OKC Boulevard

[Ross MacLochness]

The mayor even said in his speech, to paraphrase, "Sorry it's hot, but the governor and I are very important people and this hour is the only time we could get together and have this ceremony".

[turnpup]

I've been getting a kick out of watching the drivers that don't know what a double yellow line means on Lee and Shartel now that they are both two-way streets from Sheridan to Reno.

If you enjoy that, you'll really enjoy watching the multitudes turning left from southbound Broadway Avenue into the Byron's parking lot, frequently blocking traffic and seemingly oblivious. Never mind the solid yellow lines just (re)painted there.

And on-topic, we drove the boulevard yesterday. It is pretty dicey right now, especially (for us anyway) at the Reno intersection. Everyone seemed to be having difficulty determining who had stopped, whose turn it was, etc. Looking forward to the installation of the permanent lights.

[HangryHippo]

Just more evidence that this was a poorly thought-out and terribly executed piece of ****.

[CloudDeckMedia]

About 20 cyclists will be on a group ride, returning downtown around 8:00, crossing the OKC Boulevard at Robinson. Watch Twitter to see how many of us are killed.

[Pete]

About 20 cyclists will be on a group ride, returning downtown around 8:00, crossing the OKC Boulevard at Robinson. Watch Twitter to see how many of us are killed.

Strap down that helmet!

[Roger S]

About 20 cyclists will be on a group ride, returning downtown around 8:00, crossing the OKC Boulevard at Robinson. Watch Twitter to see how many of us are killed.

I see cyclists on Robinson regularly and have yet to see any in the splattered position.... I think you'll be ok.

[BDP]

I've been getting a kick out of watching the drivers that don't know what a double yellow line means....

lol.

It seems to me very few people here know what it means. People turn left just past an an intersection across the left hand turn lane and two lanes of traffic all the time. I've actually wondered if double yellow lines actually don't mean anything in OK.

That's why that little road to Exchange just west of the Western and Reno intersection is a recipe for a cluster.

[HOT ROD]

Yes, when I took photos over the weekend, they were finishing the striping but none of the light poles had been installed.

I'm not sure why they just didn't wait a little longer to get that done. They are going to have to close each intersection when they do make those installations.

Maybe some of the parts were delayed and they didn't want to wait for them?

Incentive payment = $$ to the ccontractor with opening ahead of schedule.

[jccouger]

lol.

It seems to me very few people here know what it means. People turn left just past an an intersection across the left hand turn lane and two lanes of traffic all the time. I've actually wondered if double yellow lines actually don't mean anything in OK.

That's why that little road to Exchange just west of the Western and Reno intersection is a recipe for a cluster.

Wait, are you guys saying you can't turn across a double yellow line? I don't think that's a law at all, but I'd love to be proven wrong.

[Roger S]

Wait, are you guys saying you can't turn across a double yellow line? I don't think that's a law at all, but I'd love to be proven wrong.

Not us guys...

I'm talking about people that are still using Shartel and Lee as one way streets because they are oblivious to the new striping and signs.

The MUTCD says this....

A double line consisting of two normal solid yellow lines delineates the separation between travel paths in opposite directions where overtaking and passing is prohibited in both directions. This is a two-direction no-passing marking. Crossing this line with care is permitted only as part of a left-turn maneuver. It is frequently used as a channelizing line in advance of an obstruction which must be passed on the right and to form a channelizing island separating traffic in counter directions.

[Plutonic Panda]

Turning left over a double yellow line seems to be as common as braking. If that was unlawful that is news to me. I can't count the number of times I have done that in front a police officer.

[jccouger]

Not us guys...

I'm talking about people that are still using Shartel and Lee as one way streets because they are oblivious to the new striping and signs.

The MUTCD says this....

Right, I knew what you were getting at but then BDP really started to confuse me. I've seen cars go down a 2 way street with solid yellow lines like its one lane all the time. It happens A LOT when there is long time semi-permanent construction and they repaint lines when lanes are shifted over. (Usually from a 4 lane street, to a 2 lane street)

I think BDP is severly confused on what double yellow lines stand for though. It just means there is no passing in to oncoming traffics lane and its a 2 way road. You can definitely turn left across a double yellow line.

