Friends for a Better Boulevard

[Just the facts]

You got it right Travellers. It just so happens those in power right now happen to be baby-boomers. Alas, Rover just sits around and waits to be offended. It is probably a generational thing. The good news is he is cyber-stalking me so he doesn't have to wait long.

[Plutonic Panda]

that ad is hilarious

[LakeEffect]

Steve's opinion piece from today: Decision nears on downtown Oklahoma City boulevard's design | News OK

One telling quote: "The boulevard options, meanwhile, also still have freeway-style ramps instead of intersections planned at Shartel and Dewey avenues, even as development continues to creep closer to the future road. Taylor said those ramps could be changed in the future to crossings if later needed."

[okclee]

I drove on the west end this past Saturday. I was driving with my 6 yr old son and he asked "Is this a new highway?", I said "no it's not supposed to be", My son replied "It looks like a highway, it has ramps like the highway too".

[betts]

Steve's opinion piece from today: Decision nears on downtown Oklahoma City boulevard's design | News OK

One telling quote: "The boulevard options, meanwhile, also still have freeway-style ramps instead of intersections planned at Shartel and Dewey avenues, even as development continues to creep closer to the future road. Taylor said those ramps could be changed in the future to crossings if later needed."

What is the benefit of a ramp now that justifies building them? These engineers blithely throw out the idea of tearing them out later, without acknowledging that taxpayer money will build them and it would take taxpayer money to tear them out. If he is suggesting they could nr torn out, he is scknowledging that they may not be mecessary. They are so used to spending billions of dollars that they have lost sight of where that money comes from and that they should be good stewards of our money.

[OKVision4U]

Planning is NOT what engineers do best. They just need to stay in the "back room of design" and let us know if the design can handle the weight load. Money is certainly not their thing.

Taylor, this has got to be one of the "Dumbest" Okie moves I have seen in a while. Build it twice, tear it out again? We move I-40 a couple of blocks to the south to open it up and bring in a boulevard, and then Taylor says to add ramps now & do-it-again and then tear it out again, and then build AGAIN? .... Wow.

Who gave this guy Taylor the ability to make decisions? Engineers need to make recommendations, not decisions. This is what we call YEARS lost of Economic Gain!!!!!!!!!!!

Texas can figure it out, how come we can't Ms. Fallin ?

[Anonymous.]

Bad timing for this, or perhaps good?

People will be down there for Thunder game @ 8:30. PLEASE stop by and voice support for the grid. We have one legitimate shot at this, and we are going to go with designs that were mocked up 15 years ago? Anyone with the smallest pint of common sense knows how much this city and this AREA specifically has changed in even 5 years, to continue with a one-track mind from over a decade ago is a slap in the face to tax payers in OKC.

I will try my best to go by here on the way to the game. Man, how I wished more people in OKC cared/realized the importance of this decision.

[Just the facts]

Steve's opinion piece from today: Decision nears on downtown Oklahoma City boulevard's design | News OK

One telling quote: "The boulevard options, meanwhile, also still have freeway-style ramps instead of intersections planned at Shartel and Dewey avenues, even as development continues to creep closer to the future road. Taylor said those ramps could be changed in the future to crossings if later needed."

The future called - it said ODOT wasn't invited.

[jn1780]

But if city residents and leaders were to press for a restoration of the street grid instead of a boulevard in the area, that funding is not assured.

Thats stupid government for you either you build the more expensive highway or they won't fund the far cheaper grid option. I say the city should just give ODOT and the Federal Highway Administration the finger and just gradually improve the grid throughout years. It's not like there isn't a grid already there.

[Just the facts]

The no-build option (with finger extended) seems like the best possible solution right now. Maybe we need to contact Congressmen and Senators in other states to see if they want the funding we are willing to give up. There were no shortage of states willing to take funds Florida turned down for HSR.

[Spartan]

It sounds like they have not heard any of the public input.

[Just the facts]

It sounds like they have not heard any of the public input.

They heard it, they just don't care.

[HangryHippo]

And who in the hell decided to have the open house the same night of the Thunder playoff game? I mean there may be lots of people down there, but something tells me not for the boulevard open house.

[dankrutka]

So, can OKCTalk actually mobilize to address the issue? Go to the OKDOT downtown boulevard open house at the Cox Convention Center from 6-8pm tonight with free parkin at Santa Fe garage for attendees. It's right before the game too.

[catch22]

And who in the hell decided to have the open house the same night of the Thunder playoff game? I mean there may be lots of people down there, but something tells me not for the boulevard open house.

You really think they want to be embarrassed again like their first meeting?

[dankrutka]

It seems a few signs informing citizens of the issue might bring in some people...

[Just the facts]

Just put up some signs that read "Pre-game Thunder Player Meet and Greet" and direct them to the ODOT room.

[betts]

The Vancouver city planner speaking in the Mayor's Devrlopment Roundtable today said it is absolutely critical that it not be a highway. He said it needs to be a means of connection, not division, and it should be more like the 19th century concept of a boulevard.

[catch22]

^^

Well gersh darnit -- we aint gun have none of that Canadian style cities here. This is Merica. Them commies up north can keep their derned bike lanes.

[Just the facts]

The Vancouver city planner speaking in the Mayor's Devrlopment Roundtable today said it is absolutely critical that it not be a highway. He said it needs to be a means of connection, not division, and it should be more like the 19th century concept of a boulevard.

Did you know that Vancouver is the largest city in NA that doesn't have a downtown freeway. Of course, ODOT would say, "See, he has no idea what he is talking about.", and therein lies our problem. We are trying to build a high-density walkable city and ODOT is still trying to build a low-density automobile city. We have, not just different, but opposite goals and objectives.

[Snowman]

The Vancouver city planner speaking in the Mayor's Devrlopment Roundtable today said it is absolutely critical that it not be a highway. He said it needs to be a means of connection, not division, and it should be more like the 19th century concept of a boulevard.

Which goes nicely with what Jeff Speck said like five to ten years ago. I hope they just connect it to California, redo the California/Classen intersection and then focus on making the 3rd an actual Boulevard.

[shawnw]

I'm not sure "no build" is an option any longer since the west portion is built and the east portion is well underway...

I've been tweeting, I posted on nextdoor.com and I posted on the urbanneighbors.org. I plan on tweeting again here in a bit.

[jn1780]

I'm not sure "no build" is an option any longer since the west portion is built and the east portion is well underway...

I've been tweeting, I posted on nextdoor.com and I posted on the urbanneighbors.org. I plan on tweeting again here in a bit.

Sure it is. Just connect the west end to California and have the east end connect to 3rd street.

[shawnw]

I get that it's technically possible. I just meant so much as been spent on those ends that it's kind of a lot for "roads to nowhere" vs not having done anything at all and calling it good. Someone at ODOT may not be willing to let "nothing" happen because they may be accountable to the feds now that they've spent so much money.

[Snowman]

I get that it's technically possible. I just meant so much as been spent on those ends that it's kind of a lot for "roads to nowhere" vs not having done anything at all and calling it good. Someone at ODOT may not be willing to let "nothing" happen because they may be accountable to the feds now that they've spent so much money.

As long as both sides connect to the downtown grid who outside of OKC is going to make a big deal, it went somewhere. In a lot of ways building it as a quasi-highway is worse than a road to nowhere; it costs more both to build and maintain, is generally slower than just getting on i40 even if just going an exit or two, plus it can pretty much knock billions off what could be built downtown.