, have reviewed all of the documents released, etc, but I feel like the processes is becoming less open, not more open. With this recent meeting, we were only given a weeks notice, no past attendees were emailed, and the meeting was held at a time and location not welcoming to the public. Also, when I attended the meeting, instead of listening to my ideas and generally being receptive to public input, I feel like the people I spoke with were very dismissive of my ideas, as though their minds were already made up (or in the very least as though they had already dismissed in their minds ideas like mine). I respectfully request another public meeting, with more notice for the public, and in a venue more welcoming to the public and their needs. Additionally, the government representatives should really do a lot more listening and note-taking if at all possible.

ODOT just tweeted this:

ODOT‏@OKDOT·12m
OKC- Is getting in & out of downtown an issue? Send in your comments about the future OKC Blvd. by May 21 at Open House: 7th of May, 2014 (http://ow.ly/wKEcp)




I have linked directly to the PDF for comments. There is a "Submit by email" Button just under the address fields.

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/a2014/140507/commentform.pdf

ODOT just tweeted this:

ODOT‏@OKDOT·12m
OKC- Is getting in & out of downtown an issue? Send in your comments about the future OKC Blvd. by May 21 at Open House: 7th of May, 2014 (http://ow.ly/wKEcp)




I have linked directly to the PDF for comments. There is a "Submit by email" Button just under the address fields.

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/a2014/140507/commentform.pdf

Very guided/managed "question" from ODOT. I believe a trial lawyer would call that a "leading" question...

I suspect that unless the citizens demand changes from city leadership, not much is going to happen here. Relying on the FHWA is probably not enough to evoke change / improvements.

ODOT just tweeted this:

ODOT‏@OKDOT·12m
OKC- Is getting in & out of downtown an issue? Send in your comments about the future OKC Blvd. by May 21 at Open House: 7th of May, 2014 (http://ow.ly/wKEcp)




I have linked directly to the PDF for comments. There is a "Submit by email" Button just under the address fields.

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/a2014/140507/commentform.pdf

And the average person is going to complain about traffic and say yes. ODOT will then use that as justification to build a "Second Interstate".

And the average person is going to complain about traffic and say yes. ODOT will then use that as justification to build a "Second Interstate".

Honestly, I think they're just going through the motions. Ya know, letting us common folk think we have a hand in planning but all along they're just gonna steam roll us.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And the average person is going to complain about traffic and say yes. ODOT will then use that as justification to build a "Second Interstate".

But how do you get to "rebuilding a new barrier to CBD" from wanting good entrances and exits? Connecting those two parts of the freeway with another freeway doesn't have a damned thing to do with getting in and out of downtown.
Oh, how I wish the logic of "D" and returning to the grid would win out!

This ODOT issue stops right at the desk of Ms. Fallin. This is not her fault ( good or bad ), but she certainly has the authority to step-in and make it work. Just like the Fire Storm in Guthrie. You didn't wait on the counties to pull their head out. You stepped in and made the right call.

Why would we ( citizens of Oklahoma ) want to spend our dollars on this for a 4th time ? ... Original I-40. ....New I-40. ...New 6 Lane Highway ( blvd ). ...and then rip-it-out again, to put in an economic friendly Boulevard ?

This is not a City Issue, This is not State Issue, ...This is a Dumb Okie issue. Let's get this right, let's make it beautiful, let's do it now, so we can really expand our economic base now. Ms. Fallin, so goes OKC, so goes the state. We have billions of dollars waiting on a dime here. ( this is the dumb okie part. )

Ms. Fallin, this is what we expect.

The Better Boulevard ? Part II, Thunder Circle | Andrew Stewart (http://andrewkstewart.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/thunder-circle/)

What are your expectations?

I suspect that unless the citizens demand changes from city leadership, not much is going to happen here. Relying on the FHWA is probably not enough to evoke change / improvements.

As posted earlier, we recommend that folks submit their comments to the Federal Highway Administration, copy ODOT, copy their council person, and copy the mayor.

