OKC Trails Network

[king183]

I recently started cycling and use the trails multiple times a week. These trails are an amazing asset to our city. They’re safe, scenic, and fun. So, thanks to all who had a part in making these a reality. I think it would be awesome if we could connect the trails all the way to Norman and beyond.

This weekend I tried (and succeeded) going on my longest ride of 30+ miles and I ran into the problem mentioned above. Once I got to the north part of Overholser, I didn’t know where to go to continue toward Hefner. I stopped at the Wildlife Refuge, but it wasn’t clear if I had gone too far or if I missed a turn, so I think better signage there would be great. [EDIT: Looking at the city’s trail map now, it looks like I stopped and turned around exactly where I should have turned right on NW 50th and then briefly taken Council Rd north and then along the canal.)

Still, these trails are amazing and I’m very happy OKC has them. We need more of these types of options to get people active in the city.

[shawnw]

Would like to see connections to Arcadia and Thunderbird (and then Edmond [I know it's planned] and Norman do trails around those lakes), but would also like to see a connection to Guthrie but that's beyond our control there. IMO we could easily mimic what NW Arkansas has done with trails connecting several cities. All of that said, the supposed plan to make all of Rt 66 bike friendly throughout the entire state could do this but I'm not sure to what extent that will be.

[David]

I think this will look nice and will be a great enhancement to the trail network.

[CCOKC]

The city is in the process of a large wayfinding and signage project that is expected to be completed by Spring 2022. Hopefully, supply chain issues or cost overruns don't significantly delay it or scale it down (not saying I know of any issues for this project, but with current general market conditions, its always a concern).

Below is a link to the city’s Bike and Pedestrian News Bulletin (From May 2021) that discusses the project (not a ton of information, but there is a small rendering showing what the signage will look like). It looks like an impressive project that will greatly enhance the trail system!

https://content.govdelivery.com/acco...letins/2d9ce95

Thank you so much for posting this information. That signage is exactly what I was hoping for. And I got on the mailing list that I did not know existed!

[amocore]

Hello,

Do we know if the Katy trail on the NE of OKC has been reopened ?
The City website says it has been being resurfaced but there are hardly up to date.

[shawnw]

It's been open for quite some time. Rode it back in April and again this past weekend.

[shawnw]

Didn't stop to take a pic, but here's a super short vid of me riding by the new future signage at WRP.

[Plutonic Panda]

E bikes are cleared to use on trails and parks: https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3937/18

[shawnw]

Status update on Deep Fork Trail from NE OKC Town Hall

[Pete]

Plans are out to bid for the river trail extension which will tie in the existing trail that runs east to the boathouse district, all the way to the Katy Trail, almost completing a huge loop that would encompass Lake Overholser, Lake Hefner and the OK River.

This would be directly north of the First Americans Museum and OKANA, which would be connected through a proposed pedestrian bridge.

[BoulderSooner]

thanks Pete

[SouthSide]

Sadly Ward 5 has no trails. The promised trail in Map 3 has not been built and apparently the city has no plan to complete the southern portion of the outer trail ring.

[shawnw]

The cycling advocates among us will not stop fighting for more, including the south side...

[SouthSide]

The cycling advocates among us will not stop fighting for more, including the south side...

It will be quite a battle given the AIrport trail was listed as a project in MAPS 3 and the committe chose to disregard it and spend the funds elsewhere.

[shawnw]

NEW CITY TRAILS AND OTHER ENHANCEMENTS PROGRESSING
https://www.velocityokc.com/blog/ins...s-progressing/

[David]

Wenger believes the biggest single impact for trail users will be the wayfinding system mentioned earlier. New signage will have smart phone capability that will allow trail users to track and find nearby locations when they are on the trail. The signage has yet to be erected on any existing trail, but Lake Hefner will be the first trail system in the city to see the technology integrated into the signage system, Wenger said. New mileage markers will also be installed on the trails

Interesting, I wonder how that will work.

[Plutonic Panda]

Wow that article says all of the better streets safer city projects will be U/C or complete by 2022. I didn’t realize the initiative was that far along. Where has the time gone?

Any word on the NWE overpass?

PS, I wonder if the tax will be extended or if the RTA tax vote will come along the same time the current Better Streets tax expires. That would make sense to play it safe.

[shawnw]

that tax took over where MAP3 left off, and ended when MAP4 took over. There's nothing to extend really. Tax collection stopped end of March I believe (since MAPS4 collection started 1 April).

RTA vote is not close so far as I can tell. I think they're working on federal funding first before asking citizens for a vote so they will know how much to ask for/what's needed. Total guess on my part.

[AnguisHerba]

It’s somewhat confusing and misleading. Better Streets Safer City is really a program with three different funding sources. There’s the permanent 1/4 cent sales tax for more police officers and fire fighters. There the temporary 3/4 cent sales tax extension (of the original MAPS 3 one cent tax) for streets, trails, sidewalks, etc., and then there’s the 10 year general obligation funds.

I would have to think that, in the article, Wegener says all projects should be under construction by 2022, he is actually talking about any project partially or completely funded by the 3/4 cent extension. There’s a lot of projects funded by just the bond proceeds and those won’t be started and completed for a long time. Ideally 2028 but we are still wrapping up the last of the previous 10 year bond package too. The reason I know this is because my whole neighborhood is supposed to have its streets resurfaced through the BSSC program and it’s definitely not starting in 2022 lol

[Jersey Boss]

It will be quite a battle given the AIrport trail was listed as a project in MAPS 3 and the committe chose to disregard it and spend the funds elsewhere.

Wait, you mean the credibility of future MAPS programs should be questioned? I thought that was a selling point at the voting booth.

[shawnw]

non-big-ticket/non-chamber-fave items are expendable

especially if bike/ped/transit

[SouthSide]

Wait, you mean the credibility of future MAPS programs should be questioned? I thought that was a selling point at the voting booth.

Well, I think the larger issue is that there was only one resident from south OKC on the Maps 3 sub-committees and it showed. There were only two southside projects in Maps 3, both of which were held until the end of Maps 3. The city clearly has no plans to complete the AIrport (now Lariat Trail) since the funds were diverted.

Maps projects have almost exclusively benefited north of the river. South OKC is the Underfunded and Underserved District as a direct result of the continued neglect of the city officials.

[Zuplar]

At this point if the city would just mow along 240 regularly and clean up the trash, I'd be happy. It would at least be an improvement.

[SouthSide]

At this point if the city would just mow along 240 regularly and clean up the trash, I'd be happy. It would at least be an improvement.

Even when they do mow it leaves a lot to be desired. Calling the action center sometimes helps. Demanding more is the only way things will every improve.

[Rover]

Well, I think the larger issue is that there was only one resident from south OKC on the Maps 3 sub-committees and it showed. There were only two southside projects in Maps 3, both of which were held until the end of Maps 3. The city clearly has no plans to complete the AIrport (now Lariat Trail) since the funds were diverted.

Maps projects have almost exclusively benefited north of the river. South OKC is the Underfunded and Underserved District as a direct result of the continued neglect of the city officials.

Downtown projects are neither Northside or Southside. The idea that downtown is owned by the north is absurd and divisive. After we factor out the downtown projects, how were the projects split?