Please sign up to speak!

Even though the ultimate decision has likely already been made, it’s important to maintain a consistent and constant opposition to this plan.


You're invited!

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the City of Oklahoma City invite you to attend a public hearing to present the preferred alternative and results of the Environmental Assessment completed for the Crosstown Boulevard. The hearing will begin with an open house at 5:00 PM. During the open house, members of the public can provide written comments, visit one-on-one with staff, and provide private verbal comments. The open house will be followed by a formal presentation at 5:30 PM. At 6:00 PM members of the public will have an opportunity to give public verbal comments. Each individual signed up to speak by 6:15 PM will have a maximum of 3 minutes to speak. Join us to learn more about the future of the Crosstown Boulevard as well as next steps moving forward!

Crosstown Boulevard Public Hearing
Thursday, November 13, 2014
5:00 PM Open House
5:30 PM Formal Presentation
6:00 PM Formal Public Comments

Chevy Bricktown Events Center
429 E. California Street
Free parking is available in the lot directly
to the south of the event center.

Participant Registration
Participation is free and open to the public. Registering simply allows us to better plan for the event.
The hearing will begin with an open house at 5:00 PM. During the open house, members of the public can provide written comments, visit one-on-one with staff, and provide private verbal comments. The open house will be followed by a formal presentation at 5:30 PM. At 6:00 PM members of the public will have an opportunity to give public verbal comments. Each individual signed up to speak by 6:15 PM will have a maximum of 3 minutes to speak.

The EA describes the project’s purpose and need, the range of alternatives considered including the Preferred Alternative, the social, economic and environmental effect of the alternatives, and the agency coordination and public involvement activities conducted as part of the EA. For this project, ODOT and FHWA developed a “user friendly” EA based on the latest guidance from FHWA’s Every Day Counts initiative. This focuses on accelerating project delivery through innovative ideas and collaboration. Industry guidelines, such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, provide examples of effective “user friendly” environmental documents such as those used in Oregon, Ohio, and Washington, among others.

The EA and supporting project technical reports are available on the ODOT website at Open House: 7th of May, 2014 (http://www.odot.org/meetings/a2014/141113/Environmental%20Assessment.htm). The goal here is to increase collaboration with the public by using technology to distribute project information efficiently. The EA is also available in printed form at:

Oklahoma Department of Transportation
200 N.E. 21st St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

City of Oklahoma City
200 N Walker
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

Metropolitan Downtown Library
300 Park Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

If any person wishes to submit written comments concerning this project or the EA, they may submit his/her comments to the Environmental Programs Division Engineer, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, 200 NE 21st Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73105 or email environment@odot.org, by no later than December 1, 2014 (postmarked on or by December 1, 2014).
Persons who would like to attend this hearing but find it difficult due to disability, physical barriers, or other special needs, or who require a language interpreter, may contact Frank Roesler III, Public Involvement Officer at (405) 521-2350 at least three working days prior to the public hearing.

I will say, I like alt c because it has a curved road. I completely understand the grid is better for urban development, but I think the grid is boring. A curved road here and there won't hurt. Development can't conform to it and curved roads can be made pedestrian friendly.

Maybe it's because I'm from Houston and I like the feel of driving down Allen Parkway and gawking at the skyline the entire time as I enter downtown from the west.

Maybe it's because I'm from Houston and I like the feel of driving down Allen Parkway and gawking at the skyline the entire time as I enter downtown from the west.
So the curved boulevard is a better idea for reasons of skyline views? In that case, pedestrians should probably stay far, far away.

:)

So the curved boulevard is a better idea for reasons of skyline views? In that case, pedestrians should probably stay far, far away.

:)

Haha, touche! (although it's not the curvature)

Seriously though, Allen Parkway is essentially what I think all of the boulevard opponents worst nightmare is. The skyline does just kinda hit you in the face though, and it's tree lined so it's a pretty drive, just not urbanist at all.

