Tulsans want sidewalks.
Pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects, in fact, seemed to be the only common demand from residents who attended a series of town hall meetings over the city's next capital improvements package, city Engineering Services Director Paul Zachary said.
"I think that was probably the only one that was consistently (supported) across the board," he said. "I would say in every one of the meetings we heard positive things about alternative modes of transportation."
The $918.7 million package - now called Improve Our Tulsa - would fund at least $23.4 million in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, including improvements to sidewalks and the implementation of a yet-to-be developed Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan.
But with unspecified millions of dollars in additional funding planned for new sidewalks, the proposal's true contribution to such infrastructure is impossible to measure, officials said.
"On arterial (streets), we're going to make an effort down at least one side - two if we can afford it," said Matt Liechti, the city's Engineering Services Planning and Coordination Manager.
Although not denoted on the proposal's list of projects or advertised at the town hall meetings, funding for new sidewalks is loosely factored into a $195 million allocation for 68 arterial street rehab projects.
The proposal should have room for about or more than $15.2 million worth of new sidewalks, with a typical sidewalk costing at least $200,000 per mile - enough for 76 miles, officials said.
But it's difficult to be sure, as the cost of each rehab project won't be known until bids are accepted and officials are uncertain whether any of those streets have geographic obstacles that would make adding a sidewalk too expensive, such as ditches, they said.
The city's recent Complete Streets policy "is to make the roads in Tulsa (friendly) for all users, whether it's multi-modal, whether it's bus, bicycle, pedestrian," Liechti said. "And so those attributes will be taken into consideration whenever we're doing a rehab project."
Improve Our Tulsa's more certain bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure allocations include a portion of the work outlined in the city's long-term plan to upgrade sidewalks and intersections for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
It would fund $10.2 million in such projects, which include adding sidewalk ramps at intersections and removing sidewalk bumps and divots that would impede wheelchairs and trip pedestrians.
The ADA transition plan was developed with help from a consultant after the federal government began inspecting area cities for compliance with the act, Zachary said. The city of Enid was even fined for lack of compliance.
"Basically what this showed is it demonstrated a good-faith effort" to comply with the act, Zachary said. "If we were floating a $918 million package and didn't have a single thing in there for ADA, then we've opened ourselves wide open" to a fine.
Improve Our Tulsa also includes $7 million in "matching funds" for future federal grants that would be used for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
The money makes Tulsa eligible for grants available only to municipalities that contribute some of their own money. Such grants can require as little as a 20-percent match from the city, Zachary said.
"There are opportunities over the next five years that we will be able to get pennies on the dollar ... where we can double our money back in some of these grants," he said.
The proposal also includes $4.2 million for projects envisioned as part of the Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan, which is being developed now.
Projects in the plan, which might include bike lanes and pedestrian safety measures, would need future City Council approve to receive the funds allocated in the capital package.
Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects
New sidewalks: At least $15.2 million*
Citywide ADA transition plan: $10.2 million
Matching grant funds: $7 million
Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan: $4.2 million
Arterial sidewalk improvements: $1.2 million
Non-arterial sidewalk improvements: $500,000
*Included in street rehab projects
Zack Stoycoff 918-581-8486
zack.stoycoff@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Path is paved for sidewalks