A day public comment period is not acceptable. All others that we have experienced in the past have been around 30 days. We are not even sure if this is compliant with National Environmental Protection Act. and are trying to find out.

And OKCVision4u, the Governor is not involved in any meaningful capacity of this issue that we know of.

The agencies and people involved actively involved are the FHWA, ODOT, City Council, Mayor.

Just sent this to Meg Salyer,

Councilor Salyer,


I recently moved into your Ward, in Mesta Park. I am very worried about the proposed plans for the new Downtown Boulevard. It looks like ODOT is proceeding straightaway with building a NW Expressway-style freeway in the heart of our downtown. instead of a pedestrian, cyclist and business-friendly boulevard which I understood we were looking for as a city. This really concerns me.


1) This freeway will stifle economic growth which is, as we speak, creaping into once-blighted areas west and southwest of downtown. This freeway west of downtown, with a raised earthen berm, will act as a moat preventing access to areas SW of downtown. Areas on the far side of this wall will be condemned to continued blight.


2) This freeway, even in the areas where it is truly at "grade," will hamper access south to the core-to-shore area and the new Central Park. Right now I can ride my bike from MEsta Park to the River with no real barriers in between aside from I-40 (which I traverse on the Scissortale Bridge). Having a high speed, wide expressway along the former I-40 right of way will hamper this route considerably. I formerly lived in NW Oklahoma City, and I can assure you that crossing Northwest Expressway on a bicycle was a very unpleasant exercise where it was possible. In many places, crossing NW Expressway is literally impossible for a bicyclist or pedestrian for over a quarter mile in either direction. ODOT seems intent on recreating NW Expressway downtown, recreating this harrowing/impossible traverse.


3) What is even more obscene is that this high-speed road is so close to Rex Elementary In time, I'm sure there will be children living in the Core-to-Shore area who will be attending this school. I know that long-term plans have housing developing in this area. So, in five years, will these children be able to walk to school? Not if ODOT has its way.


Councilor Salyer, please speak out against this foolish plan. There is considerable room for improvement while still accomplishing ODOT's (dubious?) goal of speeding traffic east and west out of downtown during a very few key hours of the day.

Did you copy the FHWA? ^

Did you copy the FHWA? ^

Yes, and the Mayor.

And OKCVision4u, the Governor is not involved in any meaningful capacity of this issue that we know of.

The agencies and people involved actively involved are the FHWA, ODOT, City Council, Mayor.

Thank you Urban P. This type of project "needs" the hands of Ms. Fallin to guide / expedite this process and to make sure we all are wanting the same level of success in this project. When she makes a statement that her office is in "full public support" of this Better BLVD and is teaming up w/ our fine mayor as well, then we can all be sure that we get the BLVD that is best suited for Economic Success and not just moving cars.

This is one of those things that we can ALL SAY YES to. ... all parties. Urban Pioneer, we just can't waste another 10 years on this project. Know what I mean? At the highest level, it's not that complex. Just a couple of "Right Decisions" need to be made by the right people and The State of Oklahoma & OKC will benefit greatly!

Ms. Fallin wants that, Mr. Cornett certainly wants that, and we ( the people ) deserve that.

Thank you Urban P. This type of project "needs" the hands of Ms. Fallin to guide / expedite this process and to make sure we all are wanting the same level of success in this project. When she makes a statement that her office is in "full public support" of this Better BLVD and is teaming up w/ our fine mayor as well, then we can all be sure that we get the BLVD that is best suited for Economic Success and not just moving cars.

This is one of those things that we can ALL SAY YES to. ... all parties. Urban Pioneer, we just can't waste another 10 years on this project. Know what I mean? At the highest level, it's not that complex. Just a couple of "Right Decisions" need to be made by the right people and The State of Oklahoma & OKC will benefit greatly!

Ms. Fallin wants that, Mr. Cornett certainly wants that, and we ( the people ) deserve that.