ODOT plans hearing on OKC Boulevard alternative plan - The Edmond Sun: Local News (http://www.edmondsun.com/news/local_news/odot-plans-hearing-on-okc-boulevard-alternative-plan/article_d5333e78-66da-11e4-8414-5b4ba422a36f.html)

I'm off to the meeting. You should come too!

Who will be live-tweeting?

I will be there and post to OKCTalk occasionally.

THey have a live stream of the event: Crosstown Boulevard Public Hearing on USTREAM: The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the City of Oklahoma City, in cooperation with the Federal Hig... (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/crosstown-boulevard-public-hearing)

Well, in comparison to some of the contentious meetings of the past, it was a pretty standard and subdued public forum. Not really much to report that hasn't already been released and discussed already. Although, the man wanting billboards for the boulevard in Knoxville and Flagstaff was pretty cool. If there is any will left in the Alternative D supporters, that certainly wasn't represented in the public verbal comments section.

I think they see the handwriting on the wall. Sometimes you just don't have any neck left to stick out. Seems at this point the best option is probably to concentrate on influencing the smaller details that haven't been set in stone yet and could still greatly impact the pedestrian/bicycle/vehicular interactions, such as lane width and segregated bicycle lanes INSIDE the curbside parking. Some great comments on those topics from one individual in particular who participated in the public comments.

I think they see the handwriting on the wall. Sometimes you just don't have any neck left to stick out. Seems at this point the best option is probably to concentrate on influencing the smaller details that haven't been set in stone yet and could still greatly impact the pedestrian/bicycle/vehicular interactions, such as lane width and segregated bicycle lanes INSIDE the curbside parking. Some great comments on those topics from one individual in particular who participated in the public comments.

Thanks Dude!

You're welcome. You did a great job. Didn't say it was you since I didn't know if you wanted that public or not.

Sounds like the real meat and bones of the Boulevard is starting next week.
EKG @ 3rd/4th closed for a year beginning Monday.

Should make Reno a real nightmare for evening rush hours. Then on Thunder game nights, eastbound Reno, Sheridan, and Main.

Well, in comparison to some of the contentious meetings of the past, it was a pretty standard and subdued public forum. Not really much to report that hasn't already been released and discussed already. Although, the man wanting billboards for the boulevard in Knoxville and Flagstaff was pretty cool. If there is any will left in the Alternative D supporters, that certainly wasn't represented in the public verbal comments section.

I didn't bother to go. I'm tired of listening to platitudes. ODOT is living in the past and they don't listen to th public, so why should I give them the satisfaction of adding my presence to the number of people at the meeting? East Reno looks awful, with all those ramps. They've ruined the entrance to the boathouse dustrict and spoiled the walk along the canal to the river. I have no hope for the rest of the road.

From the Journal Record:

Downtown diversions: Part of Gaylord Blvd. to close for a year

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record November 14, 2014

OKLAHOMA CITY – A major downtown access route adjacent to the Chesapeake Energy Arena will be shut down for a year beginning Monday, Oklahoma City Hall announced Friday.

Private utility crews and Oklahoma Department of Transportation contractors are scheduled to work on Gaylord Boulevard between Reno Avenue and SW Fourth Street throughout 2015 to relocate utility lines and make other improvements in preparation for the new Oklahoma City Boulevard construction.

That section of Gaylord typically carries about 25,000 vehicles daily, data from the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments shows. Heading south from downtown, the road becomes Shields Boulevard, which provides access to Interstate 40. The Gaylord-Reno Boulevard intersection connects to the Bricktown entertainment district.

Westbound interstate traffic cannot exit at Gaylord/Shields, but eastbound drivers may.

Stuart Chai, director of Oklahoma City’s traffic management division, said he and his staff are working on traffic flow diversion plans to reduce overall effects. Fortunately, there are no businesses operating on those blocks, and they have little cross-traffic at intersections. The most likely rerouting options will send northbound Gaylord traffic west on SW Fourth to Robinson and Harvey avenues, while southbound Gaylord traffic will be detoured east on SW Fifth, Chai said. Fourth and Fifth are both one-way streets.

