Remember back in 2007 when Dewey Bartlett Jr co-chaired the "Complete Our Streets" task force?
(Dewey doesn't.)
Recommendation #2:
"28% of Tulsans do not have access to a vehicle, so when thinking of Tulsa streets, this Task Force has taken into account cycling, jogging, walking and more mass transit forms of transportation needs."
http://www.cityoftulsa.org/COTlegacy/documents/COSREPORT_1.pdfRemember back in 2012 when Dewey signed the Complete Streets Resolution?
(Dewey doesn't.)
What was it?
"A resolution in support of a policy to create a comprehensive, integrated, and interconnected multi-modal network of complete streets for the City of Tulsa that supports sustainable development and balances the needs of all users... to provide accommodation for walking, bicycling, other non-motorized forms of transit..."
http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/cs/policy/cs-ok-tulsa-resolution.pdfWhat does Dewey have to say about these things now? A little Q&A article in the Tulsa World was illuminating:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/elections/tulsa-mayoral-race-q-a/article_cf86729a-e844-5f87-b836-caf65b68f683.htmlWhat steps would you take to improve public transportation in Tulsa?Bartlett: The first step towards improvement regarding any form of transportation in Tulsa is fixing our roads. Unfortunately, the city of Tulsa ignored street maintenance for many years and our streets fell into disrepair. My administration made fixing our streets a priority and I am very proud of the progress we made. We will not only continue to repair the roads in Tulsa but we will also dedicate resources to maintaining our streets.
How important is the "walkability" and appearance of downtown and how would you improve those aspects of the area?Bartlett: When you run a city, you have to prioritize resources. As mayor, I recognize that the dollars we budget ultimately belong to the taxpayers, which is why I believe in spending those dollars wisely and efficiently. I am much more concerned with investing in public safety and streets than I am in things like "walkability." I will continue to focus on the things that matter most in my second term as mayor.
I'm getting really tired of Bartlett's inaction and backsliding on PlaniTulsa.
In case you were wondering about Taylor's answers to the same questions...
What steps would you take to improve public transportation in Tulsa?Taylor: Improve Our Tulsa provides funding for the Peoria BRT bus corridor, a great first step. We need creative financing with public-private partnerships — working with businesses that have specific workforce transit needs, or partnering with Tulsa-area universities and their 40,000 local college students. We also need to ensure we are incorporating transit in planning, so that when we build or rehabilitate roads, we do it in a way that can accommodate future transit needs.
How important is the "walkability" and appearance of downtown and how would you improve those aspects of the area?Taylor: Very important. The work of PlanItTulsa needs to become BuildItTulsa and the recommendations on a walkable city (which makes us healthier in the process) need to be considered in all public improvement projects. The gateways to our city need to be prioritized so Tulsa's "front doors" are always welcoming to Tulsans and visitors. Launching an "Adopt a Spot" program similar to Up With Trees for our gateways would be the beginning.