I'm sorry, but Mary Fallin hasn't done anything the city wants, including signing legislation overturning our own delinquent property code, passed by the Council and mayor. She signed legislation that makes it impossible to set our own wages. She ignored unanimous request of OKC Council to stop ODOT from selling the railway between OKC and Tulsa. In all likelihood, she probably is in complete agreement with ODOT's designs, as they are being promoted by her own Cabinet Secretary, Gary Ridley.

I'm sorry, but your apparent fixation with Ms. Fallin is rather strange, particularly in light of her recent actions.

Very guided/managed "question" from ODOT. I believe a trial lawyer would call that a "leading" question...

And if the many, many people from FBB were to specifically go and answer that question in a way that does not match the suggested slant, it might blunt the impact of ODOT claiming the people have spoken on the matter overwhelmingly in favor of fast ingress/egress.

I'm sorry, but Mary Fallin hasn't done anything the city wants, including signing legislation overturning our own delinquent property code, passed by the Council and mayor. She signed legislation that makes it impossible to set our own wages. She ignored unanimous request of OKC Council to stop ODOT from selling the railway between OKC and Tulsa. In all likelihood, she probably is in complete agreement with ODOT's designs, as they are being promoted by her own Cabinet Secretary, Gary Ridley.

I'm sorry, but your apparent fixation with Ms. Fallin is rather strange, particularly in light of her recent actions.

I agree, it seems like hardly a month has gone by this year that the state legislature/governor is not passing something to block an initiative that OKC has been working on, I guess whatever groups did not have enough influence at the city level to get things killed have found more success there.

I agree, it seems like hardly a month has gone by this year that the state legislature/governor is not passing something to block an initiative that OKC has been working on, I guess whatever groups did not have enough influence at the city level to get things killed have found more success there.

ALEC. Koch Brothers. Both very anti-urban agenda. The Koch's want us to use as much oil as possible, and they are terrified of progressive urban voters. They've been trying to run bills like this in other states to no avail, but Oklahoma welcomed them with open arms (another Koch / ALEC production was the recent bill, also signed by Mary Fallin, charging a tax on the sun for solar power users).

There's going to be a real split in the state GOP. Tulsa and OKC votes were historically Republican. The Democrats were more rural. Now it seems like it's flipping. It has to be hard for urban Republicans to continue to support this nonsense.

This is not a partisan or gubernatorial issue. It is not a Democratic, Republican, Conservative, Moderate, or Liberal issue.

This is a community issue. Lets leave it at that folks.

Write to the Federal Highway Administration, ODOT, your NON-PARTISAN City Council member, and the Mayor.

The Governor and the Koch Brothers are irrelevant on this thread. Take that to the politics section.

This is not a partisan or gubernatorial issue. It is not a Democratic, Republican, Conservative, Moderate, or Liberal issue.

This is a community issue. Lets leave it at that folks.

Write to the Federal Highway Administration, ODOT, your NON-PARTISAN City Council member, and the Mayor.

The Governor and the Koch Brothers are irrelevant on this thread. Take that to the politics section.

This is a state agency not working in conjunction with the city of OKC and the (will) of the people. This certainly is in her role of responsibility. The ODOT has a long-history of this type of HUB ( head up butt) & Back-woods mentality. ( This is the same group that brought you the Purcell / Lexingtion Bridge ). Zero accountability & Zero planning.

I am asking that this NOT be a political issue. I'm asking Ms. Fallin to send an email TODAY and handle this quickly & in the right way. ... We can't afford this to be drug-out for years and still end up w/ a mess.

Let's raise the bar on this BLVD and make it something we can be proud of and something that doesn't take 10 + years to realize. This economic window may be closed at that time.

This is a state agency not working in conjunction with the city of OKC and the (will) of the people. This certainly is in her role of responsibility. The ODOT has a long-history of this type of HUB ( head up butt) & Back-woods mentality. ( This is the same group that brought you the Purcell / Lexingtion Bridge ). Zero accountability & Zero planning.

I am asking that this NOT be a political issue. I'm asking Ms. Fallin to send an email TODAY and handle this quickly & in the right way. ... We can't afford this to be drug-out for years and still end up w/ a mess.

