Friends for a Better Boulevard

[Urban Pioneer]

I just posted to Facebook-

"OK Boulevarder's!. I spent this afternoon taking a nice visit out to the local Federal Highway Administration Office to bring you an official update!

Basically, we are waiting on ODOT not the FHWA. All four designs including a "no build" and "going back to the street grid" alternatives are still in the running.

ODOT has not completed detailed traffic analysis and design (before final design) for the final environmental review that the FHWA requires.

Because of FBB's and the broader public's efforts, the selection of which alternative will be prefaced by which alternative has the least environmental and socioeconomic impact.

While there is no firm date set, it was suggested to me that the submission and scoring of these various choices may occur this spring. Ideally, one of the options would rise to the top.

There were some suggestions as to how FBB may continue to assist in the process. I will be going over the details with Bob and the team to see how FBB may proceed in the next few months."


Btw- you can join Friends for a Better Boulevard here- https://www.facebook.com/groups/BetterBoulevard

[Spartan]

Sounds almost encouraging. Can't wait to see how ODOT will lie like with rail ROW to Tulsa.

[Urban Pioneer]

Well, it comes down to how badly they can skew traffic modeling to get or "get close" to the option that they want. But they have much more difficulty with the "socioeconomic" angles and so forth.

I would recommend those who care about this issue to renew writing letters directly to the FHWA that pinpoint specific arguments. I am writing one about the impacts to Santa Fe Station and pedestrian connectivity under the Bouelvard into Bricktown for example.

There are many, many angles that one could take in arguing for the street grid or a lessser impact design. Writing about connectivity between the new MAPS 3 Park and Convention Center for example.

[CuatrodeMayo]

Thanks for the update, UP!

[Urban Pioneer]

Np. Maybe we should have an FBB meeting and letter writing event. Anybody up for participating in such an event?

[CuatrodeMayo]

Yea. Count me in, of course.

[betts]

LA Times

Sigh. How do we make city staff and ODOT understand the people are more important than cars?

[CaptDave]

Is a roundabout possible despite conventional "wisdom"? I would like to know the vehicle counts at the LA project.

City says Boyle Heights traffic roundabout is moving in the right direction | The Eastsider LA

[Just the facts]

If any of you have seen the movie Small Soldiers and found yourself falling in love with the idyllic small town portrayed in the movie, you would be surprised to know that the town square/traffic circle where the toy store was located is actually the LA basin community of Orange, CA. Check it out on GoogleEarth.

[OKVision4U]

With the upcoming developments at the Lumber Yard, what is the timeline of our fine BLVD ? ...this is not the chicken and the egg scenario, it is critical to get this in ASAP.

[Plutonic Panda]

It would be nice to have this sooner rather than later. I'd opt for a divided six lane blvd. with a street car and very wide sidewalks with a 35mph speed limit.

[LakeEffect]

It would be nice to have this sooner rather than later. I'd opt for a divided six lane blvd. with a street car and very wide sidewalks with a 35mph speed limit.

No.

No.

No.

Need I go on?

[LakeEffect]

With the upcoming developments at the Lumber Yard, what is the timeline of our fine BLVD ? ...this is not the chicken and the egg scenario, it is critical to get this in ASAP.

No, it's critical to get it (whatever it is) done right, not fast.

[Spartan]

With the upcoming developments at the Lumber Yard, what is the timeline of our fine BLVD ? ...this is not the chicken and the egg scenario, it is critical to get this in ASAP.

What upcoming developments? When is this developments you speak of coming up?

If you build the boulevard plutonic suggests, there will be nothing. This is critical because it's one of the last remaining spots we haven't compromised and can still have world class.

[OKVision4U]

No, it's critical to get it (whatever it is) done right, not fast.

I want it done "Right" too, but it doesn't take 1 - 2 years to decide that. It doesn't take 6 months to design our "options". Again, I want the Best in Design / World Class. I want a Blvd we can all be proud of w/ High Design / Walkability / Beautiful. I want a Blvd that is 25 mph.

But, we can't wait 2 years for this...it is holding things up.

( Note: I'm not for anything that has ODOT stamped on it in any way. )

[Spartan]

I want it done "Right" too, but it doesn't take 1 - 2 years to decide that. It doesn't take 6 months to design our "options". Again, I want the Best in Design / World Class. I want a Blvd we can all be proud of w/ High Design / Walkability / Beautiful. I want a Blvd that is 25 mph.

But, we can't wait 2 years for this...it is holding things up.

( Note: I'm not for anything that has ODOT stamped on it in any way. )

Get on the phone with FTA and your legislator and ODOT then and ask them what the hold up is. The city has organized and clearly offered the best way to go forward here, the holdup truly is perplexing.

[OKVision4U]

Get on the phone with FTA and your legislator and ODOT then and ask them what the hold up is. The city has organized and clearly offered the best way to go forward here, the holdup truly is perplexing.

Here is my solution, let's hold Ms. Fallin responsible for the results. This is one she needs to "push through / expedite" and make sure this is the Best in Design / World Class. She needs to push this through and hand it off to Mr. Cornett.

This is the dumbest "OKIE" position to have. We can't decide on ( Where we are going to pour concrete? ....where are we going to place the planters? ....what signage is needed? )

Ms. Fallin needs to hand-carry this through w/ Mr. Cornett at the same time. We need to get out of our own way and get it done.If you get it done correctly, then we will name the Blvd ( Fallin Blvd / Cornett Blvd ). This is Billions of dollars you are holding up. This is jobs, jobs, jobs.

[Spartan]

Here is my solution, let's hold Ms. Fallin responsible for the results. This is one she needs to "push through / expedite" and make sure this is the Best in Design / World Class. She needs to push this through and hand it off to Mr. Cornett.

This is the dumbest "OKIE" position to have. We can't decide on ( Where we are going to pour concrete? ....where are we going to place the planters? ....what signage is needed? )

Ms. Fallin needs to hand-carry this through w/ Mr. Cornett at the same time. We need to get out of our own way and get it done.If you get it done correctly, then we will name the Blvd ( Fallin Blvd / Cornett Blvd ). This is Billions of dollars you are holding up. This is jobs, jobs, jobs.

Huh?

[David]

Don't try to make sense of anything Vision posts, that way lies madness.

[OKVision4U]

Huh?

when both sides blame the other side for the delays. Bottleneck. Politics.

[OKVision4U]

Don't try to make sense of anything Vision posts, that way lies madness.

...David, I will go slower for you. You may need to push your desk up to the front of the class & pay closer attention.

[OKVision4U]

Don't try to make sense of anything Vision posts, that way lies madness.

Or, they are someone / group that chooses to argue against a POV just because they don't like the messenger. Republicans vs. Dems. City vs. State. etc.

If politics is your answer for a solution, then you are part of the problem.

[David]

...David, I will go slower for you. You may need to push your desk up to the front of the class & pay closer attention.

Like I said in the Braums thread, I never put anyone on ignore just in case I ever miss anything useful out of them, so I can assure you that I have in fact been paying attention.

Hope springs eternal.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

[Plutonic Panda]

No.

No.

No.

Need I go on?

you didn't even need to say it man.

[Plutonic Panda]

What upcoming developments? When is this developments you speak of coming up?

If you build the boulevard plutonic suggests, there will be nothing. This is critical because it's one of the last remaining spots we haven't compromised and can still have world class.

how do you figure? There are tons of six lane divided corridors around the world that have massive new developments and are thriving with people walking every which way.