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1/ When you look at the map of Tulsa what's missing? Admittedly it'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's about multimodal access to job centers. My bad.
Yes, *clearly* it'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'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
Wrong.
From the toll revenue study
7/ And here is the AM *peak period* travel speeds. Have a look at SR 97. It's just fine.
Oh, and building the Gilcrease won'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'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's FY 2020 apportionment: $702,358,595.
- TIFIA loan for Gilcrease: $120,100,000.
- Oklahoma's FY 2020 apportionment: $702,358,595.
- TIFIA loan for Gilcrease: $120,100,000.