Drivers can also access downtown via the Western Avenue exit from I-40, the NW Fourth Street exit from Interstate 235 and the Harrison Street exit at I-235.

The construction is not part of Project 180, a streetscaping project that has disrupted downtown traffic for years. Instead, the Gaylord work is related to development of a new boulevard through the heart of the city where the old I-40 Crosstown used to be before the state Department of Transportation moved it closer to the Oklahoma River. Transportation Department spokesman Cole Hackett was unable to provide a breakdown of costs specific to the $80 million boulevard and nearby ramp areas.

Chai said plans for that section of Gaylord call for significant excavation – 8 or 9 feet – to allow for a bridge over the boulevard. The boulevard is expected to be completed in 2016.

So does this include actually building the intersection with the Boulevard? Or are they going to close it again in 2016 to build that and the tunnel under the rail tracks?

So does this include actually building the intersection with the Boulevard? Or are they going to close it again in 2016 to build that and the tunnel under the rail tracks?

I would think the right and best way to do it would be dig down and build a bridge over at the same time, but when has anything ODOT has ever done made sense?

Brian got that last paragraph wrong, or at least it is misleading. This is not for a bridge over the boulevard, unless you are talking about a RAILROAD bridge. Most folks are having a hard time visualizing what is going on there, but suffice to say EK Gaylord will depress south of Reno to meet the boulevard, which will punch through the rail viaduct, and the return to grade at 4th.

Brian got that last paragraph wrong, or at least it is misleading. This is not for a bridge over the boulevard, unless you are talking about a RAILROAD bridge. Most folks are having a hard time visualizing what is going on there, but suffice to say EK Gaylord will depress south of Reno to meet the boulevard, which will punch through the rail viaduct, and the return to grade at 4th.

I thought the Boulevard would depress to go below the rail viaduct and EK Gaylord would stay about where it is, maybe a little higher?

I thought the Boulevard would depress to go below the rail viaduct and EK Gaylord would stay about where it is, maybe a little higher?

So, it looks like the Railroad viaduct will kind of just be rebuilt like the other ones going in to BT and it will be a normal intersection. At least that is what I can see from 0:45 in this video:


Oklahoma Transportation Department proposes an OKC Boulevard plan aligned with city's goals | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/oklahoma-transportation-department-proposes-an-okc-boulevard-plan-aligned-with-citys-goals/article/5360882)

I thought the Boulevard would depress to go below the rail viaduct and EK Gaylord would stay about where it is, maybe a little higher?
So how would the two intersect? Cloverleaf? No, EK Gaylord is being depressed to join the Boulevard at its level after it comes under the viaduct.

So how would the two intersect? Cloverleaf? No, EK Gaylord is being depressed to join the Boulevard at its level after it comes under the viaduct.

Look at my post right after this one. The renderings show it will be a normal intersection. Not sure what is off here.

And I'm sorry, I promise I'm not trying to be a smartass. This just illustrates my point that most people - even those who are better informed on downtown stuff like yourself - don't fully understand how that intersection is being reconstructed. I got my education on the matter about 5 years ago when engineers were exploring the practicality of extending the canal into the CBD and Central Park area pre-MAPS 3 and figured out that it would have to come through at SW 4th to accommodate the very intersection we are discussing.

Look at my post right after this one. The renderings show it will be a normal intersection. Not sure what is off here.
Yes, it will be a normal intersection...about 8'-9' below the current grade of EK Gaylord. The passage through the viaduct will have considerably more clearance than the Main, Sheridan, Reno or SW 4th underpasses to accommodate modern requirements.

That's why I'm saying Brian's wording is misleading. There is no bridge being built.

And I'm sorry, I promise I'm not trying to be a smartass. This just illustrates my point that most people - even those who are better informed on downtown stuff like yourself - don't fully understand how that intersection is being reconstructed. I got my education on the matter about 5 years ago when engineers were exploring the practicality of extending the canal into the CBD and Central Park area pre-MAPS 3 and figured out that it would have to come through at SW 4th to accommodate the very intersection we are discussing.


