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Member since: November 8, 2009
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It is not entirely accurate to state that “no one has publicly expressed a need for major changes to Riverside Drive.” For the past three years, I have been advocating for major improvements to Riverside Drive at both the TMAPC and Transportation Advisory Board Meetings, most recently at the last TAB Meeting held on April 2nd of this year.
I have brought this up time and again to anyone who will listen, but most often to members of what we used to call the Public Works Department and more recently to representatives of Engineering Services.
The overall condition of the roadway north of I-44 is deplorable. While some CIP improvements have been scheduled for the 31st to 41st section, no work is scheduled at the moment. The bigger problem as I see it is the lack of a long term strategic plan for the entire corridor.
River Parks is an incredible asset to the City of Tulsa and Riverside Drive is the doorway to the park. Many major cities around the world have signature streets and thoroughfares. A well planned and executed Riverside Parkway, with a well-lighted and landscaped center median could be that signature road for Tulsa. In my view, it is inexcusable that the upcoming Fix Our Streets package fails to address this long overdue and neglected main arterial.
Like most of the neighborhood groups, I oppose any substantial widening and I favor traffic calming measures that would reduce not increase the speed of traffic on Riverside. What is needed is a "Complete Streets" redesign of multiple dangerous curves to make it safer and the addition of lighting and landscaping amenities to compliment the park.
I have encouraged the leadership of Engineering Services to work collaboratively with staff member of the City of Tulsa’s Planning and Economic Development Department to begin work on a long range strategic plan for the entire corridor that could be implemented in phases as funds become available.
Just because most people have not been listening does not mean that no one has been expressing the need to make improvements to Riverside Drive, because I have, for quite a long time.
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Nice job, Terry. All of us can benefit from reading your most observant reflections on this important subject.
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Thank you, Jennie Lloyd, for helping raise awareness on this very important issue. I hope it leads to an honest and transparent discussion about the merits of making a change. I have just a couple of points of clarification. I served as Chair of the TMAPC in 2012 and rotated off this year. Mr. Josh Walker is the current Chair of the TMAPC. Also, while Mr. Alberty has announced his retirement, he is still serving at the moment. Thanks again, and now let's hear from the Mayor, past and present City Council Members, our new Planning Director, INCOG staffers as well as former Mayors and perhaps some neighborhood advocates.
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Thanks for another great article, Mike. I can't think of any subject more relevant to Tulsa's future growth and prospertiy than helping citizens understand this new/old concept of urban planning.
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I apologize for the typo in paragraph 9 of this article. The word primacy (defined as the state of being first in importance was incorrecly listed as privacy. It should have read: "Dewey believes in the primacy of the individual over the state, the equality of the individual before the law, and the chance for each person to succeed on their own merits and hard work."
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