South Tulsa Bridge Update

[Conan71]

They moved it into a trust. What's interesting is that when they purchased the land, it sounded like the plans were definitely for a bridge but now they say they are "exploring options" for the land.

Another casino?  Tulsa is such a casino desert.

[Townsend]

The proposal to widen Yale Ave is exactly what started all of the fuss.

Could be timed well.  By the time the bridge is completed it might be time to tear up all the work that was just completed on Yale from 101st to 121st.

The blurb stated the land was between Yale and Sheridan so I'm not sure if the alignment would be to Yale or not.  If so, I bet that neighborhood East of Yale just a block north of 121st will have a collective poop.

[Gaspar]

Could be timed well.  By the time the bridge is completed it might be time to tear up all the work that was just completed on Yale from 101st to 121st.

The blurb stated the land was between Yale and Sheridan so I'm not sure if the alignment would be to Yale or not.  If so, I bet that neighborhood East of Yale just a block north of 121st will have a collective poop.

There is actually space either way without disturbing the neighborhood.  In a previous life, I helped render several iterations of a bridge between Yale and Sheridan.  There is a significant amount of land before you arrive at the river.  The most intelligent route would be to extend Yale instead of attempting to shift traffic. The corners of Yale at 121st already have several plans for commercial development, and the neighborhoods are very well set back from the roads in all directions.  I'm sure there would be a few grumbles, but not many. 

We have several friends that live in those neighborhoods and they are for the most part supportive of the idea, because it will ultimately increase their property value and lead to other improvements in the area.

[Townsend]

There is actually space either way without disturbing the neighborhood.  In a previous life, I helped render several iterations of a bridge between Yale and Sheridan.  There is a significant amount of land before you arrive at the river.  The most intelligent route would be to extend Yale instead of attempting to shift traffic. The corners of Yale at 121st already have several plans for commercial development, and the neighborhoods are very well set back from the roads in all directions.  I'm sure there would be a few grumbles, but not many. 

We have several friends that live in those neighborhoods and they are for the most part supportive of the idea, because it will ultimately increase their property value and lead to other improvements in the area.

All will be shiny and happy until the work starts.  I believe "disturbing" would be subjective.

Do you feel you have the pulse of everyone in these neighborhoods?

[Gaspar]

All will be shiny and happy until the work starts.  I believe "disturbing" would be subjective.

Do you feel you have the pulse of everyone in these neighborhoods?

No.  There are some that have already been fighting it, including one very famous entertainer who lives just north of there, but much like the Creek turnpike and other South Tulsa improvements, it will happen, and everyone knows it will happen.

[DTowner]

Simply looking at a map and seeing the distance between the bridge on the Creek Turnpike and Memorial gives a pretty clear indication that a bridge will be built, and Yale is the logical place due its proximity half-way between the two existing bridges.  In the long run, it will be good for the neighborhoods on the Tulsa side of the river as it will spur improvements to the roads, but I can see why many don't see it that way at the present time.

Given the money the Creek Nation is spending on River Spirit, no way they build another casino in the Tulsa area.

[Townsend]

Bixby mayor: Announcement on new Arkansas River bridge coming in 2015

http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepage2/bixby-mayor-announcement-on-new-arkansas-river-bridge-coming-in/article_1f7c9f57-d676-56c8-9ed8-3e5c31c56b30.html

BIXBY — Bixby Mayor John Easton says an announcement concerning a proposed bridge over the Arkansas River from south Tulsa to Jenks will be made after Jan. 1.

"As you know, that projected bridge site is outside of Bixby city limits, so we really don't have a role in the decision making," he said. "I've been in contact with the folks contemplating the bridge in south Tulsa County.

"However, I'm not allowed to discuss any further details. But I can say: look for some sort of announcement after the first of the year, and I think most of you will be pleased."

Easton made the remarks during his State of the City address Thursday at the SpirtBank Events Center.

His comments followed those of Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Kyle Wood, who told an auditorium full of teachers and parents last week that he had received information that the south Tulsa bridge was a "done deal."

Furthermore, Wood said the toll bridge would be completed within three years and that an agreement had been reached with nearby residents who were concerned about how the development would impact the area.

Though he would not name who provided the information, Wood viewed it as credible and said it was being taken into consideration when planning an upcoming school bond issue for 2015.

While the mayor did not specify a location, last January, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation placed land in trust along the Arkansas River where a proposed bridge would connect Jenks to far south Tulsa.

Placing the land in trust brought possible bridge construction a step closer, but state transportation officials said a toll bridge was still years from becoming a reality.

The deed, signed by the nation's chief, George Tiger, placed the land into the ownership of the United States to be held in trust for the tribe, allowing the tribe to govern the land and improvements on it.

He said at the time that a bridge is one of a number of options for the land but would not confirm whether that's what the land is intended for.

The land is south of 121st Street and west of Sheridan Road along the north bank of the Arkansas River, about a mile east of the Bixby city limits, according to Tulsa County Assessor's Office records.

Easton said an unrelated, "major infrastructure announcement" for Bixby will be made at the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Dec. 3.

"I'll reassure you that it is big, big, big and you want to be there for it," he said.

While he was cryptic about the upcoming announcements, Easton made it very clear that the future of Bixby will focus on retail development.