Yes, it will be a normal intersection...about 8'-9' below the current grade of EK Gaylord. The passage through the viaduct will have considerably more clearance than the Main, Sheridan, Reno or SW 4th underpasses to accommodate modern requirements.

That's why I'm saying Brian's wording is misleading. There is no bridge being built.

Got it. No hard feelings, just trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

So does this include actually building the intersection with the Boulevard? Or are they going to close it again in 2016 to build that and the tunnel under the rail tracks?

Currently its just utility relocation, but the railroad bridge goes out for bid in January with other parts also going out for bid next year. Assuming nothing changes, but it sounds like ODOT is done talking about it.

And I'm sorry, I promise I'm not trying to be a smartass. This just illustrates my point that most people - even those who are better informed on downtown stuff like yourself - don't fully understand how that intersection is being reconstructed. I got my education on the matter about 5 years ago when engineers were exploring the practicality of extending the canal into the CBD and Central Park area pre-MAPS 3 and figured out that it would have to come through at SW 4th to accommodate the very intersection we are discussing.

Just proves your point better:

From Steve's article:

Gaylord Boulevard between Reno Avenue and SW 4 was closed Monday and is not set to reopen until late 2015. Private utility crews and Transportation Department contractors will be relocating lines and preparing for construction of an overpass at the BNSF Railway Viaduct for the new boulevard as it will extend west from Bricktown. Northbound Gaylord Boulevard traffic exiting from I-40 is being detoured to SW 4 with access to downtown provided on Robinson, Harvey, Hudson or Walker Avenues. Southbound Gaylord Boulevard traffic will be detoured from Reno Avenue to SW 5, then back to Gaylord Boulevard to provide access to Interstate 40.

For work to progress on Oklahoma City boulevard, critical connection is closed | News OK (http://newsok.com/for-work-to-progress-on-oklahoma-city-boulevard-critical-connection-is-closed/article/5367780)

You're right that it illustrates the point. Right now the public (and even mostly-informed people) are hazy on exactly what is going on at that intersection, have a tough time envisioning it, and it doesn't help that some of the descriptions in the media have been a little bit inexact.

Probably the BEST description I can think of right now instead of "overpass" is "railroad underpass." Splitting hairs maybe, but gives people a much better idea of what is going on there.

Edit: on further examination it is in the body of the article.

Is this correct that this thing is going to take several years to build? That is going to affect many businesses DT, traffic to the Peake, etc. No offense, but they could speed this up for sure, that seems a little ridiculous. Not being negative but ODOT needs to be held accountable for that. This wouldn't happen in other states so why is it happening here. If this was in the DFW area, this thing would be done with in a year.

Is this correct that this thing is going to take several years to build? That is going to affect many businesses DT, traffic to the Peake, etc. No offense, but they could speed this up for sure, that seems a little ridiculous. Not being negative but ODOT needs to be held accountable for that. This wouldn't happen in other states so why is it happening here. If this was in the DFW area, this thing would be done with in a year.

Yeah, Norman did a pretty good job with the Robinson / HWY 77 mess with the railroad tracks a couple years ago. Could they not do something similar?

Punching through and digging underneath the railroad is a massive project, it is definitely going to take a long time. We are basically (unfortunately) talking about reconstructing a portion of I-40 underground and under an active rail line.

Yeah, Norman did a pretty good job with the Robinson / HWY 77 mess with the railroad tracks a couple years ago.

Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but that seemed to take quite a while itself.

Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but that seemed to take quite a while itself.

you don't remember wrong, but they did make it about as painless as it could be.

Norman did take awhile and I imagine it was expensive. They basically had to build temporary tracks and a road. Maybe this was a decision between one year without building temporary roads, tracks, etc. or take much longer and lessen the burden on traffic. Which surprisingly as it appears from the surface they chose the cheaper route. Though cheap will come with lots of traffic pain.

Is there anywhere that has the updated alternative C blvd, with intersections at Lee and Shartel? ODOT's website still has the originals with no bike lane or intersection changes.

