OKC Boulevard

[riflesforwatie]

I'm pretty optimistic this boulevard thing will work itself out. The traffic counts anticipated by the state engineers have no chance at being exceeded. Let ODOT build their white elephant, and I bet after 5 years or so the city will be able to fix the paint, install bollards, etc and introduce real bike lanes and additional traffic calming measures.

[Pete]

I'm pretty optimistic this boulevard thing will work itself out. The traffic counts anticipated by the state engineers have no chance at being exceeded. Let ODOT build their white elephant, and I bet after 5 years or so the city will be able to fix the paint, install bollards, etc and introduce real bike lanes and additional traffic calming measures.

I hope you're right but they are building this thing to move lots of traffic and typically, traffic will find the thoroughfares and fill them accordingly.

[Pryor Tiger]

I've read so many thoughts, and shared the sentiment that the Boulevard may take pressure off other Downtown streets and we could potentially add bike lanes and other infrastructure in those areas? No reason we can't have a project that installs protected bike lanes on Western, Shartel, Walker, Hudson, Robinson going N/S and then the same at 10th, 6th, Robert Kerr/2nd, and Reno going E/W.

[TheTravellers]

I've read so many thoughts, and shared the sentiment that the Boulevard may take pressure off other Downtown streets and we could potentially add bike lanes and other infrastructure in those areas? No reason we can't have a project that installs protected bike lanes on Western, Shartel, Walker, Hudson, Robinson going N/S and then the same at 10th, 6th, Robert Kerr/2nd, and Reno going E/W.

Not completely sure, but that kind of thing may have been mentioned in slackmeyer's chat today (almost everybody that commented was amazed there were no bike lanes on the blvd), check it out at newsok.com.

[LocoAko]

FWIW (probably not much), a petition has been made to demand bike lanes be added.

https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bikesonoklahomablvd

[Urbanized]

Capitulating doesn't change the culture, its just a part of it. If you run to change things, then show you have the mind and spine to CHANGE THINGS. Riding the bus doesn't prove he understands urban design. His expressed thoughts just send an okay message to same-o same-o thought processes.

I totally respect you as a poster - maybe the most balanced and pragmatic one on the board, but don't accept this stuff as okay.

Thanks for the kind words. While I love the idea of blind unyielding idealism, sometimes the reality in politics is that you have to take your lumps and live on to fight another day. I believe Forrest is working very diligently to create change at the capitol, but of course the deck is thoroughly stacked against him.

[Urbanized]

I've read so many thoughts, and shared the sentiment that the Boulevard may take pressure off other Downtown streets and we could potentially add bike lanes and other infrastructure in those areas? No reason we can't have a project that installs protected bike lanes on Western, Shartel, Walker, Hudson, Robinson going N/S and then the same at 10th, 6th, Robert Kerr/2nd, and Reno going E/W.

DEFINITELY part of the ongoing discussion. By the way, several years ago we asked for some minor pedestrian-focused adjustments on Reno and part of the reason our request was denied is because of the idea that the boulevard implementation would change traffic patterns and perhaps eventually allow for a more pedestrian-friendly approach along Reno. Currently the thinking is that traffic flow before/after events at Chesapeake precludes slowing traffic on Reno in any way. Bricktown/Downtown stakeholders will be watching this transition very closely.

[Rover]

Thanks for the kind words. While I love the idea of blind unyielding idealism, sometimes the reality in politics is that you have to take your lumps and live on to fight another day. I believe Forrest is working very diligently to create change at the capitol, but of course the deck is thoroughly stacked against him.

Having been exposed a fair amount to how 23rd St. works I guess I am a little cynical about it changing vs. the representative changing. If one side is unyielding, then the other is the only one compromising. Sometimes a mental and political grenade needs to disrupt business as usual and persons of strong conviction have to sometimes be defiant in their defense of their real constituency and of right. If this isn't important to hold fast on, what is? We aren't getting our say about education, infrastructure, support of r&d, economic responsibility, tax system modification, etc. If you aren't getting anything on the bigger issues, what do you wait for? It's not like fighting this is going to create political opportunity to make change, but it might make things quieter.

After over 40 years of watching the lack of progress on 23rd, I wonder why are we still playing nice and when we get representatives that actually have a spine with some imagination, intelligence and leadership?

[TheTravellers]

Saw this is Lackmeyer's chat today:

"Guest said:
thoughts on the change of bike lanes on the OKC Boulevard? Seems confusing to drivers and bikers to go from bike lanes to a bike/walk path. seems like the city should just stick to bike lanes in the road.

Steve Lackmeyer replied:
I want to know who had them eliminated and why."