The City Council has taken turns attending retail development conventions and has hired Retail Strategies, a Birmingham, Alabama-based consulting firm whose clients include the cities of Edmond and Stillwater, in the hopes of recruiting more retailers to Bixby.

"They are really an involved company and have a wealth of knowledge.

And one of the things that we really like about Retail Strategies is that they put a big emphasis on local business."

The city is also extending the services of Retail Strategies to local businesses by offering to arrange a meeting with the firm.

"We need the storefronts filled by local people who have got an idea. We can put you in touch with our marketing group. The city can be your facilitator."

Easton said the city is also eyeing ways to revamp downtown Bixby to help attract visitors to boost the economy and prevent retail leakage to surrounding communities.

He named Broken Arrow's Rose District and Tulsa's Blue Dome District as examples of what they had in mind.

"Those are visions that we need to look at and our city is looking to see what we can do to help that come about. That's the kind of influence that we need down there."

[patric]

Wood said the toll bridge would be completed within three years and that an agreement had been reached with nearby residents who were concerned about how the development would impact the area.

I'd like to hear from those residents.

[sgrizzle]

I'd like to hear from those residents.

No-one has heard from those residents in a few weeks, if ya know what I mean.

[Townsend]

I'd like to hear from those residents.

Those residents are reading this article and saying "wait, what?"

[AdamsHall]

I'd like to hear from those residents.

Guessing they did not like the sidewalks that were supposed to come with the bridge ... 

[Red Arrow]

Guessing they did not like the sidewalks that were supposed to come with the bridge ... 

Well, one area cannot claim that.

http://goo.gl/maps/4KsSS
(Yale between 111th and 121st)

[Townsend]

Council asks city planners to realign plans for south Tulsa bridge

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/government/council-asks-city-planners-to-realign-plans-for-south-tulsa/article_83ca25bc-0b0e-5c31-baf2-9fcddaba0cdd.html

The Tulsa City Council on Thursday asked area planners to consider realigning a proposed south Tulsa bridge in the master plan for streets and highways.

The south Tulsa bridge, which several years ago was discussed but never approved to be built as a toll bridge, is not scheduled for any funding and exists only in plans. Those plans call for a bridge connecting Yale Avenue across the river from 121st Street to 131st Street.

Councilor Phil Lakin said he recently spoke with a developer who told him the master plan is being referenced by local developers despite those plans being largely obsolete.

"This is just a really simple act to refer this to the (Tulsa Metropolitan Area) Planning Commission for further study," Lakin said. "I have no idea if a bridge will ever go in at south Tulsa."

Lakin's call for the council to have a consensus vote to remove the proposed Yale Avenue bridge connection initiates a process in which several planning groups may consider making the change to the master plan. A bridge in that vicinity would span from the Tulsa city limits to either Jenks or Bixby across the river.

A history of controversy has surrounded the bridge proposal.

At least one version of a toll bridge across the Arkansas River at Yale Avenue was pitched by Bixby City Manager Micky Webb during a Dialog/Visioning 2025 topical meeting on transportation in February 2003.

Attempts by the cities of Jenks and Bixby to build the bridge met with stiff resistance from some Tulsa city councilors and area residents. Lawsuits were filed over its proposed location, who should build it and who would benefit from the tolls.

The matter went to the state Supreme Court, and the case was decided in Tulsa's favor.

In June 2009, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation purchased three plots of land on the northern bank of the Arkansas River. The tribe's Trade and Commerce Authority had announced plans to build a toll bridge between Jenks and Tulsa spanning the Arkansas River near 121st Street and Yale Avenue. Plans also called for an accompanying commercial district that the authority's CEO, Michael Wisner, had said would result in a $1 billion investment for the area.

However, the project was put on hold after the tribe's principal chief, A.D. Ellis, fired Wisner in April 2010 and ousted the Trade and Commerce Authority's board.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Barlett said in April 2013 that a bridge across the Arkansas River at Yale Avenue is not on the slate of projects for the foreseeable future.

Bixby officials have continued to stress the need for the bridge as a public safety issue in addition to being a matter of convenience.

The consensus to ask planning entities for further review of the connection in the master plan was unanimously approved Thursday night.

[Ibanez]

I wish they would just build the damn thing! Traffic on the bridge in the mornings and evenings is ridiculous. There have been many times that at 7:20 in the morning that Northbound traffic is backed up all the way to 151st and in the evenings from around 4:45 to 5:30 Southbound traffic can be backed up all the way to 131st. I have even seen it stretch back all the way to 121st on some evenings. It is frustrating and dangerous as there have been more than one occasion when I have seen an emergency vehicle slowed down or totally stopped due to the traffic. One day someone is going to die because fire/EMSA could not respond to an emergency in a timely manner.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I wish they would just build the damn thing! Traffic on the bridge in the mornings and evenings is ridiculous. There have been many times that at 7:20 in the morning that Northbound traffic is backed up all the way to 151st and in the evenings from around 4:45 to 5:30 Southbound traffic can be backed up all the way to 131st. I have even seen it stretch back all the way to 121st on some evenings. It is frustrating and dangerous as there have been more than one occasion when I have seen an emergency vehicle slowed down or totally stopped due to the traffic. One day someone is going to die because fire/EMSA could not respond to an emergency in a timely manner.

Growth for growth's sake rearing it's ugly head.