Let's raise the bar on this BLVD and make it something we can be proud of and something that doesn't take 10 + years to realize. This economic window may be closed at that time.

Question: Have you elevated these concerns to Fallin herself? Email, etc. I'm not convinced she is an avid reader of this forum...

Question: Have you elevated these concerns to Fallin herself? Email, etc. I'm not convinced she is an avid reader of this forum...

Of course she monitors this forum. This is the place to "get informed / stay informed" with the PULSE of our city & state.

Of course she monitors this forum. This is the place to "get informed / stay informed" with the PULSE of our city & state.

If were lucky she maybe has a staff member who checks on this site from time to time.

I agree, it seems like hardly a month has gone by this year that the state legislature/governor is not passing something to block an initiative that OKC has been working on, I guess whatever groups did not have enough influence at the city level to get things killed have found more success there.

Its pretty sad that its easier for the Realtor lobby to have more influence on 100+ state lawmakers than a handful of city council members. Shows that a city knows whats best for itself and also how easy it is to get a lawmaker to vote however a lobbyist wants.

Traffic counters laid out across EKG this afternoon.

Trying to get inflated Thunder numbers for Boulevard justification?

EDIT: Ultra conspiracy mode!

wow if so

Of course she monitors this forum. This is the place to "get informed / stay informed" with the PULSE of our city & state.

BWAHAHAHAHA city maybe. State not hardly.

There you go Pete, start up an OKtalk.com (or okietalk.com) to discuss projects elsewhere in the state...

There you go Pete, start up an OKtalk.com (or okietalk.com) to discuss projects elsewhere in the state...

That forum wouldn't see that much traffic. I'm sure he's fine with just having subforum's within OKCTalk.

If I recall right, it seemed and Oklahoma Talk network was going to be established, but perhaps Pete just decided to focus everything on this site.

This is not a partisan or gubernatorial issue. It is not a Democratic, Republican, Conservative, Moderate, or Liberal issue.

This is a community issue. Lets leave it at that folks.

Write to the Federal Highway Administration, ODOT, your NON-PARTISAN City Council member, and the Mayor.

The Governor and the Koch Brothers are irrelevant on this thread. Take that to the politics section.

Amen brotha

The Chamber is soliciting its members to support Alt C. Here's an email we got today:

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently conducted an open house to review conceptual designs for the new Oklahoma City Boulevard. Reconnecting the downtown core to the new Interstate 40 through this new roadway is a top priority of the Chamber - and your input on the new design is needed.

We need you to weigh in and provide a comment. The voice of the business community must be heard on this issue - the comments provided will have an impact on which alternative is selected. Of the alternatives presented, we believe alternative C best balances urban planning issues and traffic movement. The concentration of workers in downtown Oklahoma City is growing - and an alternative that invites congestion is not in the best interests of continued growth.

Please visit this page on the City's website to learn more about the three alternatives - and COMPLETE THE COMMENTS FORM to express your support for Alternative C and the completion of this roadway: City of Oklahoma City | Public Information & Marketing (http://www.okc.gov/okcblvd/)

You can also express your support directly to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation at this email address: m-coordinator@odot.org


Thank you for your support.


Roy

It's all over now that the chamber junta is involved :-)

That really just infuriates me.

There ya go. This is what the players want.

Welp. :|

For those of you who are Chamber members - or not - I would encourage you to let the Chamber know your concerns.

Saw this on Twitter, I guess it's been making the rounds: email : Webview : OKC Boulevard - Action Requested (http://t.e2ma.net/webview/g08rj/9d3766dda100a2d3b2b43632b05ebfbf)

This from Urban Neighbors. The text looks remarkably similar to what was sent to Chamber members:


The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently conducted an open house to review conceptual designs for the new Oklahoma City Boulevard. Reconnecting the downtown core to the new Interstate 40 through this new roadway is a top priority for Downtown OKC - and your input on the new design is needed. The comment period is open through May 21.

