Let's do THIS with the old I-40

[RedDirt717]

I've been thinking that instead of tearing down the old I-40, the city should utilize the space. Maybe turn it into a pedestrian walk way, or contract out some local artists to do something with the old pillars. I stumbled on this online. What an awesome concept.









http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat...-now-open.html

[Snowman]

There was a thread about this a long time ago, anyway it is far to late now. At this point we are required to have a road continue from the freeway ramps which the feds consider appropriate to disperse traffic to/from downtown. Plus the deconstruction contracts have been awarded. At this point we only have control of the design of the road going there.

[Rover]

Yes, we've commented on the NYC highline. It was old train route. It is a couple blocks from my apartment and a great facility. I use it a lot.

[OklahomaNick]

This is actually a REALLY good idea.. but more for an Elevated train track and not a 6 lane highway..
The downtown Boulevard is MUCH more needed.

[jedicurt]

i think we tear it down and use it as the first corridor for an OKC light rail system... this would allow you to get it all the way from the Fair grounds to downtown... now just need to find the correct route to get it to the airport and we have the start of the MORT (Metro of Oklahoma Rapid Transit)

[Just the facts]

I prefer GOCART - Greater Oklahoma City Area Rapid (or Rail) Transit.

Advertisement: Get to work fast - Take a GOCART.

[jedicurt]

I prefer GOCART - Greater Oklahoma City Area Rapid (or Rail) Transit.

Advertisement: Get to work fast - Take a GOCART.

that is awesome! i love it!

i'm still trying to figure out if a downtown boulevard is really needed... i mean i guess if it is built it will be used, i just think that if we are really ever going to start a rapid transit light rail system, this would be an ideal location to get it started.

[Just the facts]

I am not a real fan of the boulevard either. I would be happy if they just put the original grid back in. Reno is a block north and is already 4 lanes. If a new 6 lane road follows the I-40 path they are going to have to close all of the intersections between Walker and Western and there will be so many unbuildable pie pieces it will look ugly and be functionally useless for anything other than moving a bunch of cars at high speeds along an at-grade road. Not exactly pedestrian friendly.

[Larry OKC]

^^^
This

[ljbab728]

I am not a real fan of the boulevard either. I would be happy if they just put the original grid back in. Reno is a block north and is already 4 lanes. If a new 6 lane road follows the I-40 path they are going to have to close all of the intersections between Walker and Western and there will be so many unbuildable pie pieces it will look ugly and be functionally useless for anything other than moving a bunch of cars at high speeds along an at-grade road. Not exactly pedestrian friendly.

And why do you think the speeds will be high, Kerry? This will be a city street, not a freeway and speeds should be appropriate for that. I have no inside information but I suspect that the speed limits will gradually decrease as you exit the freeway onto the boulevard and probably be no higher than 30 through the central business district.

[Patrick]

I see a 6 lane downtown Boulevard turning into nothing other than a 6 lane NW Expressway. I'll pass.

[Snowman]

All the city's statements for at least a year state it will have 4 lanes for driving. It has also been stated that it will promote pedestrian use which is inline with what they have been trying to move to with streets downtown in recent years. I just do not see it being another NW Expressway.

[Just the facts]

The width isn't up to the City and it is still planned for 6 lanes. People tend to drive at speeds that feel safe for conditions and it is not uncommon for people to do 50 mph in a 35 mph zone if the street is wide enough and buildings are set back from the road. If you look at the path of I-40 west of Walker it will require the closure of most of those side roads, otherwise there will be an intersection every 60 feet. This will essentially cut the area in half and will be worse than having the elevated I-40.

I did see a plan I like that would create a boulevard from Robinson east to I-40 and then everything west of Robinson would just return to the street grid.

[BoulderSooner]

Per everyone involved it will be 4 driving lanes

[betts]

With one lane for angle parking on each side? IIRC the parking lanes plus driving lanes make it a six "lane" road.

[Spartan]

I think this is good enough of an idea to warrant more than just this duplicate thread. It has an equally strong chance of happening today as it ever did, given how open to public input this process was from the beginning.

