Boulevard Presentation Now Online
The proposed compromise redesign of the downtown boulevard was posted tonight on the city’s web site. Michael Kimball will be working on a full write-up Thursday. Quick observations on my behalf: the recommend option (A), provides far better access to the Farmers Market area than the original ODOT elevation would have given. The road, from what I can see, is still designed as a limited access boulevard that would seem to discourage the development of businesses fronting the street.
We’ll learn more this next week. In the meantime, here is the press release from the city:
Conceptual designs for the western end of the Oklahoma City Boulevard available for review
Residents can review conceptual drawings of the future Oklahoma City Boulevard where Classen, Reno and Western intersect through December 17 on www.okc.gov/okcblvd.
The drawings will be presented during a community meeting at 5:30 p.m. on December 3 at the Coca Cola Bricktown Events Center, 425 E California Ave. Attendees can park free in the lot directly south of the events center. Everyone is invited to attend.
Those who can’t attend the meeting can watch it live on Ustream. The meeting will also be posted on www.okc.gov by 4 p.m. the following day (Tuesday, Dec 18).
Comments about the project will be accepted during the meeting and through an online comment card posted on www.okc.gov and http://www.okladot.state.ok.us through December 17.
A short description of each option is below:
Alternate A is an east-west bridge on the Oklahoma City Boulevard over Western Avenue.
Alternate B is a north-south bridge on Western Avenue over the Oklahoma City Boulevard.
Alternate C is a signalized intersection at Western Avenue and the Oklahoma City Boulevard.
Alternate D is a roundabout at the interchange of Western Avenue and the Oklahoma City Boulevard.
The meeting will be facilitated by Stantec, Inc., the traffic and planning consulting firm hired by the City to study options for the Western end of the Boulevard. The meeting is co-hosted by the City of Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
The 2.4-mile Oklahoma City Boulevard, to be constructed by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, will run from Pennsylvania to Byers along the former Interstate 40 route.
The Boulevard will be a premier entryway into Oklahoma City and include on-street parking, 15-foot sidewalks and landscaping. The project is expected to be constructed in phases beginning in 2013.
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
If ODOT and the city get their way, the new Oklahoma “street” should be called an Expressway, or Trafficway or perhaps a Beeline.
A boulevard is recognized by almost everyone as being a suface street with lots of on/off access, normal speed limits and considerable beautification elements such as greenery, fountains, sculptures , etc.
What is wrong with backing up traffic? Traffic backs up in NYC, San Francisco and DC. They don’t care about moving traffic or cars stacking up. These guys need to embrace the change, maximize the sidewalks and welcome the future development. We can’t allow this present design to materialize.
i read in the paper that there were two “camps” present at the hearing about the boulevard; one which favored development, the other favored improved traffic flow. it was announced that the new plans indicate compromise between these competing interests.
i wasn’t present at the hearing, but what i’ve read on the internet gave the distinct impression that the citizenry speaking were in loud agreement that they favored a narrow, slower boulevard. so who comprised this other “camp”, favoring traffic flow? citizens, government officials, or both? and how did the divide go? 50/50? 90/10? what’s up here?