Friends for a Better Boulevard

[Spartan]

I've sent a letter to Mr. Mendez about making sure the boulevard is at grade, and also letting him know who the true enemies in this are (ODOT). I also included a note about getting a sidewalk along the full length of the NW Expressway and also May. This would essentially tie together the vast majority of trails, and also allow suburbanite bikers access to the bus network (Penn Square Mall stop especially). But I'm not naive enough to think there isn't some class warfare behind the fact that there are no sidewalks along the NW Expressway, considering virtually every time I drive it I see someone walking in the grass beside it.

I'd be more recalcitrant to pull out the class warfare charge, but I agree that it is a huge problem, and one that hits lower-income harder than other groups.

[Plutonic Panda]

mayor@okc.gov
ward_@okc.gov (fill the blank in with your ward number)

http://www.okcchamber.com/index.php?...f=Contact%20Us

You can tweet @okdot or call 405-521-6000

Yes, I would recommend letting your City Council Representative know about this matter. The Chamber is probably generally aware of the issue and can also influence some Council members occasionally.

For the best impact, write or email Victor Mendez with the Federal Highway Administration and copy your City Council Representative. That is what we are asking for all of you to do via this campaign. In that way, your comments are authoritatively documented and part of the public process.

Victor Mendez
Federal Highway Administration
1200 SE New Jersey Ave.
Washington, DC 20590

victor.mendez@dot.gov


Mayor Mick Cornett
(At Large)
mayor@okc.goc


Gary Marrs
(W / NW Area)
ward1@okc.gov

Ed Shadid
(North Central Area)
ward2@okc.gov

Larry McAtee
(W / SW Area) (A small part of the western section is in his ward)
ward3@okc.gov

Pete White
(SE Area)
ward4@okc.gov

David Greenwell
(Far South Area)
ward5@okc.gov

Meg Salyer
(Central Area) (Nearly all of the proposed project is in her Ward)
ward6@okc.gov

Skip Kelly
(NE Area) (Far East is project in his Ward)
ward7@okc.gov

Patrick Ryan
(N / NW Area)
ward8@okc.gov


If you feel inclined, the July 31st (Tuesday) Council meeting, starts at 8:30 AM, ODOT will be presenting at that time. You can sign up to speak on the issue and their presentation.

There will also be a major public meeting in which turn out is critical with the Federal Representatives present. The date and location have not been announced as of yet.

Okay. I'll get started writing my letter. Thanks for the info.

[soonerguru]

I'd be more recalcitrant to pull out the class warfare charge, but I agree that it is a huge problem, and one that hits lower-income harder than other groups.

The lack of sidewalks along major OKC arteries is embarrassing and infuriating. The other day, my wife and I saw a woman who looked like she was in her late 80s trying to walk along NW 23rd west of 1-44 and Portland. She was carrying what appeared to be groceries, probably from the Braum's market, and was having a difficult time walking (there was an entire field of weeds in front of an ugly church she had to negotiate).

It was scary trying to watch her negotiate all of this. And it also brought into relief the hidden population that really needs more adequate public transit in our city. It is downright dangerous for the elderly to try to walk in OKC. It's shameful that we have let things get this bad.

[Bellaboo]

The lack of sidewalks along major OKC arteries is embarrassing and infuriating. The other day, my wife and I saw a woman who looked like she was in her late 80s trying to walk along NW 23rd west of 1-44 and Portland. She was carrying what appeared to be groceries, probably from the Braum's market, and was having a difficult time walking (there was an entire field of weeds in front of an ugly church she had to negotiate).

It was scary trying to watch her negotiate all of this. And it also brought into relief the hidden population that really needs more adequate public transit in our city. It is downright dangerous for the elderly to try to walk in OKC. It's shameful that we have let things get this bad.

You should have pulled over and offered her a ride.

[LandRunOkie]

For the best impact, write or email Victor Mendez with the Federal Highway Administration and copy your City Council Representative. That is what we are asking for all of you to do via this campaign.

