Friends for a Better Boulevard

[Praedura]

I think we have this "what should the new boulevard be called" thingy going on in about ten different threads!

Anyway, I'll add my +1 for Ackerman Blvd.

[catcherinthewry]

The consultant has submitted 3 alternatives and the council has been briefed. The consultant is going to tweak the proposals and return for public input. From what I hear the consultants feel a roundabout won't work because of the volume of traffic but it hasn't been rejected all together.

[ljbab728]

The consultant has submitted 3 alternatives and the council has been briefed. The consultant is going to tweak the proposals and return for public input. From what I hear the consultants feel a roundabout won't work because of the volume of traffic but it hasn't been rejected all together.

Yeah!!!!!

[kevinpate]

so the consultants hired by folks who weren't crazy about a roundabout are themselves not crazy about a roundabout. Excuse me while I dig out a box of crayons and color myself a pastel shade of surprised.

[ljbab728]

Count me in as pleasantly surprised if that happens. There have better alternatives presented and as I have said many times previously some people are just enamoured about the idea and look of a roundabout whether it works or not.

[BoulderSooner]

there were more than 3 options created ..

[Just the facts]

Shocking isn't it. We can't have a roundabout because it will make cars slow down. That seems like sound reasoning (sarcasm).

[CaptDave]

a LOT more than 3 options were studied....the majority of which were eliminated quickly. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing about the options presented. I will be quite pleased as long as the darn street is kept on the ground. Removing the street in the sky was my primary goal - this is the only way I can see the Farmer's Market area having a legitimate chance to really come to life. The industrial / commercial businesses in that area make valuable contributions to the OKC economy (and no one wants to run them out), but I hope to see the FM area become another must see OKC destination and eventually be a link between downtown and the Stockyards.

[BoulderSooner]

100% agree capt Dave ..

[OKCisOK4me]

Yeah!!!!!

I think you meant to put YAY!!!!!

[ljbab728]

I think you meant to put YAY!!!!!

I appreciate your imput but I know what I meant to say. LOL

[CuatrodeMayo]

Roundabout or no roundabout, any option that puts in the road at grade is a complete win in my book.

[OKCisOK4me]

I appreciate your imput but I know what I meant to say. LOL

O.k. Ok okay okaaaay

[kevinpate]

just noticed that no one has indicated ... do any of the three alternatives presented have the road at grade?

[CuatrodeMayo]

From Ed Shadid on the Friends for a Better Boulevard page:

Please save the date: November 27th at 6pm will be the date and time of the public meeting to review the recommendation of the Stantec firm for the new Boulevard. Place to be determined.

[jn1780]

just noticed that no one has indicated ... do any of the three alternatives presented have the road at grade?

If there isn't then the only thing they have been doing is coming up with different buffalo designs that will go on the side of the viaduct.

[Pete]

Here is what I'm hearing from someone in the know:

• The city has narrowed down the options that Stantec submitted to 4.
• The only difference between the 4 is at the intersection of Western and the boulevard:
  1. Bridge over Western
  2. Bridge over the boulevard with the boulevard being lowered 14 ft.
  3. Conventional intersection
  4. Roundabout
• The following is included in each option: Western is closed between Sheridan and the boulevard, Classen is rerouted between Sheridan and Reno to where Western and Reno used to intersect, Exchange is closed between 3rd and Reno.
• On the boulevard there are on/off ramps at Klein and an intersection at Reno.
• No option has been selected yet and there is no guarantee that the state will build whichever option the city selects.

[Spartan]

Are those in any particular order Pete?

[Pete]

Are those in any particular order Pete?

No.

[Plutonic Panda]

I vote for the roundabout so people don't use this as a through street. I think this should be a low speed, extra pedestrian and bicycle friendly, and beautiful new road for Oklahoma City. (This coming from someone who like speed and cars) BTW.. So what if accumulates a little traffic. I think in this particular area it would be good to see some traffic. It could kinda be like the Hollywood BLVD. for OKC. Just my thoughts though.

[jn1780]

Here is what I'm hearing from someone in the know:

• The city has narrowed down the options that Stantec submitted to 4.
• The only difference between the 4 is at the intersection of Western and the boulevard:
  1. Bridge over Western
  2. Bridge over the boulevard with the boulevard being lowered 14 ft.
  3. Conventional intersection
  4. Roundabout
• The following is included in each option: Western is closed between Sheridan and the boulevard, Classen is rerouted between Sheridan and Reno to where Western and Reno used to intersect, Exchange is closed between 3rd and Reno.
• On the boulevard there are on/off ramps at Klein and an intersection at Reno.
• No option has been selected yet and there is no guarantee that the state will build whichever option the city selects.

So if im visualizing this correctly Classen becomes Western after passing Sheridan and their simplfying the interchange at Reno and Western by removing exchange? The only wild card being how Western/Classen crosses the boulevard.

I know a lot of people will be upset about Exchange being closed at Reno. Might as well have a conventional interchange at Western/Classen and the boulevard if they end up doing this.

[Snowman]

I would almost put money on it ending up number one. Two is the practically the same effects as one but will likely cost more. Four seems like a very low percentage since ODOT and city engineers seemed pretty cold to the idea of a roundabout. Three maybe but I am guessing that with all the street closures in the area it would have had some lobbying against it.

[Just the facts]

They should just put the grid back in and call it a day.

[CuatrodeMayo]

Here is what I'm hearing from someone in the know:

• The city has narrowed down the options that Stantec submitted to 4.
• The only difference between the 4 is at the intersection of Western and the boulevard:
  1. Bridge over Western
  2. Bridge over the boulevard with the boulevard being lowered 14 ft.
  3. Conventional intersection
  4. Roundabout
• The following is included in each option: Western is closed between Sheridan and the boulevard, Classen is rerouted between Sheridan and Reno to where Western and Reno used to intersect, Exchange is closed between 3rd and Reno.
• On the boulevard there are on/off ramps at Klein and an intersection at Reno.
• No option has been selected yet and there is no guarantee that the state will build whichever option the city selects.

This sounds like 1 option with 4 variations, rather than 4 different options.

I don't see the advantage of option 1 vs. 2. I wouldn't be surprised if option 2 was a no-go due to water table issues.

I'm a fan of the Western-to-Classen connection. How would that street intersect with the boulevard?

Exchange ending at 3rd doesn't bother me too much. I would hope there would be some special termination at the Farmer's Market.

EDIT: Unless someone beats me to it, I'll try to draw up what Pete posted.

[LandRunOkie]

If there isn't then the only thing they have been doing is coming up with different buffalo designs that will go on the side of the viaduct.

And what a bunch of politically motivated nostalgia the buffalo are. As if to please the human buffaloes among us. I've looked far and wide in this state and never seen a buffalo outside of a zoo... so what are they really meant to represent? Lack of progress?