We need you to weigh in and provide a comment. The voice of the residential and business community must be heard on this issue - the comments provided will have an impact on which alternative is selected. Of the alternatives presented, Downtown OKC Inc. believes alternative C best balances urban planning issues and traffic movement. The concentration of workers in downtown Oklahoma City is growing - and an alternative that invites congestion is not in the best interests of continued growth.

Please visit this page on the City's website to learn more about the four alternatives - and COMPLETE THE COMMENTS FORM to express your support for Alternative C and the completion of this roadway: City of Oklahoma City | Public Information & Marketing (http://www.okc.gov/okcblvd/)

Funnily enough it says "Downtown OKC, Inc. believes Alternative C is the best balances urban planning and traffic movement." That's strange as I thought this was an email from Urban Neighbors. One might think that livability and walkability might be more important to downtown residents. Is this Urban Neighbors' official position?

Well I think the most disappointing aspect of this push is that it doesn't encourage participants to study "Alternative C" and express how they would like it to be better designed.

The way to also look at this is that the FBB campaign is actually having an effect in discourse as well. This is a reaction...

As a UN board member I have already brought up how this reads (implies UN support of option C) to the board and asked that we review this posting on the website. I had posted on the UN website last week to please submit comments to ODOT without any endorsement for an option, even though I have my own personal opinion.

Incidentally, here's what I posted to the UN site last week, basically please review the docs and respond...

Urban Neighbors - OK - Downtown Boulevard Comments to ODOT (http://portal.clubrunner.ca/101053/Stories/downtown-boulevard-comments-to-odot)

Here's what was in Urban Neighbors had in their email from May 7th:


We need to make sure this road gets built as friendly as possible for bikes and pedestrians as well as cars, and that it supports economic development instead of being a barrier to growth. Please attend this open house and provide your input to the government!

It's interesting that the email today was sent from Urban Neighbors old email service. Makes me wonder if the establishment/Chamber/Downtown OKC is getting a bit cheeky with access to UN members' email addresses. Did the UN Board approve sending out today's email?

The Chamber is soliciting its members to support Alt C. Here's an email we got today:

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently conducted an open house to review conceptual designs for the new Oklahoma City Boulevard. Reconnecting the downtown core to the new Interstate 40 through this new roadway is a top priority of the Chamber - and your input on the new design is needed.

We need you to weigh in and provide a comment. The voice of the business community must be heard on this issue - the comments provided will have an impact on which alternative is selected. Of the alternatives presented, we believe alternative C best balances urban planning issues and traffic movement. The concentration of workers in downtown Oklahoma City is growing - and an alternative that invites congestion is not in the best interests of continued growth.

Please visit this page on the City's website to learn more about the three alternatives - and COMPLETE THE COMMENTS FORM to express your support for Alternative C and the completion of this roadway: City of Oklahoma City | Public Information & Marketing (http://www.okc.gov/okcblvd/)

You can also express your support directly to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation at this email address: m-coordinator@odot.org


Thank you for your support.


Roy


Wow.

I am at a loss for words.

Friends for a Better Boulevard Open House MONDAY 5 - 8


Meet with Bob Kemper and other FBB volunteers to study ODOT's preferred "Option C" proposal to develop and submit comments on how to improve the design. FBB believes that the new Boulevard should be grand with sidewalks, landscaping, trees, bike lanes, transit integration, urban-sized traffic lanes, meaningful intersections, and restoration of urban fabric wherever possible. The new boulevard should be iconic and welcoming to our downtown Oklahoma City.


Some of the leadership group of the FBB group believe that other alternatives such as the grid type proposal in "Option D" may be preferable to the "Option C" bypass-type design. However, ALL of us also believe that ODOT's preference for Option C is likely to win out through the local process.


Therefore, we are encourage comments to ODOT and the Federal Highway Administration that support YOUR preference for whichever "Option" YOU prefer but also strongly encourage comments on how Option C can be directly improved.