Steve's latest article isn't available yet on the mobile link but the video he does gives a fantastic perspective on what is forthcoming with the boulevard.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5369322?embargo=1

Steve's latest article isn't available yet on the mobile link but the video he does gives a fantastic perspective on what is forthcoming with the boulevard.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5369322?embargo=1

Downtown boulevard will alter travel, development in Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/downtown-boulevard-will-alter-travel-development-in-oklahoma-city/article/5369322)

Downtown boulevard will alter travel, development in Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/downtown-boulevard-will-alter-travel-development-in-oklahoma-city/article/5369322)

Thanks, plupan. It must have come on line about one minute after I posted. :wink:

It is a very informative video though.

Thanks, plupan. It must have come on line about one minute after I posted. :wink:

It is a very informative video though.Very nice video! Huge thanks to Steve.

Very nice video! Huge thanks to Steve.

And kudos to Steve for becoming just a shadow of his former self. :)

And kudos to Steve for becoming just a shadow of his former self. :)Yeah, he has done a great job no doubt. Seems like he really go serious about it which is good because others try and commit to the schedule but only go to the gym for a few months and still don't eat right. I think Steve really has committed to it and though I haven't really known about him for long, I did see what it used to be like.

Downtown boulevard will alter travel, development in Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/downtown-boulevard-will-alter-travel-development-in-oklahoma-city/article/5369322)

It's a bit long, but the video on the article is well worth watching to get an idea of the potential for development around the new boulevard. The article makes a good point about the U-Haul building too, once it is sitting on the corner of the boulevard and Oklahoma, it will be an excellent location for just about anything other than it's current use.

A few weeks back I was pretty underwhelmed by the alternative C design being chosen, but I'm warming up to it. I'll probably never be overwhelmed, I'm definitely just normal-whelmed by this point.

This is what lies underneath that hideous Uhaul facade (not atypical for us to do at this time):

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/bricktown/itenbiscuit.jpg

Using Doug Loudenback's historic archives...

A developer could do Oklahoma's Modern, Sanitary Cracker Lofts.

yep, it's dying to become loft housing. Imagine the views. ...

A developer could do Oklahoma's Modern, Sanitary Cracker Lofts.

(channeling Daniel Tosh) Is that racist?

A developer could do Oklahoma's Modern, Sanitary Cracker Lofts.

(channeling Daniel Tosh) Is that racist?

This is what lies underneath that hideous Uhaul facade (not atypical for us to do at this time):

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/bricktown/itenbiscuit.jpg

Using Doug Loudenback's historic archives...

A developer could do Oklahoma's Modern, Sanitary Cracker Lofts.

Sanitary Cracker sounds like some sort of medical product/implement

This is what lies underneath that hideous Uhaul facade (not atypical for us to do at this time):

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/bricktown/itenbiscuit.jpg

Using Doug Loudenback's historic archives...

A developer could do Oklahoma's Modern, Sanitary Cracker Lofts.
So if you had old dinner plates you needed destroyed, you'd take it there?

I just came across an old article from 2008 when Ridley had wanted to cut the boulevard project out entirely, saying there wasn't any funding for demolishing and replacing the old Crosstown bridge.

Funding OK'd in Crosstown highway plan<br/><span class='hl2'>Money is still needed to tear down old one, department official says.</span> | News OK (http://newsok.com/funding-okd-in-oklahoma-citys-crosstown-highway-plan/article/3300390)

So how is it that a few years later they claimed an old 1998 public meeting as the reason why the Boulevard had to be completed to a high traffic engineering Level of Service? The entire basis of this "compromise" behind the Boulevard is a farce.

I just came across an old article from 2008 when Ridley had wanted to cut the boulevard project out entirely, saying there wasn't any funding for demolishing and replacing the old Crosstown bridge.

Funding OK'd in Crosstown highway plan<br/><span class='hl2'>Money is still needed to tear down old one, department official says.</span> | News OK (http://newsok.com/funding-okd-in-oklahoma-citys-crosstown-highway-plan/article/3300390)

So how is it that a few years later they claimed an old 1998 public meeting as the reason why the Boulevard had to be completed to a high traffic engineering Level of Service? The entire basis of this "compromise" behind the Boulevard is a farce.