Really makes me wonder how long BDP has been driving around out of his own way because he has to do U-turns half a mile down because he thought it was illegal to turn across a double yellow line. LOL.

[Anonymous.]

Turning left over a double-yellow is not illegal. It is turning over two double yellows which is illegal. The example used about Byrons is correct, there is two double yellow about 2 feet apart, thus acting as a median and you are not supposed to cross it.

[BDP]

Turning left over a double yellow line seems to be as common as braking. If that was unlawful that is news to me. I can't count the number of times I have done that in front a police officer.

Yeah, it must not be, at least in OK. So, I have been wrong. I just thought it wasn't really enforced. I think I assumed it was illegal, because there are intentional breaks in the lines for for turning and those are usually where it's not blind and would not readily back traffic up into an intersection.

I'm pretty sure in CA it's at least illegal to cross two sets of them. And, if it's not illegal here, I wish it were. Backing up traffic in both directions to avoid going around the block to get some chicken is a real jerk move.

Here's a FL article by an accident firm that discusses it (I would have posted the Oklahoman article that came up in my search, but no one pays to read that):

https://accidentfirm.com/double-yellow-line-left-turn

It says that, in Florida, " If there are two lanes and there is a double yellow line separating those lanes, you cannot cross them – even if that is to turn into your own driveway."

Most interestingly is the civil liability aspect. It basically says that, if you cross a double to make a turn and get in an accident while doing it, you're liable, even if the other driver was speeding.

Obviously, that doesn't mean the same applies in OK, but at least I didn't completely imagine it. Ha.

[BDP]

Right, I knew what you were getting at but then BDP really started to confuse me. I've seen cars go down a 2 way street with solid yellow lines like its one lane all the time. It happens A LOT when there is long time semi-permanent construction and they repaint lines when lanes are shifted over. (Usually from a 4 lane street, to a 2 lane street)

I think BDP is severly confused on what double yellow lines stand for though. It just means there is no passing in to oncoming traffics lane and its a 2 way road. You can definitely turn left across a double yellow line.

Really makes me wonder how long BDP has been driving around out of his own way because he has to do U-turns half a mile down because he thought it was illegal to turn across a double yellow line. LOL.

Thanks, cougar. I appreciate your concern.

I will, in fact, take an earlier protected left or make a later left, if the other option is to impede traffic for 5 minutes waiting to turn. That's usually faster anyway, so I never considered it going out of my way. I think I just picked that up driving in CA for 10 years, where, in a lot of places it can really screw it up for everyone if you don't do that.

And, yes, I do know how double and dotted lines are used to indicate pass/no pass opportunities, but that rarely applies in an urban area anyway and wasn't the (off) topic of discussion.

But the cool thing is that if I see you doing it and I'm coming the other direction, I might be able to just go ahead and run into you and make you pay for the front end work that already needs a little attention (at least if we're in Florida). lol

[Plutonic Panda]

Thanks, cougar. I appreciate your concern.

I will, in fact, take an earlier protected left or make a later left, if the other option is to impede traffic for 5 minutes waiting to turn. That's usually faster anyway, so I never considered it being going out of my way. I think I just picked that up driving in CA for 10 years, where, in a lot of places it can really screw it up for everyone if you don't do that.l

I will generally do the same. I always felt the double yellow line was used to indicate a no overtaking zone. I am unsure of California's laws regarding this. I have seen a quad yellow line on freeways separating some HOV lanes.

[BDP]

I will generally do the same. I always felt the double yellow line was used to indicate a no overtaking zone. I am unsure of California's laws regarding this. I have seen a quad yellow line on freeways separating some HOV lanes.

Old LA Times article on it:

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-...856-story.html

Basically, what Anonymous said applies here about two sets.

It does sound like this may vary from state to state, though. I won't take my chances in CA, either way. Tickets are wicked expensive there (tip: don't ever run a light on Sunset at the end of the cycle in LA, even though everyone does it every every time. $500+ I'll never see again).

[jccouger]

Thanks, cougar. I appreciate your concern.

I will, in fact, take an earlier protected left or make a later left, if the other option is to impede traffic for 5 minutes waiting to turn. That's usually faster anyway, so I never considered it going out of my way. I think I just picked that up driving in CA for 10 years, where, in a lot of places it can really screw it up for everyone if you don't do that.