With due respect, I believe ODOT needs to be included in people's correspondence as well. I received a reply back from the city council chief of staff today saying the boulevard is the domain of ODOT. So much of this debate needs to be waged at the state government level, I believe.
You can contact the Governor through this webpage:https://www.ok.gov
You can contact the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Gary Ridley, at gridley AT odot DOT org
The head of the Planning and Research Division is John Bowman at jbowman AT odot DOT org
And further contacts within the Planning and Research Division can be found here:http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/p-r-div/index.htm

[CuatrodeMayo]

Below are pages from my latest boulevard idea. This proposal would locate a roundabout at the intersection of Robinson & the new boulevard. The entire PDF can be downloaded here: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/15393885/Thunder Circle.pdf



The roundabout at Robinson and the new Boulevard ties together the new southwest entrance to the arena, the future convention center, the convention hotel, and the central park with a grand civic gesture. Linking these current and future MAPS projects creates a distinctive and dramatic sense of place that is only experienced in Oklahoma City. This roundabout is not only aesthetically pleasing but also provides an opportunity for each facility to benefit from the proximity of its neighboring facilities and work as a unified whole.

An underground pedestrian concourse creates a protected connection between all four MAPS projects, while an underground garage provides parking and convention center service access. By moving these functions below grade, the urban fabric and open greenspace above is preserved. The concourse level also provides pedestrian access to the fountain in the center of the roundabout without having to cross traffic.





The convention hotel is located directly across the roundabout from the convention center and is physically connected via the pedestrian concourse. By locating the convention hotel across the street, the convention center is allowed to completely occupy the site and maximize its usable area. The building is a true mixed-use structure with a full service hotel, meeting rooms, residential units, and office/retail spaces on the ground floor.





The pedestrian portal splits the above-grade levels of the convention center into a west building and an east building. This passageway provides a necessary link between the Myriad Gardens and Central Park and encourages travel between the two greenspaces. The structure consists of a translucent cylindrical form that mimics the shape of the Crystal Bridge across the street to the north. On the inside, lighting, video projectors and audio systems create an exciting and interactive light show. The pedestrian portal is a destination event intended to draw pedestrians to and through the passageway and induce travel between the park and the gardens.



At the center of the roundabout is a large water feature which includes several vertical jets and waterfall elements. In the evenings, this fountain is illuminated by lighting that is programmable to glow in any color of the rainbow. This is especially exciting on game nights when the fountain glows Thunder blue, orange, and red. The centerpiece of the fountain is a beacon that projects a bright shaft of light skyward each night. Since the fountain is partially below grade, it is safely accessible to pedestrians from the concourse level.

[SouthwestAviator]

With due respect, I believe ODOT needs to be included in people's correspondence as well. I received a reply back from the city council chief of staff today saying the boulevard is the domain of ODOT. So much of this debate needs to be waged at the state government level, I believe.

No need to write to ODOT. They are automatically copied on letters sent to Mr. Mendez. The State generally does not care. Mary Fallin might be if enough letters were dispatched to her.

It is undoubtedly, directly, a city matter. The statement otherwise demonstrates what is going on over there internally. They do not want the City Council to feel the pressure to make ODOT accountable directly to them for the road they will be receiving.

[Just the facts]

I love it. One comment though. Clearwater Beach built a traffic circle and put a fountain in the center but constant winds in the area blew the spray onto the traffic circle, which caused the road to be constantly wet. This in turn led to a lot of accidents and they finally had to turn the fountain off. The fountain has since been filled in. Another problem they had was the raised area in the middle reduced sight lines so even at 20 mph there still wasn't time to react to traffic. I am sure their traffic circle has a much smaller radius so this might not be a problem in your design. Does your software allow you model stuff like that? As we know, the winds in Oklahoma can be very strong.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/06/ne...ircles_a.shtml

It's time to come back to the beach.

Local residents who stopped coming to Clearwater Beach because they feared driving through the famous beach roundabout should give it another try. The roundabout is now 5 years old, and police and traffic officials say it is no longer an obstacle to safe passage to the beach.

