Read on Twitter
1/ When you look at the map of Tulsa what& #39;s missing? Admittedly it& #39;s a tough question. But if you guessed another highway, then ODOT has just the project for you.
2/ Meet the Gilcrease Expressway West. It will be a 5 mile, four-lane, tolled highway that connects I-44 to US-412 with a total cost of $340 million.
ODOT claims with a straight face that the project is needed to provide "transportation choices for improved access" and remedy "Insufficient multimodal access to employment centers" b/c it has a parallel trail.
Yes, *clearly* it& #39;s about multimodal access to job centers. My bad.
Yes, *clearly* it& #39;s about multimodal access to job centers. My bad.
4/ ODOT also claims the project is needed to "provide a new and more direct route to city attractions and points of interest in the Tulsa urban core."
Um, urban core? Any other reasons?
ODOT: "Better access to developments in the immediate vicinity"
And there we have it.
Um, urban core? Any other reasons?
ODOT: "Better access to developments in the immediate vicinity"
And there we have it.
5/ The Gilcrease is yet another reminder that terrible projects never die—they just hibernate.
Tulsa World reports that: "The need for the corridor in west Tulsa was identified more than five decades ago."
Of course it was.
Tulsa World reports that: "The need for the corridor in west Tulsa was identified more than five decades ago."
Of course it was.
6/ Since it& #39;s been on the books so long you would assume there is rapid travel demand growth and the system is bursting at the seams.
Wrong.
From the toll revenue study
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Down pointing backhand index" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index">
Wrong.
From the toll revenue study
" title="6/ Since it& #39;s been on the books so long you would assume there is rapid travel demand growth and the system is bursting at the seams. Wrong. From the toll revenue study https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Down pointing backhand index" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
7/ And here is the AM *peak period* travel speeds. Have a look at SR 97. It& #39;s just fine.
Oh, and building the Gilcrease won& #39;t do anything to alleviate congestion on Riverside Drive and W. 23rd south of downtown or East Pine to the north.
Oh, and building the Gilcrease won& #39;t do anything to alleviate congestion on Riverside Drive and W. 23rd south of downtown or East Pine to the north.
8/ And why can ODOT move forward so easily with this project? Because the structure of federal transportation policy rewards it:
- Oklahoma& #39;s FY 2020 apportionment: $702,358,595.
- TIFIA loan for Gilcrease: $120,100,000.
- Oklahoma& #39;s FY 2020 apportionment: $702,358,595.
- TIFIA loan for Gilcrease: $120,100,000.
