Canal to River Connection

[oakhollow]

As of July 2014, this is now open.

[Steve]

it's dead

[oakhollow]

Are there any other projects aimed at accomplishing somewhat of the same thing?

[ourulz2000]

Shocked.

[BDK]

As far as what I read, the expense was too great to include the plan like the original MAPS had intended. I think it is an eventual plan, like 10 year or more down the line, though.

[Spartan]

Are there any other projects aimed at accomplishing somewhat of the same thing?

Yes, there is an effort to simply locate the convention center across from Bricktown, rather than in "Core2Shoreland."

[Larry OKC]

Yes, there is an effort to simply locate the convention center across from Bricktown, rather than in "Core2Shoreland."

There ya go...if you can't bring the Canal to the Convention Center (as sold to the voter's with the original MAPS), bring the Convention Center to the Canal!

[Thunder]

it's dead

Is that all you can say? :-O

[Larry OKC]

Lets face it, if two former mayors and co-treasurers of the MAPS 3 campaign couldn't get it pushed through and included in MAPS 3....

[Rover]

We don't know the location of the new convention center so how can we tie it into the canal?

Until there is more real development on the canal that is there, and more sustainable businesses, why in the world would we extend it?

[Larry OKC]

Rover

We knew where the Myriad/Cox Convention Center was under the original MAPS (was supposed to connect the C.C. with Bricktown with the River, we only got the Bricktown segment). Now that we are getting a new C.C. (location officially undetermined), we can either put closer to Bricktown and the Canal, or place it elsewhere and then extend the Canal to the other location.

As far as your other question, the connectivity stressed by then Mayor Norick will in theory lead to more sustainable businesses. Without the connectivity, we ended up with what we have. A success, but so much more potential has gone unrealized.

[Spartan]

We don't know the location of the new convention center so how can we tie it into the canal?

Until there is more real development on the canal that is there, and more sustainable businesses, why in the world would we extend it?

I think the idea with the canal extension is that this is a flawed canal in part because it does not connect very much. I think they were just wanting to connect it to something else, though I think it would have been cooler if they extended it through the CBD around one of the sides of the Cox Center (down the middle of Reno or Sheridan).

But the bottom line is that even with a canal extension that will never happen now, putting the new big convention center south of the Ford Center and not adjacent to Bricktown WILL hurt Bricktown.

[betts]

But the bottom line is that even with a canal extension that will never happen now, putting the new big convention center south of the Ford Center and not adjacent to Bricktown WILL hurt Bricktown.

It will only hurt Bricktown if an area full of restaurants and bars springs up adjacent to the new Convention Center. Otherwise, again, the Convention Center will still be within walking distance of Bricktown by most people's standards (except, perhaps, those in Oklahoma) and if wide sidewalks and mass transit that easily and quickly connects convention-goers to Bricktown exists, it will have very little impact on Bricktown, IMO.

[Urban Pioneer]

Interesting... News 9 just ran a fairly long segment about any near future hopes of the canal extension using TIF funds being completely dead. Apparently it was discussed or voted/not voted on in some way yesterday at council. At least that is how the piece seemed to portray it. No mention of the planned Santa Fe Transit Hub whilst most of the film footage was shot in that area.

[mcca7596]

I believe this just has to do with the fact that the Harding and Shelton project was not completed as originally intended.

[BoulderSooner]

I believe this just has to do with the fact that the Harding and Shelton project was not completed as originally intended.

100% correct .. .the council voted to end/remove the 1mil canal extention project that would have extended the canel south from the current west end down to reno....

it is in the consent docket right next to the action that gave the 400k TIF to caranige project

[king183]

100% correct .. .the council voted to end/remove the 1mil canal extention project that would have extended the canel south from the current west end down to reno....

it is in the consent docket right next to the action that gave the 400k TIF to caranige project

So does this mean the extension is basically dead forever or that it's dead until some kind of development comes along?

[UnFrSaKn]

Plans Advancing for Canal Extension

[UnFrSaKn]

[jn1780]

I would call it an "Oklahoma River" extension more than anything. Bringing it closer to the Bricktown canal for people to technically be able to switch boats. More importantly it extends the Bricktown trail network to the Oklahoma River.

[Fantastic]

I would call it an "Oklahoma River" extension more than anything. Bringing it closer to the Bricktown canal for people to technically be able to switch boats. More importantly it extends the Bricktown trail network to the Oklahoma River.

I get asked ALL THE TIME... "Aren't they extending the canal and connect it to the river?" And I have to explain to them, "No, if anything they are extending the river to the canal. (up until now I would say,) I don't know when or if these plans will happen, but it's going to basically be an extension of the riverboat turnaround underneath the new I-40 to the southeast edge of the Brictown Canal." Alot of people also assume that this extension means the two will be connected and they will be able to ride a boat on both bodies of water, I usually have to explain that there is an elevation difference between the canal and the river. Notice in the picture here, there is a windy staircase/ramp thingy. So, yeah, passengers will have to switch boats.



And I totally agree with the importance of linking the riverwalk along the canal with the Oklahoma River trails.

[Snowman]

I may be off on this, but I think part of why it was originally called a canal was they was some consideration of having locks to allow canal boats to transfer between the two.

This looks great! Am I missing something or does the canal have to cross tracks? And why wasn't this incorporated into the new highway? Or are we not going to have to tear out a bunch of new stuff to install the bridge? I can't tell from this drawing.

I also hope that the trails system is at least stubbed out using this underpass.

The bridge for i40 and the train track to go over this built several years ago. The bridge that ship is under will be new for the pedestrian trail along the river and the ramp on the right hand side of the drawing is where it connects most efficiently with the existing canal trails, though you could reach them from the switchbacks on the left hand side as well.

[Fantastic]

I may be off on this, but I think part of why it was originally called a canal was they was some consideration of having locks to allow canal boats to transfer between the two.

Yeah, I've heard this in the past, don't know how serious it was, how far it got, or if it is something that is in consideration for a future connection. I would think that the city would be happy to keep Water Taxi and Oklahoma River Cruises away from each other, because the two are so dramatically different as attractions and experiences. But I have seen river development plans that call for "water taxi stops" along the river. Again, not sure if this is something for future considerstion.

[jn1780]

I rotated the Google Earth image to match the drawing.



Edit: Forgot to draw in the trails on either side of the river extension.

[Spartan]

This makes me really wish I had ridden one of those dinky Devon Cruiser things, because now I am extremely curious what it's like to change locks on one of those, and whether that would work here. I think that they actually change locks 2 or 3 times actually..