More Alternatives to Building an Elevated Boulevard
I’ve written about Paul Ryckbost before – the engineer turned planner who left City Hall earlier this year after a very well respected run overseeing urban design committees and other planning matters. Paul, now free of the rules governing what planners can and can’t say, is weighing into the discussion of the boulevard and is offering his own suggested solution that involves creating boulevard entrances into downtown, but stops short of building a full boulevard alignment:
As many know, one key characteristic of the traditional street pattern in a downtown is a terminus; creating the special view that helps slow traffic and gives people a focal point. The east terminus in my proposal (which I’ve noted could be at two locations) would provide immediate access to downtown for westbound traffic. I personally prefer the “Alternate Termination” point, as I’ve labeled it, because it would focus people on the park and convention center area. Additionally, we would no longer need to be worried about the large street breaking the pedestrian connection between Myriad, the convention center, and the Core to Shore park area.
To read Paul’s full analysis, visit his blog “Urban Lake Effect.”
Thank you for joining our conversation on OKC Central. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.
Comments
Please keep the ideas coming. This is certainly worthy of discussion and represents another potential compromise between competing schools of thought. The proposed streetcar route only comes as far west as Robinson so Paul’s concerns about the streetcar’s advocates may not come to fruition.
This is very similar to the “No Boulevard” alternative I recently became aware of. It makes a lot of sense and hopefully will be given equal consideration with the other proposals.
If you haven’t joined the Facebook Group campaign, consider joining to stay informed as this movement advances this major project into a better reality.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/BetterBoulevard/
Paul, thank you for your concepts. We will promote them as another option.
I think we need the boulevard to elevate congustion coming into downtown. It is a total mess without it right now. Most people coming from the west down the Hefner parkway are getting off at tenth to avoid the congestion. Why can’t the boulevard come down at classen at grade and classen tunnel under the boulevard. We have to start think 3 dimensional not just up and left to right or in a big circle.
…this is a good solution to the question: “Why do we need a road where previously there was ZERO traffic?”
(Streetcar on the Park would be very cool.)