Tulsa Downtown Walkability Study Praised Internationally
The Downtown Tulsa Walkability Study commissioned by the Tulsa Downtown Coordinating Council (DCC) has been recognized by the International Downtown Association with official designation as a best practice in planning, design and infrastructure.
The study was the product of a multi-year engagement with Speck and Associates, a nationally renowned planning and design firm, and mobility and transportation experts Nelson/Nygaard to survey Downtown Tulsa’s street and sidewalk networks. The team conducted a street-by-street analysis of existing conditions including lane width, sidewalk width, on-street parking, traffic speeds, pedestrian traffic, and ground floor vacancy to gauge how existing conditions impact the efficiency and economic functionality of downtown.
“I commend our Downtown Coordinating Council for initiating work with city planning expert Jeff Speck that led to the implementation of a world-class walkability plan,” said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum. “This will help guide Downtown Tulsa on a path of continued growth and development.”
A jury of peer professionals reviewed, evaluated and deliberated the high quality of the study, its adoption by City Council and early implementation efforts. By a presidential proclamation, IDA states the Tulsa Downtown Coordinating Council has shown expert application of professional urban place management principles for completion of the study and immediate execution of its recommendations.
“Dynamic urban centers around the globe accommodate all users and the Downtown Tulsa Walkability Study seeks to make Downtown Tulsa more walkable, bikeable and useable for all modes of transportation,” said Brian Kurtz, executive director of the DCC. “The study set expectations and standards for the way in which our downtown streets are designed as we shifted efforts towards implementation to achieve safer streets for all who walk, bike and drive in Downtown Tulsa.”
