Notes from ODOT Public Meeting, March 26, 2010, 7:00 PM, Marshall Elementary School

Present were: City Councilor G.T. Bynum (dist9@tulsacouncil.org) State Representative Dan Sullivan (danielsullivan@okhouse.gov) Senator Gary Stanislawski (stanislawski@oksenate.gov) and Paul Zachary, City of Tulsa.

Present for ODOT were: Ray Sanders, Randle White, Kevin Larios, Mark Zishka, Bruce Arnold, Craig Moody, Frances Campbell, Kenna Mitchell, Marty Stewart, and Helene Murdock of Poe & Associates. ODOT’s website is www.odot.org/meetings. Daily construction schedules are available on the website also.

110 neighbors attended.

Handouts of the functional plan of I-44 from Riverside to Yale Ave. were passed out.

A slide presentation of how the sound walls and the bridge piers will look revealed an Art Deco design with stained (rather than painted) concrete. If all goes as planned, the project is scheduled to go to bid in Fall 2010; depending on what month it goes to bid, construction could start late this year or early next year. Construction typically begins three to four months after a project is awarded by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission. Delays are the result of unresolved right-of-way and utility considerations.

The only sound walls in the current plan are from Riverside to Newport and Quincy to Utica, 1,800 feet long, 9-16 feet high. The issue of closing Trenton and Troost is still open for discussion with the City of Tulsa despite ODOT’s information that all streets along the Quincy to Utica section will remain open to 51st Street. Persons living close to 51st St state they have a personal safety issue with leaving the streets open because of the easy access to their homes. 51st Street will be one way traveling East from Peoria to Lewis. No sound wall is planned currently for Utica to the Canyon Creek apartments. Explanation of why this is not in the plan was that it was not in the 2006 plan and there is no funding for it. ODOT further stated that there are commercial buildings buffering the sound on 51st Street between Utica and Canyon Creek. ODOT explained further that the sound walls were for the Heller Park Neighborhood only. Members of the audience were quick to point out that Heller Park Neighbors reaches to Lewis Ave. and that ODOT has demolished the commercial buildings on the North side of 51st Street and from Utica to Canyon Creek Apartments on the South side.

ODOT pointed out further, that the sound tests did not show a decibel range of over 66, necessary to require sound walls in the area East of Utica. One resident of the 221 homes of the affected area challenged this by stating that the sound reaches over 75 decibels in his yard located South of the apartment buildings between Utica and Wheeling.

The ODOT presentation also included “before pictures” of the green space which had been taken recently, and “after pictures” showing the sound walls. Question arose concerning who would mow the grass. ODOT stated it will be the responsibility of the City of Tulsa.

As to the design and the color and method of coloring the walls, ODOT stated that the design decisions were the result of a feasibility study made including the Arts Council, Alaback Designs and the City of Tulsa and others to assure the area will be aesthetically pleasing.

A question was raised as to whether ODOT planned to maintain the wooden fence which was behind the demolished school East of Quincy. The answer was no.

Another question was raised as to whether the planting of trees for further sound reduction was planned. ODOT will not do this, but Up With Trees will be selling six foot trees (four for ten dollars) at TCT NE which may be purchased to be used on private property. Up With Trees also have trees available for individual homeowners as part of the program with the City of Tulsa to Re-Green and the Apache Foundation. For more Up With Trees information, contact April Wodul at 910-8733.

ODOT stated that the Perryman Ditch (which ends at Yorktown) should be completed by fall. Weather has delayed the project. ODOT stated that it would fill the existing potholes on I-44 near the Arkansas River bridge as soon as possible.