News
Downtown Walkability Study
ARCHIVED PRESS RELEASE: Published 3-21-2017
Read the full walkability analysis
here
Watch the presentation here
Tulsa's Downtown Coordinating Council is hosting walkability
expert Jeff Speck once again. Speck, a nationally acclaimed author,
urban designer and city-planning expert, is coming back to Tulsa to
present his comprehensive Walkability Study for the downtown
area.
The presentation of his Walkability Study will be held at the
Cox Business Center, in the Assembly Hall, on Thursday, March 23rd
at 5:30pm. The event is free and open to the public.
Early in 2016, Speck gave a public presentation on the benefits
of creating a more walkable downtown. The DCC contracted to work
with Speck on creating a formalized study of the Walkability of
downtown Tulsa, emphasizing on growth and development.
Speck's general theory of walkability focuses on a downtown
streetscape as being useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting.
Following these basic tenets, his Study focuses on cost-efficient
and effective ways to improve the overall walkability of downtown
Tulsa.
"A walkable downtown creates energy, encourages growth," DCC
Chair Libby Billings said. "The economic and health values are
tremendous, and we are excited for his findings."
During his study, Speck collaborated with City planners and
engineers, local business owners, downtown visitors and residents,
and traffic consulting firm Nelson\Nygaard to learn as much about
the current state of downtown, as well as the demands and
improvements needed.
In a recently published newsletter, Speck commented that the
Tulsa study "includes the redesign, block by block, of more than 30
miles of downtown streets. This is my 14th Walkability Study in 10
years, and the best."
The DCC sought private sponsorships to fund the Walkability
Study in the summer. Supporters of this study include: American
Parking, American Residential Group, Brady Arts District Business
Association, Brady Arts District Owners, The Hille Foundation, PSO,
River City Development, The Ross Group, Sharp Development, Tulsa
Development Authority, Tulsa Drillers, Tulsa Regional Chamber,
Tulsa Stadium Improvement Trust, University of Tulsa, and Wallace
Engineering.
The Downtown Coordinating Council is an advisory board comprised
of downtown property owners that provide support and advice for
planning and management of improvement, maintenance and marketing
of downtown Tulsa.