And, yes, I do know how double and dotted lines are used to indicate pass/no pass opportunities, but that rarely applies in an urban area anyway and wasn't the (off) topic of discussion.

But the cool thing is that if I see you doing it and I'm coming the other direction, I might be able to just go ahead and run into you and make you pay for the front end work that already needs a little attention (at least if we're in Florida). lol

Oh yeah definitely, I hate when people turn left immediately after a stop light and cause traffic jams in intersections. Most of the time it can be prevented by just turning left at the actual intersection I don't think I'll ever expect common sense from most drivers. I'm glad you have it!

[BDP]

Most of the time it can be prevented by just turning left at the actual intersection I don't think I'll ever expect common sense from most drivers.

And the problem is compounded with this little turn in at the Reno / Western intersection, because that option isn't really available. If you want to get to exchange, you gotta continue to Klein, or turn on Western (will that be protected?) and go down to 3rd. Neither of these options are really obvious at this point. It will be interesting to see how this is attacked with signage, if at all. But, I guess, first thing's first: we need a traffic light.

(see, Mods... got it back on track!)

[kukblue1]

There is really nothing going on downtown right now either that it had to be open before it’s ready. I’m sure the Chris Brown Concert is going to cause a bottle neck downtown cause the boulevard is still closed. The next event at the area isn’t until Sept 13th. Dodger season is almost over. The Park and Thunder don’t start until Oct. Sept 1st would of been a better start date.

[Urban Pioneer]

My understanding is that several downtown power brokers lobbied very hard so that this roadway could be used as a bypass and as a quick way in and out of downtown.

And that's pretty much what they got.

Having worked on this for so long, I can confidently say the "power brokers" initially didn't even know what the OKC Boulevard even was. The original motivations to build it this way were a mechanism for politicians to pay off the road lobby with a big chunky project. ODOT being what it is (a highway department), was just engineering it as they would normally. The Federal Highway Administration had no initial cause to review the project differently as know one formally protested until we started our letter campaign to Washington.

Then I think you saw some key business leaders and influencers freak out and fear that we might be too successful and turn it into a residential two-lane street. Jim Couch was verbally instructed to back ODOT all the way and that is what our Public Works and other departments did. I was repeatedly told dozens of times by city staff that once we had the keys turned over to us they would go in and modify it later.

The problem with it in its original form was that it was even BIGGER. Between the sheer size of it and the additional aerials, it would have been a dramatic physical and visual barrier between the new park, convention center, and downtown. Think San Francisco Embarcadero before the earthquake knocked it down. What me, Bob and others were shooting for was the current Embarcadero. It is still a massive street but the multi-modal facilities make it work for everyone.

If you go down there and walk the boulevard between EK Gaylord and Classen, you can see that the bones are there to be able to modify their concrete wonderland into an post-earthquake Embarcadero-type solution. It is just hard to conceive that it would have been much, much worse.

[Pete]

^

Appreciate your efforts on this project.

[David]

I was repeatedly told dozens of times by city staff that once we had the keys turned over to us they would go in and modify it later. .

With the grand opening, have the keys now been turned over?

[Ross MacLochness]

Tried to go from downtown to stonecloud last night via the boulevard... It was hard containing my rage. This road is not intuitive, it;s ahrd to navigate, it completely separates the city on the west end and the folks traveling across via foot to the shelters were confused and looked pissed - someone is pgoing to get hurt or worse over there. It took us an additional 10 to 15 minutes trying to figure out how to get to Classen (this will be improved however, when the bridge underpass is open). It really is the worst of the worst, and to think, it could have been worse. What a waste of money. The "conservative" state government should be ashamed of themselves for this blatant misuse of public money.

[checkthat]

The Oklahoman is reporting that the contractor will receive a $500,000 bonus for finishing 50 days early:

An Oklahoma City contractor is slated to receive a $500,000 bonus for completing pavement work on the Oklahoma City Boulevard 50 days ahead of schedule, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation said Wednesday.

Allen Contracting Inc. of Oklahoma City completed pavement work on the final $27 million section of the project Aug. 2, said Terri Angier, Transportation Department spokeswoman.

Contractor to get $500K bonus for Oklahoma City Boulevard