Canal to River Connection

[Urbanized]

Did anyone even read the link I posted?

[Pete]

Did anyone even read the link I posted?

I don't see any posts from you in this thread...

Exactly what link??

[David]

This link posted here if I had to guess.

[Urbanized]

Oh yeah, you're right. Sorry, I was thinking this was the river development thread, where the link was also ignored (except by David. Thanks David).

[Larry OKC]

Read somewhere, maybe the DOK, that an agreement had been reached only for the duration of the Regatta.

Deal opens Bricktown Landing for Regatta Festival in Oklahoma City | News OK

Once the Regatta Festival ends, Bricktown Landing will close until the city and Union Pacific finalize a permanent deal to use the passageway beneath the railroad bridge.

and some other interesting background info I stumbled over, looking for the above link...
Canal link hits snag at tracks Initial waterway plan connected Bricktown to downtown area | News OK

[Pete]

Here are some photos I took the other day...

The first is the walk down from the large parking lot near the Land Run Monument.

The second is looking over the first set of barricades; those poles are actually LED light strips that look really slick at night.

And BTW, you can easily push past the barriers to make the crossing.

[bigjkt405]

I rode down there last evening and it looks nice. Can't wait until its officially open to ride all the way through on my bike.

[Pete]

It really is easy just to slide past the barriers, although you'd have to get off your bike.

It's really absurd that this is completely done, all lit up at night and there is this silly feud.

Here's hoping it gets resolved soon.

[Plutonic Panda]

I wonder if they could get you for trespassing? I don't care either way and I would still slip through, just curious as to the current situation. This is so stupid though...

[Pete]

There is absolutely nobody down there, especially near this underpass.

[Plutonic Panda]

There is absolutely nobody down there, especially near this underpass.

That sucks. . . I wonder how many people around downtown even know it is there.

[OKCisOK4me]

I wonder if they could get you for trespassing? I don't care either way and I would still slip through, just curious as to the current situation. This is so stupid though...

Trespassing under railroad property? I don't think so. On railroad property, yes. But how often do you see randoms walking down railroad tracks? Unless they post a guard that is certified by the railroad, I just don't think they can really do anything about it. Their right of way is what, forty feet wide? That whole structure is 200 feet? It's not like they can arrest you for being under I-40...

[Urbanized]

I still don't think anyone has bothered to read the 2005 story I posted a link to. So, with apologies to Steve (even though it is Bryan Dean's story), I am going to post the article in its entirety:

Bricktown bridge construction faces delay

Bryan Dean • Modified: September 6, 2005 at 12:00 am • Published: September 6, 2005

A fight between Oklahoma City and Union Pacific Railroad Co. could delay completion of the Walnut Avenue bridge, officials said.

The bridge, a major Bricktown entryway, was closed in August 2004 because it no longer was safe.

Repair work started in March after Allen Contracting won a $4.2 million contract from the city for renovations. The contract award was delayed because of the fight with Union Pacific. The dispute could force crews to halt construction if it is not resolved soon, City Engineer Paul Brum said.

The city wants Union Pacific to pay for part of the repairs. Craig Keith, a staff attorney for the city, said state law requires the railroad to pay at least half. The city and the railroad have not agreed on a split of the costs, and the city took the case before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

The city and the railroad also are at odds over the design of the bridge, and the railroad has refused to grant the city permission to build over the tracks. An attorney for the railroad said the city acted without consulting the railroad, leading to design flaws the city now wants to fix by reducing the amount of track available to the railroad.

An administrative law judge with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission denied the city's request for an order granting the city the right to complete the bridge as designed because of concerns clearance between the tracks and the bridge would not meet the 23 foot industry standard.

The city responded by developing a plan to relocate the tracks. The city allocated $1 million to move the track so that it would meet the clearance requirements.

Rob Hart, an attorney for Union Pacific, said the city's plan for the relocated track would eliminate a side track allowing cars to be added to a train.

"It's hard to switch cars on one track instead of two, Hart said.

Keith said the city offered to pay for additional work on the main line of track in exchange for relocating it and eliminating the side track.

[HangryHippo]

I still don't think anyone has bothered to read the 2005 story I posted a link to. So, with apologies to Steve (even though it is Bryan Dean's story), I am going to post the article in its entirety:

What point are you trying to make?

