City of Tulsa letter to 15th and Utica residents

[izmophonik]

I recieved a letter in the mail from the City of Tulsa explaining work is planned on the 15th and Utica intersection.  It goes on to say that if you are interested in attending a meeting it will be held at Central Park this Tuesday at 6:00 (probably in the Libary.. I can't remember)  Does anyone have any ideas on what this is about?  I'm hoping for a right turn lane or something cool.

[dsjeffries]

How about a left turn lane instead?

Oh, and perhaps a permanent sidewalk... []

[izmophonik]

A left turn lane of course would be even better.  I was thinking of the scenario where you have a pile of dudes turning left and a pile turning right.  A dedicated lane for the left turn would likely give us more relief than the right.  Personally, I don't know how they would pull it off given the proximity of the Banks on the SW and SE corners.

[izmophonik]

...PLUS we need some real cross walks on 15th.  I'm surprised no one has been killed yet.  I would also be in favor of a cobblestone street to slow down the A-holes that think 15th street is a highway detour.

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by dsjeffries

How about a left turn lane instead?

Oh, and perhaps a permanent sidewalk... []

How about left turn lanes all over Tulsa?

I've said that if I ever decided to run for mayor of Tulsa, I'd run under the single issue of adding left turn lanes to all the major arterial streets (the x1 E-W streets and the major N-S streets like Peoria, Lewis, Harvard, etc.)

Is there a reason most Tulsa streets do not have center turning lanes?  Most cities of Tulsa's size (and much smaller cities and towns) have center turning lanes on most of their major roads.  I've been here a year and I've almost been in several accidents because of drivers turning left.  What's the reason that Tulsa still hangs on to these deathtrap roads?

[waterboy]

How in the world would they widen it without taking out a substantial part of each of the corner businesses?

[sgrizzle]

I thought I heard over a year ago the gas station was going away. Maybe it finally is.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

I thought I heard over a year ago the gas station was going away. Maybe it finally is.

Arggh. That's my favorite station for convenience. Figures. They might as well scrape off the sticky Kum & Run as well. Whoops, that's a Shell station. Take it down anyway.

[izmophonik]

I'll go to the meeting and report back my findings.  The letter is too damned vague.  It just talks about work in the intersection in general terms.

[perspicuity85]

quote:Originally posted by bugo

quote:Originally posted by dsjeffries

How about a left turn lane instead?

Oh, and perhaps a permanent sidewalk... []

How about left turn lanes all over Tulsa?

I've said that if I ever decided to run for mayor of Tulsa, I'd run under the single issue of adding left turn lanes to all the major arterial streets (the x1 E-W streets and the major N-S streets like Peoria, Lewis, Harvard, etc.)

Is there a reason most Tulsa streets do not have center turning lanes?  Most cities of Tulsa's size (and much smaller cities and towns) have center turning lanes on most of their major roads.  I've been here a year and I've almost been in several accidents because of drivers turning left.  What's the reason that Tulsa still hangs on to these deathtrap roads?

Center turn lanes probably aren't possible for streets like Peoria and Lewis, without removing homes and/or businesses.  In the Midtown area, many of those homes/businesses are historic, and the costs outweigh the benefits.  

[dsjeffries]

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85
Center turn lanes probably aren't possible for streets like Peoria and Lewis, without removing homes and/or businesses.  In the Midtown area, many of those homes/businesses are historic, and the costs outweigh the benefits.

That's not completely true. They can simply re-stripe the left lane as left turn-only near intersections, and wouldn't have to widen the streets at all.  I know that won't work on all streets, but they did it to north-bound Delaware at 11th Street and it's absolutely wonderful.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by twizzler

quote: Center turn lanes probably aren't possible for streets like Peoria and Lewis...

Not unless you put some of those roads on a diet and go from 4 lanes to 3 - which would be easier to do in some of the more established parts of the city.

The two center lanes of a 4 lane street end up being turn lanes much of the time anyhow. Going to 3 lanes combines those de facto turn lanes into one lane and opens up more space for bike lanes, larger sidewalks, makes it easier for pedestrians to cross, etc.

If you're going to do that, get rid of the yellow stripe lane and put in a real median. Make it into a boulevard.

[TheArtist]

Absolutely no adding turn lanes. Your placing the wants of the car over the needs of the pedestrian.

Especially in Mid-Town. Reduce the number of damned lanes, don't add more.  

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by izmophonik

I recieved a letter in the mail from the City of Tulsa explaining work is planned on the 15th and Utica intersection.  It goes on to say that if you are interested in attending a meeting it will be held at Central Park this Tuesday at 6:00 (probably in the Libary.. I can't remember)  Does anyone have any ideas on what this is about?  I'm hoping for a right turn lane or something cool.

My guess..

Tom Baker headed a traffic study a few years back regarding the 15th and Utica area. This was all brought to light under the previous Mayor and at the time Yorktown was battling Bumgarner over Arvest.

The outcome of the study was to play a key in the "right turn lanes" departing Arvest to head South on Yorktown.

There were many things mentioned that were a part of the study.

Turn lanes were a part.... also, permanent sidewalks...
where there is now asphalt.....

[Dana431]

Kudos to the people who made the decision to bury (or relocate) the power lines that seemed to hug the Stillwater National Bank and Arvest buildings at the intersection!  I hope this letter indicates more improvements are on the way like bike lanes and sidewalks worth walking on.