[ljbab728]

The width isn't up to the City and it is still planned for 6 lanes.

Kerry, as usual when it comes to roads, your information is not totally accurate.

Wenger said decisions on the width of the boulevard and what exactly it will look like are “still very much in the design process.”

“The latest discussions have recommended that it be two lanes in each direction, with a parking lane on both the north and south sides,” he said. “There'll be some green space in between those lanes ... there's a lot more right of way for this project than what's probably going to be utilized.”

http://newsok.com/grand-boulevard-is...rticle/3650268

[ljbab728]

I think this is good enough of an idea to warrant more than just this duplicate thread. It has an equally strong chance of happening today as it ever did, given how open to public input this process was from the beginning.

Spartan, I don't care how much public input is given, that kind of project will never be loved by the public or the city officials to replace the old I40. It may have a place in NYC but it would be totally inappropriate and virtually unused here.

[Just the facts]

ljbab728: 1+2+2+1 = 6. However, that configuration is just an idea at this point.

[metro]

With one lane for angle parking on each side? IIRC the parking lanes plus driving lanes make it a six "lane" road.

I hope not, that'd be awful IMO. I wish they'd model this off of Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. Our forefathers master planned this and our other original cities for a reason. Hope OKC gets this right but have serious doubts they will.

I think this is good enough of an idea to warrant more than just this duplicate thread. It has an equally strong chance of happening today as it ever did, given how open to public input this process was from the beginning.

How so? This will never happen with the current I-40. They've already started demo on it. ODOT is too stubborn anyway.

Spartan, I don't care how much public input is given, that kind of project will never be loved by the public or the city officials to replace the old I40. It may have a place in NYC but it would be totally inappropriate and virtually unused here.

THIS!

[Pete]

That elevated park works in NYC because there is true urban fabric all around and underneath.

The only thing below the existing crosstown is hideous concrete, weeds, trash and a little parking. It's a huge, ugly barrier with virtually no development directly on either side.

In fact, one big argument against the Boulevard is that it will go through an incredibly unsightly area, as everything around there is seedy at best, and all the buildings have their backs turned to it. That drive is going to look very, very bad for a very long time.

It's going to create yet another huge area that will need to be developed, improved, landscaped, maintained, etc. We already have about 30 of these in the central core and most are a long way from where they need to be. Throw yet another one onto the pile.

[Just the facts]

Metro - Ben Franklin Parkway was not part of the original design of Philadelphia. It was laid out in 1917. Having walked it I can tell you it is a pedestrian disaster. Traffic on it goes way too fast because it is really wide and no buildings are adjacent to it. Its sole purpose is to move cars in and out of Central City as fast as the drivers are willing to go. Plus, there is no way a person can cross it without being stranded in the center median. I crossed it many times and got stranded in the median every single time. Some of Philly's greatest architectural gems are located near the parkway - but not on it. There are almost no people walking along it except for the stray tourist or the power walkers getting their exercise.

I fear this is what the OKC Boulevard is destined to become. I would prefer something more along the lines of Avenue of the Arts if it has to be wide.

[metro]

Pete, you forgot vagrants.

Kerry, I slightly disagree with use, I've seen it used a lot. It's also a BEAUTIFUL boulevard with gorgeous views and history.

[Just the facts]

Pete, you forgot vagrants.

Kerry, I slightly disagree with use, I've seen it used a lot. It's also a BEAUTIFUL boulevard with gorgeous views and history.

No doubt it has nice views at both ends, but you have to be in a car to see the view (or stand in the middle of the street).

[ljbab728]

ljbab728: 1+2+2+1 = 6. However, that configuration is just an idea at this point.

If you want to count parking as a lane that would be correct but with only four driving lanes it won't facilitate speeding traffic any more than any other four lane corridor which was your original concern. In fact with parking it might actually slow down traffic because of cars slowing down to park or because of cars pulling out of parking spots. Have you ever walked the redesigned Santa Monica Blvd. in LA? It is constructed exactly like that with four traffic lanes, parking lanes and a center median. It is a very walkable area.