Complete Streets

[OurTulsa]

quote:Originally posted by YoungTulsan

What we're talking about would never happen in Tulsa.  Neat idea tho.  Midtown would be the perfect place to experiment the idea.  Part of the reason for this is that midtown already has a decent traffic flow compared to the rest of the city.  Due to the half mile through streets mostly (15th, Utica, Delaware) makes midtown more pleasant already than South Tulsa.

Don't say never.  Heck, entire freeways have come down because an idea came surfaced into public discussion and got enough momentum to get policy makers to act on it.

Tulsa will have to perfect opportunity to redefine the normal course of business, through the upcoming Comprehensive Plan.  You must be involved in the process and provide public input and when the Plan is final we as Tulsans must hold our policy makers accountable for ensuring that our vision is carried out through public investment and adopting a more appropriate set of development standards for the City.

The three laner just makes sense in some places.  It's not a fru-fru idea it's practical.

If you want me to throw an idea at you that might exist in the realm of 'next to impossible' in this city, I would suggest that we demolish the eastern segment of the IDL and when the time comes sell air rights to build over the southern leg of the IDL in an attempt to reconnect our downtown with the core neighborhoods.  I don't think those are bad ideas but in this city most people would react as if I were asking to build a stairway to the stars.

Three laning select arterial streets is a great idea that should be carried forward.

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by Double A

quote:Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

quote:Originally posted by OurTulsa

Imagine if Peoria between 15th/41st were reduced to three driving lanes (one middle left turn lane) to accommodate better sidewalks and bike lanes. A narrower driving surface and wider walking considerations would do alot to improve the adjoining neighborhoods.  I can see Cherry St. as a much more accessible and pleasant experience with that configuration.

I've felt that way about Cherry Street for a long time. It could widen to 3 lanes at certain points but narrow to 2 lanes for most of its length to accommodate on-street parking (in niches with corner bumpouts). Only widen it to three lanes at collector intersections like St. Louis. Cherry Street is already a two-lane street with parallel parking all hours of the day except rush hour. Might as well make it a 24 hour thing.

A three lane 15th street would be a complete disaster during the fair or events at the fairgrounds.

What OurTulsa said. I wasn't clear in my post, I meant Peoria to Utica specifically. I could even see it carried over to Lewis and then Lewis from the BA down to 21st also being 3-lane. Actually, the right-of-way on Lewis is so narrow, I don't see why it couldn't be three lanes all the way down to 41st Street. It would sure be safer.

OurTulsa is absolutely right. A three-lane arterial street makes perfect sense in certain parts of midtown. It's so doable, all it would take is restriping in some cases.

I remember 15 years ago when 71st Street between Yale and Sheridan was 3 lanes. Traffic moved just fine. It wasn't a hassle or bottleneck. Of course, after they widened it, it became just another south Tulsa speedway.

It's all about having the right sized streets, not just for the number of cars they carry, but also for the context of the neighborhood and commercial district they serve.