Mini High Line Park for Deep Deuce?

[Pete]

The conversion of an elevated railroad track to High Line park in Manhattan has been discussed on numerous threads here, including the possibility of doing something similar on the old I-40.

How about using the abandoned tressle near the Clark Building for a mini-version of this?

It could tie into the small park where Oklahoma dead-ends in Deep Deuce and could be a very cool urban spot, with great views.

The people that renovated the Clark might not be thrilled but does anyone know other reasons this wouldn't work?

[HangryHippo]

I can see this working marvelously. Unfortunately, I can also see the railroad playing obstructionist... I really love the idea though.

[Pete]

Urban Pioneer may tell us that this rail ROW is needed for future transit plans.

[BoulderSooner]

Urban Pioneer may tell us that this rail ROW is needed for future transit plans.

it 100% will be .. what will happen sooner rather than later is a south leg coming off that line next to the hightower building connecting to the sante fe station that will be used for the NE line and the future Midwest city line

[OKCisOK4me]

Yes...this is the line that goes to Tinker and the Adventure District. No Highline Park for this trestle.

[BoulderSooner]

interesting. The way it is angled though, doesn't it need a south "bend" as well? Or do they just go past it and back up if they are coming from the south?

right that is what i was trying to say ... it will need a south bend the maps 3 street car/transit consultant is going to look at what land would be required to make that happen

[Spartan]

This could be a good placeholder for a few decades while we're waiting for HSR

[BoulderSooner]

This could be a good placeholder for a few decades while we're waiting for HSR

this will be used long before HSR this will be used for our regional rail .. that i would bet we have at least a start in the next 10 years

[Spartan]

Well that will utilize the same track as the adventure line which must be stalled??? I have no idea where that stands.

But I'm afraid our shot at a mini High Line has already been demolished...

[Urbanized]

It's still used occasionally as a siding.

[OKCisOK4me]

All this time I assumed it was that E/W line that goes just north of Shields that would serve the Adventure District.

The line I believe you're referring to (behind Union Station) ties into the same yard and gains the same access, bit that line has no direct access to the Santa Fe station--which this one does. The only other line that Shields crosses over is south of the river, which goes over the river via the BNSF bridge and then north of Pull-A-Part before crossing back over the river to its south bank again. That line crisscrosses the UP line further east but would only allow access to Tinker.

[OKCisOK4me]

Yes sir! I always enjoy dishing out rail information :-)

[Urban Pioneer]

Urban Pioneer may tell us that this rail ROW is needed for future transit plans.

It is needed. At least the location itself will be needed should there be trains going directly from Tinker to Edmond in the future that do not need to go through the transit hub. And yes a southbound ramp is needed even more so as well to connect that alignment with the Santa-Fe Intermodal Transit Hub.

BUT... You could do a High Line parallel to the tracks and effectively connect Santa-Fe Station to Deep Deuce through a very effective pedestrian corridor. I'd say there is a REAL opportunity there to create a major "pedestrian way" at Oklahoma Avenue that parallels the ramp and has a cantilevered public deck abutting the Eastern wall of the N/S BNSF tracks. With a effective fence/glass wall/landscape barrier separating people from the tracks that could be a very useful connection to Santa-Fe Station, Bricktown, and even ultimately the river trails.

Right now MAPS 3 monies are being expended to study this alignment in order to properly approach Union Pacific about acquisition. So its not out of the question ultimately. If there was enough citizen support for it, it could easily be financed through MAPS 4 or something like that.

[Urban Pioneer]

Just sent Pete a image of the "Phase 3" complete build out of the system in this area. Interestingly, while I stated above the existing trestle was needed, it is not clearly reflected that way on the study image itself and there is very little verbiage about it via a search of my computer on those issues. So maybe it isn't "mission critical".

Will look into it more. I've walked up there many times and taken pictures. Will try to dig some up.

[Pete]

Here's the image UP referenced.

[CaptDave]

I always assumed that trestle - or at least that path - would be part of a wye connecting the north - south line to the Adventure/Tinker lines. It looks like there is a path between a couple buildings for the south leg over the parking lot now.

[OKCisOK4me]

I'm assuming the four green Astrix looking things (three on the west side of the tracks and one on the east side) are not palm trees, so if that is true then what do they represent? Thanks. That looks amazing! If you were to have a hot Edmond/Tinker connection, then the trestle would be of value.

[catch22]

I believe those are pedestrian access points for the hub.

[OKCisOK4me]

dup

[OKCisOK4me]

I believe those are pedestrian access points for the hub.

ah ha!

[Just the facts]

Why is there a near constant movement in OKC to separate people on multiple horizontal planes? Why can't people simply use the same horizontal plane that businesses and other people are on? Getting a pedestrian from point A to point B as fast as possible by elevating them above the realm of economic activity is no better than getting a car from point A to point B by removing it from the realm of economic activity. We need pedestrain freeways like we need a hole in the head. I mean, I totally understand why a traffic engineer would suggest something like that, but why would anyone else? Here is this great urban environment with social interaction, ecomomic life, smart design, etc... but then move the pedestrians 20 feet above it.

[BoulderSooner]

what are you talking about??

[hoya]

what are you talking about??

He means the tunnels under the city. We don't have enough pedestrian traffic downtown right now. There aren't enough people milling about to create the "downtown feel" that other cities have. Part of the reason is because we have an entire second set of streets, effectively, running underground that people take so they don't have to go outside. He is irritated that now we are proposing a second walkway that will have pedestrians walking above the street as well.

[Just the facts]

I'm talking about the notion of creating an elevated walkway between Deep Deuce and the Santa Fe hub that parallels the railroad tracks. This is also related to skywalks and the Conncourse.

Thanks hoyasooner - that is it exactly.

[Rover]

I'm talking about the notion of creating an elevated walkway between Deep Deuce and the Santa Fe hub that parallels the railroad tracks. This is also related to skywalks and the Conncourse.

Thanks hoyasooner - that is it exactly.

People don't take the High Line in NYC as a faster or more convenient walkway. It is a landscaped get-a-way from the crowded streets which has great views and is somewhat above the noise of the street level. It is like a park, not an expressway. It is not like the tunnel in any way. People go up to the High Line and sit on the benches, mosey along, and meet others. All life doesn't have to happen in front of a drug store or mini-mart. If your argument is that we have too many places for that activity now, then perhaps. But you can't just elevate parks and get the same views.