Nowhere in this article did he say that he wanted to cut out the boulevard, he merely said there was no funding source at that time. September, 2008; remember that? Failure of financial institutions, bailouts, economic recession?

and stimulus

and stimulus

Wrong again. ARRA was signed into law under the Obama administration in early 2009. That's when highway funding started.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009)

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/press/2014/14-053_Happy_Days_are_ahead_for_Oklahoma_City_Bouleva rd_as_FONSI_gives_thumbs_up.pdf

Slow the cars ? Strong Towns (http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2015/1/11/slow-the-cars)

Slow the cars ? Strong Towns (http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2015/1/11/slow-the-cars)

For the third time in as many months I was almost hit crossing the street downtown when I had the light. All three drivers were making a right turn on red. For the first time, this driver didn't roll down his window and yell at me. Does anyone think pedestrians will be considered to have the right of way on the boulevard? How many people will obey the 25 mph signs as well? For so many reasons, this "boulevard" design is a disaster for people and is poorly designed even for cars.

For a city of its size, Dallas is not very walkable. I take my bike on the DART into the core and there are so many areas in the core where it's totally dangerous to be a pedestrian or biker. Not really sure how you could make a case otherwise.

Not sure how many times you have to act out in anger because Dallas is critiqued, PluPan. Dallas has a lot of good things going. But it's terrible at urbanism compared to a lot of peer cities. It's okay. You can still love Dallas.

For a city of its size, Dallas is not very walkable. I take my bike on the DART into the core and there are so many areas in the core where it's totally dangerous to be a pedestrian or biker. Not really sure how you could make a case otherwise.

Not sure how many times you have to act out in anger because Dallas is critiqued, PluPan. Dallas has a lot of good things going. But it's terrible at urbanism compared to a lot of peer cities. It's okay. You can still love Dallas.

My experience with Dallas as well. It's been just a little over a year since I was last there (I was actually in Addison), but it certainly wasn't a walkable place by any means. I didn't notice many sidewalks in the general area I was in, but I didn't venture out much further than the 2-mile stretch of Belt Line Road from where my hotel was to the office I was in.

Driving forward: New Oklahoma City Boulevard set to open in 2017
By: Brian Brus The Journal Record August 6, 2015

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/blvd080715.jpg

OKLAHOMA CITY – Construction of the new boulevard across downtown Oklahoma City is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2017, city officials confirmed this week.

The development of the former Intestate 40 Crosstown, which has been lowered to grade and dubbed the Oklahoma City Boulevard, will reach a milestone shortly, Public Works Director Eric Wenger said. A request for bids is about to be issued for construction of the portion that will pass the 77-acre park planned in the MAPS 3 sales tax issue. That part of the boulevard will also pass one of the most likely sites for the new MAPS 3 convention center. If work proceeds according to schedule, both the boulevard and the park will be open about the same time, with the convention center to follow shortly afterward.

Also, the portion of E.K. Gaylord Boulevard near Bricktown that has been closed for several months is due to reopen in November. Wenger said construction detours have had a big effect on traffic at Chesapeake Energy Arena and the interstate off-ramps.

The state Department of Transportation has headed the boulevard construction work because the project evolved from the relocation of I-40. Keith Angier at MacArthur Associated Consultants LLC said one of the most challenging aspects of the contract has been working with so many partners toward a common goal. City Hall, for example, is responsible for designing the landscape adjacent to the boulevard. MacArthur has two roles: first, as project management consultant to move I-40 closer to the river, and then as design consultants for the boulevard from E.K. Gaylord to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Only the westernmost section of the Oklahoma City Boulevard at the point of I-40’s divergence has been completed so far.

“There are so many moving parts in play because the city is changing so quickly,” Angier said. “We’re trying to make sure that whatever we do won’t conflict with something else that may happen. If we lay out the right number of lanes and a certain amount of streetside parking, for instance, will that cause problems for something the city needs to do on the periphery.”