Our group of volunteers have already identified several simple but meaningful changes that would dramatically improve the urbanity of the proposed "C" option while maintaining the traffic flow that traffic engineers are advocating for. These changes to enhance urbanity and pedestrian friendliness will likely only be incorporated through meaningful and clear public feedback.


Let's make Oklahoma City an even BETTER city

MONDAY, May 19th
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The Sieber Apartments
1305 N. Hudson (Main Lobby Area)

RSVP here- https://www.facebook.com/events/465676230230750/?context=create&source=49

Here's what was in Urban Neighbors had in their email from May 7th:


We need to make sure this road gets built as friendly as possible for bikes and pedestrians as well as cars, and that it supports economic development instead of being a barrier to growth. Please attend this open house and provide your input to the government!

It's interesting that the email today was sent from Urban Neighbors old email service. Makes me wonder if the establishment/Chamber/Downtown OKC is getting a bit cheeky with access to UN members' email addresses. Did the UN Board approve sending out today's email?


I wrote that. There is not a conspiracy. I am the board member responsible for communicating civic activities, so I post to the website (which then goes out via the newsletter) about public engagement opportunities. When I wrote the above I was trying to give equal consideration to all modes as to not have UN expressing a particular endorsement, as we are not a political organization.

The board did not gather to discuss what went out today but have since communicated via email and a clarification will be sent out.

I'm told the UN website has been corrected.

Are Suburban Neighbors going to put any daylight between themselves and Downtown OKC?

Trust me, there is plenty of space between UN and DOKC, Inc.

I have had the same feedback this very week. There is lots of room for improvement even if ODOT forces C on us. The Mayor, Meg, and others on the Council want it to be better than it is depicted. Get your comments in folks and come Monday night.

From Steve-

@DowntownOKCInc @BikeOKC I've spoken to the city council and the mayor; they're far from settled on this boulevard design.
6:16pm - 15 May 14

Hopefully the leadership of this city stands up and ensures this is a quality outcome. If they don't, they will have seriously abdicated their positions of power to bring positive change. This is a really big deal for the future of this city.

DowntownOKCInc is shockingly supporting C on twitter. They are the same ones who usually promote walking and biking and such.

Looks like the koolaid is being forced around to the social media giants that have the best reach. Go to twitter and check out the twitter convos going on about this. Steve is retweeting a lot of it.

I'm told the UN website has been corrected.

FBB would appreciate it if this meeting notice was also sent out to members. Betts spoke to Shelly and notice of this meeting was supposed to happen. Its our neighborhood. The UN should be partnering with FBB to gather input specifically about this issue.

DowntownOKCInc is shockingly supporting C on twitter. They are the same ones who usually promote walking and biking and such.

Looks like the koolaid is being forced around to the social media giants that have the best reach. Go to twitter and check out the twitter convos going on about this. Steve is retweeting a lot of it.

Who is the PR person for Downtown OKC? Why would they say that on Twitter? The Council has not endorsed version C. Why is Downtown OKC misleading the public by saying the Council has endorsed option C? This has not happened. Someone may want to let the PR flack know.

Also, who is on the board of directors for Downtown OKC? That could be very enlightening.

There's some interesting conversations going on on Twitter about this. It very much feels to me like someone behind the scenes overplayed their hand hard.

There's some interesting conversations going on on Twitter about this. It very much feels to me like someone behind the scenes overplayed their hand hard.

"Someone behind the scenes" is some very powerful downtown interests, if what I've heard is correct. This boulevard is being built for someone. It would be interested if the someones who are getting what they want would identify themselves.

Hopefully the meeting Monday is well attended.

Jane Jenkins ‏@JaneJenkins 3h
@UrbanNeighbors Please endorse or condemn any of the options. Important to comment. City Council voted to endorse Option C.

City Council voted (7-2) for something similar to Option C on January 8, 2013. But that was from a different set of choices that did not include a Return to the Grid option, which thanks to public pressure, is now an option in what ODOT is proposing. And there are two different people on Council now.