Comments on: Guest Blog: Ed Shadid

By: A Garden Rather Than A Boulevard | OKCITIAN

A Garden Rather Than A Boulevard | OKCITIAN — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:19:41 +0000

[...] good, as far as it goes, but it is also illustrative of a certain failure of imagination. With some exceptions, the debate on the boulevard was always over the question: what kind of road should we build? And, [...]

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:37:24 +0000

I have been grossly uninformed. This discussion is the fuel for a better community and I appreciate everyone making efforts to work towards the goal of a better community. Thank you to all, both sides, for working through this with the goal of strengthening our community. Thank you Steve for courageously “stirring the pot”. (wouldn’t want this soup to burn!)

By: dustbury.com » But hey, at least it’s expensive

dustbury.com » But hey, at least it’s expensive — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:34:35 +0000

[...] Much as I hate to say so, it’s not the only such place. [...]

By: DH

DH — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 21:30:58 +0000

An at grade boulevard would spur economic development, bring in property tax, bring in sales tax, increase sense of community, a flyover in the air would not help any of these. The county and city should fight hard for short and long term economic reasons including cheaper to maintain. Let’s all fight to avert the 40 year mistake….again.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:58:08 +0000

Build the Boulevard at ground level and designate it or part of it as a gambling district. Extend the trolly to the boulevard.
Perfect location running along I-40 to draw tourists.
Investors will build hotels, casinos and intertaiment options.
Just build the road, extend the trolly and make the designation. That’s all you will have to do.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:45:23 +0000

First let me say… Keep up the good work, Ed! I recently took a photo similar to the above (people crossing Hudson Ave). I had hoped to upload it here, but it’s of a man in a motorized wheelchair going against traffic along Northwest Expressway. I’ve thought for some time that there should be a sidewalk or bike path along NW Expressway. It would be great to have a bike-able path from Lake Hefner and NW OKC to downtown (maybe via NW 50th then Shartel). Residents downtown and north of downtown could bike to Lake Hefner, the Belle Isle Library, and May/Penn shopping and restaurants. Ambitious cyclists could even commute to downtown from much of northwest OKC. Anyhow, I know you’re a very busy man, but I just thought I’d throw the idea out there.

Thanks!

Rob

By: David

David — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:30:23 +0000

I think they should change to the Oklahoma Department Of Roads – ODOR. Something smells over there…..

By: O. G. Poole

O. G. Poole — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:56:32 +0000

I APPLAUD THE WORK OF DR. SHADID. HE IS A RARE BREED IN A DAY OF CORRUPTION GONE WILD!

ODOT should change its name to ODOH. Its prime mission is to keep its favored contractors busy and making money. Anyone who doubts this is naive. But ODOT maintains super political strength just as some of the Nation’s defense contractors: By having parts manufactured in every major portion of the state, especially those counties that are home to various committee chairs. ODOT directs where money goes in political campaigns by telling their contractors who to support or work against. Those politicians who agree to do ODOT’s bidding, get the support for their campaigns. Slick huh? So anyone who has political aspirations should be aware for the multi-ton gorilla they must deal with. Before the relocated Crosstown was ever finalized, Governors Frank Keating and Brad Henry were both begged to hold hearings on the wisdom of the planned route and to save Union Station’s railyard. Both refused to talk, much less act in any manner to address concerns.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:07:49 +0000

Excellent post. I’m looking forward to the other side’s response.

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:50:55 +0000

The new road may pay for itself if you do it right the first time.
Better to delay it if you have to than to end up using space to only move cars through the area without using ALL the space possible to make money, improve quality of life and generate more tax revenue which could pay for the road.
Look at the road as a money making machine. Just moving cars through the area to get from point A to point B only moves cars and will take more money to maintain.