[OKCisOK4me]

I still don't think anyone has bothered to read the 2005 story I posted a link to. So, with apologies to Steve (even though it is Bryan Dean's story), I am going to post the article in its entirety:

Ya know, the only thing I see being switched under the Walnut Street bridge is where the grass grows over the tracks, lol. Union Pacific doesn't even use that portion of those tracks anymore so other than the "fight" they had with OKC in 2005 it seems to me they're holding a grudge against a federally approved alignment for the new I-40 that they just happen to share. They need to get over it as it's a vital connection. Not to mention this is under their tracks. Did they flip when OKC put in the Skydance Pedestrian Bridge? That's over their tracks...

[Urbanized]

What point are you trying to make?

If you can read that eight year old story involving the city and the same railroad and not see startling parallels and connections, I'm sorry, I can't help. People have been in this thread and the other thread desperately seeking explanations for what is happening here and expressing shock at the situation; I was only trying to help out.

[HangryHippo]

If you can read that eight year old story involving the city and the same railroad and not see startling parallels and connections, I'm sorry, I can't help. People have been in this thread and the other thread desperately seeking explanations for what is happening here and expressing shock at the situation; I was only trying to help out.

No need to be an ass. I was merely curious if your endless ranting about an article from eight years ago was meant to drum up a desired reaction other than thinking the railroad is difficult to work with.

[OKCisOK4me]

If you can read that eight year old story involving the city and the same railroad and not see startling parallels and connections, I'm sorry, I can't help. People have been in this thread and the other thread desperately seeking explanations for what is happening here and expressing shock at the situation; I was only trying to help out.

I had a good reply to your story and this reply still doesn't help me. Union Pacific should know they're still not building the Transcon to Utah. There doesn't need to be a fight.

[Urbanized]

No need to be an ass. I was merely curious if your endless ranting about an article from eight years ago was meant to drum up a desired reaction other than thinking the railroad is difficult to work with.

No need for namecalling. And it wasn't said with the intent to be an ass. I can't go into details. Read the article, make what you will of it.

[OKCisOK4me]

No need for namecalling. And it wasn't said with the intent to be an ass. I can't go into details. Read the article, make what you will of it.

Hi.

[Urbanized]

Hi.

What up!

[OKCisOK4me]

What up!

I think you missed my post #98. I made some valid points ;-)

[Urbanized]

I agree, you made some good points. I saw it, LOL.

[Plutonic Panda]

Trespassing under railroad property? I don't think so. On railroad property, yes. But how often do you see randoms walking down railroad tracks? Unless they post a guard that is certified by the railroad, I just don't think they can really do anything about it. Their right of way is what, forty feet wide? That whole structure is 200 feet? It's not like they can arrest you for being under I-40...

I hope not, either way I doubt they would do anything about it even if they could.

[catch22]

I just walked around that area.

It looks great, can't wait for it to be officially open. There is no one watching the underpass, so, while I am in no way encouraging trespassing nor admitting I did so myself, the barrier appears that it would be easy to slip by.

Some observations:

Signage
Needs signs. A prominent sign over the tunnel that says "Boathouse District" and on the reverse saying "Lower Bricktown". If I were a visitor I would have no idea what is on the other side of the tunnel. From the Bricktown side you can see the Boathouse District, but if you don't know about it, it looks like a sports field and a park is on the other side, since you cannot see the Boathouses or the river.

Need signs that point you to go vertical...i.e. where the Bricktown canal is. From the bottom looking up, again looks like it's just a park at the top of the hill. You don't know the canal and pathway to bricktown is above you. Need signs. You must assume that people do not know where things are. Assume everyone is a visitor. Pretend you are a visitor with no knowledge of the area, and try to figure out how to get around. Place signs where visitors would need them.

Pathways
The east pathway is very wide, the west pathway is about half the width of the east. The east pathway needs paint delineating a bike lane. It is wide enough to have paint on the ground indicating where the cyclists go, and where the pedestrian goes. This will encourage both cyclists and pedestrians to use the walkway because both know they belong and have their own space. It will reinforce the connection as not just a pathway, but as a designated route for people to flow between the two districts. The theme being: we want you to use this.

All of the other pathways are very wide, and very well done. I would also recommend a staircase that goes by the zig-zagging sidewalk that connects the canal to the river connection. The sidewalk zigzags to make the grade easy and accessible for everyone. But a staircase that bypasses that would be nice. Sometimes you don't want to zig-zag 5 times up a hill, and would rather a staircase.