Yet Another Update on the One Way Street Conversions
As noted by frequent OKC Central contributor Dennis Wells in a comment on yesterday’s blog post, the city has shifted its response on the street conversions. Assistant City Manager Dennis Clowers reports that the Project 180 contract will include money for complete conversion of Walker Avenue to two-way traffic after all – and that it will be done this year.
Clowers reports no change in plans, however, for Hudson Avenue. More studies and evaluations on funding, etc., are said to be needed before the section between Robert S. Kerr Avenue and NW 6 can be converted to two-way traffic. This means visitors are likely to encounter a two-way, one-way, two-way traffic pattern along the street from Interstate 40 to NW 6 until the city addresses this matter. I will remind readers, the city council instructed the public works department to begin conversions of one-way downtown streets to two-way traffic in 1999 – which was 13 years ago.
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From the City’s site giving the job description of the City Manager:
The City Manager coordinates and directs City activities, carries out policies set by the City Council and exercises control over all aspects of employment of City employees except those appointed by the City Council.
Who has been the City Manager for the vast majority of those 13 years since the Council directed the Public Works Dept that he oversees? None other than Jim Couch who was appointed to that position in November 9, 2000. He was the “Assistant City Manager/MAPS Director for 2 1/2 years” before that. That pretty much covers it doesn’t it?
Where is my copy of Suburban Nation when I need it. Most traffic engineers aren’t programmed to reduce speed and cut road capacity. All they want to do is move cars from A to B as fast as the drivers are willing to go. If downtown OKC was full of two way streets and the command was give to convert them all to one way it would be done in 6 months.