I almost literally lol-ed and thought "Then do some investigative reporting and FIND OUT!"

[Urban Pioneer]

I was in U-Haul today returning a truck and saw a large contingent of people taking a tour of the building. Based on the way they were posturing and the questions they were asking, they were there trying to understand how U-Haul operates the building and the parking lot that is in debate. An employee confirmed they were there to observe and discuss how to come to a resolution.

[gopokes88]

Hopefully fix the boulevard is on Maps 4. IIRC once it’s built ODOT turns it over to the city and the city can then remake it how they see fit.

[Pete]

I was in U-Haul today returning a truck and saw a large contingent of people taking a tour of the building. Based on the way they were posturing and the questions they were asking, they were there trying to understand how U-Haul operates the building and the parking lot that is in debate. An employee confirmed they were there to observe and discuss how to come to a resolution.

That must have been the court-appointed commissioners who are charged with determining a fair market value as part of the City's eminent domain filing.

[seajohn]

I didn't read the entire thread, so forgive me if this has already been addressed, but I'm curious what's going to happen once they get OKC Blvd completed and it begins handling a full traffic load.

Right now, you can get on OKC Blvd just west of Western, and it it dumps you off onto I-40 around Agnew. At that point, if you want to get onto westbound I-44, you have about 1/2 mile to cross 5 or 6 lanes of traffic on I-40. It's already tough to do with the small amount of traffic using that small piece of OKC Blvd. I can't imagine doing it once the Boulevard is open and carrying max traffic. It will be impossible during rush hour.

[Pete]

I didn't read the entire thread, so forgive me if this has already been addressed, but I'm curious what's going to happen once they get OKC Blvd completed and it begins handling a full traffic load.

Right now, you can get on OKC Blvd just west of Western, and it it dumps you off onto I-40 around Agnew. At that point, if you want to get onto westbound I-44, you have about 1/2 mile to cross 5 or 6 lanes of traffic on I-40. It's already tough to do with the small amount of traffic using that small piece of OKC Blvd. I can't imagine doing it once the Boulevard is open and carrying max traffic. It will be impossible during rush hour.

They should allow people to try and merge those 6 lanes over to go south on I-44. People wanting to do that should get on I-40 and Western and then have plenty of time to get over.

[jerrywall]

I tried to use the BLVD to go from film row to Bethany after work once. Never again. Now I just take Main St to May. Much easier and quicker. That merge is horrific.

[bradh]

biggest disappointment driving around OKC this past weekend for the first time in a while? no signs of this road being completed by the end of this decade

[Pete]

biggest disappointment driving around OKC this past weekend for the first time in a while? no signs of this road being completed by the end of this decade

They have been doing some utility work and should be starting very soon.

The entire remaining piece is only about a mile long so hopefully it won't take them tremendously long, although the part near Western is quite complex.

[bradh]

They have been doing some utility work and should be starting very soon.

The entire remaining piece is only about a mile long so hopefully it won't take them tremendously long, although the part near Western is quite complex.

Yeah, well, you have more faith than I do

[Pete]

Yeah, well, you have more faith than I do

The contracts have actually been let!

And I've seen the utility work all along the path.

[bradh]

Beer bet it's not done by end of 2019?

[Pete]

Beer bet it's not done by end of 2019?

Oh, probably not. Not even sure of the timeline but road construction projects take forever here.

[jerrywall]

What I can't figure out, is that when they had to replace the I-40 bridge over the Arkansas river, they put time requirements and incentives in the bid, and it was done pretty quickly. I seem to recall the I-235/I44 work has similar clauses (and although it seems like it's forever, I feel like they're moving quickly considering the complexity). So why isn't this done more often?

[Pete]

What I can't figure out, is that when they had to replace the I-40 bridge over the Arkansas river, they put time requirements and incentives in the bid, and it was done pretty quickly. I seem to recall the I-235/I44 work has similar clauses (and although it seems like it's forever, I feel like they're moving quickly considering the complexity). So why isn't this done more often?

Because it costs more, i.e. you don't get the lowest possible bids.

[jerrywall]

Because it costs more, i.e. you don't get the lowest possible bids.

Makes sense. Although it seems the the BLVD would be enough of a priority to justify it. Although I guess they may not consider time sensitive.

[bradh]

What I'd like to see more of is more design/build work where you get an owner/design firm/contractor all working together towards a common goal, but people freak out that you don't get the lowest price. Well, with lowest bid, you don't always get the best work, quickest work, or good relationships between those three parties (cheaper bidders tend to nickel and dime owners and engineer's with change orders, driving up costs and increasing delays).