...

The roundabout, envisioned by a previous city administration as both a traffic solution and a grand entrance to Clearwater Beach, was the scene of traffic mayhem for months after it opened in December 1999. Cars bumped into each other. Trucks ran over the shrubbery and got stuck trying to turn through the tight circle. The wedding cake-style fountain that filled the middle of the circle sprinkled cars and blocked views of oncoming traffic. Lane markings and signs were confusing.

...

Instead, commissioners made the tough decision to fix the roundabout and give it more time to work. Lanes were widened, pavement markings and signs were changed, and the showpiece fountain was demolished.

Today, the Clearwater Beach roundabout isn't as pretty, but it works exactly as intended: It keeps traffic moving on and off the beach, even on the busiest days. It is easy to forget that the old traffic signals used to bring traffic to a halt, creating gridlock on beach streets and Memorial Causeway.

[betts]

There definitely is a roundabout learning curve. But, once you learn how to use them, they're great, for all the reasons that have been outlined.

[Pete]

Wow, that is incredibly impressive.

No reason we couldn't do something like this with the proper planning.

[MDot]

Love it.

[BoulderSooner]

that is not a good intersection for a roundabout .. the street car will pass through it (twice) also the CC hotel will most likely not be on the south side of the blvd

[Bellaboo]

Very Nice Cuatro ! I like the 'Tube' at the Convention Center, ties in nicely with MBG tube.

[Bellaboo]

that is not a good intersection for a roundabout .. the street car will pass through it (twice) also the CC hotel will most likely not be on the south side of the blvd

Maybe the CC hotel should be at that location. Would free up more room at the site stricly for the CC, maybe keep them from going underground.

[LandRunOkie]

No need to write to ODOT. They are automatically copied on letters sent to Mr. Mendez.

If everything in government worked as it should, we wouldn't be having to fight this battle at all.

It is undoubtedly, directly, a city matter.

Well funding for this project is undoubtedly, directly, controlled by ODOT, and in my experience money talks and you know the rest.

[Urban Pioneer]

that is not a good intersection for a roundabout .. the street car will pass through it (twice) also the CC hotel will most likely not be on the south side of the blvd

I see the streetcars and rails depicted in his concept.Have to look closely. If the turning radius is broad enough, it could work. Pretty cool!

[Urban Pioneer]

built a traffic circle and put a fountain in the center but constant winds in the area blew the spray onto the traffic circle, which caused the road to be constantly wet. This in turn led to a lot of accidents and they finally had to turn the fountain off.

The Bricktown Centennial fountain we worked on has an anemometer with automatic height adjustment using variable speed drives. Works pretty good when it was adjusted right.

[Bellaboo]

I see the streetcars and rails depicted in his concept.Have to look closely. If the turning radius is broad enough, it could work. Pretty cool!

Nm..........

[sroberts24]

this is amazing and would be a dream come true if it were to work out like this

[soonerguru]

If everything in government worked as it should, we wouldn't be having to fight this battle at all.


Well funding for this project is undoubtedly, directly, controlled by ODOT, and in my experience money talks and you know the rest.

Bottom line: The City Council is going to have to grow a pair and reject this design or ODOT will move forward with it. It's pretty cut and dried.

[soonerguru]

Cuatrode, your design is breathtaking. Well done!

[Just the facts]

The Bricktown Centennial fountain we worked on has an anemometer with automatic height adjustment using variable speed drives. Works pretty good when it was adjusted right.

Thanks - that answered my concern perfectly.

[skanaly]

Is this the official rendering? and when does it all start to happen, I know they have to get permits and it wont be for a while but how long?

[OKCisOK4me]

Is this the official rendering? and when does it all start to happen, I know they have to get permits and it wont be for a while but how long?

Lol. No. One of our mutual posters is being imaginative. This is not the work of ODOT.

[CaptDave]

Stunning renderings of what could be in our city. Very well done CuatrodeMayo.