About
The program includes funding for identified City streets and transportation systems; capital projects including public facility repairs, parks improvements, public safety and vehicle replacements, among other capital needs; and creates a standing Rainy Day fund allocation, which could be used in the event of an economic recession.
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“The City Council and I worked together through a very deliberative process to develop this program. I am grateful for all our fellow Tulsans who made their voices heard every step of the way. They told us they want better streets, so this program is overwhelmingly focused on street improvements. The balance is for things like fire trucks and police cars and safe playground equipment for kids. This is a very basic, but very important, infrastructure program that will help us build the Tulsa we want without raising our taxes,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said.
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The Improve Our Tulsa renewal would run 6½ years and total $639 million; 70 percent of the funding is dedicated to street maintenance and transportation costs, including sidewalks and bridge maintenance. The remaining amount is divided into capital needs and the Rainy Day Fund allocation.
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“Tulsans rely on the Council and Mayor to efficiently deliver basic government services and projects, including safe and smooth streets and sidewalks, functional police and fire equipment, and well-maintained parks and facilities. After dozens of public meetings, we believe that the projects selected in the renewal of Improve Our Tulsa best meet the needs of all Tulsans, without any tax increases. This ensures our government continues to deliver these important, basic services to all those who live and work in this place we call “home,” Tulsa City Council Chairman Phil Lakin said.
Community Development Priority Projects
The Improve Our Tulsa 2 package included $9 million for "Community Development Priority Projects", equally divided among the nine City Council districts. Capital projects must meet the following criteria:
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Projects must be for a public purpose;
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Projects must conform to the City's Comprehensive Plan; and
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Projects must promote:
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safe and attractive neighborhoods and/or commercial districts,
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economic vitality,
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safe and affordable housing,
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public recreational opportunities,
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and/or transportation options.
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Each project must be approved by a vote of the City Council and the Mayor. The following projects have been approved:​
District 1 | Flat Rock Creek -
This project enhances connectivity between neighborhoods, commercial businesses, schools, Tulsa Tech, streets and regional trails, Flat Rock Creek Park, and housing initiatives with sidewalks, multi-use trails, roadway crossings, and bike infrastructure. The public funds will focus on the connections on right-of-ways, ADA-compliant features, crossing public streets, and hard surface trail connections to Flat Rock Creek Park. The private funding focus will be on trails/tracks on the Whitman Elementary school site, adventure trails in Flat Rock Creek Park, and partnerships with other development initiatives. The $1 million in funding matches and leverages funding from the Tulsa Housing Authority, ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act), and philanthropic sources.
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$1,000,000​
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Approved January 10, 2024
Comanche Park Connections
District 2 | Route 66 Community Center
This project includes the purchase of property to provide Tulsa Route 66 Main Street with a permanent location to house its programs and staff. Its mission is to restore the Southwest Boulevard corridor as the cultural, educational, and economic backbone of the community. Its programs have supported local opportunities producing nearly $265 million in private reinvestment, approximately 100 building rehabilitations, creation of more than 1,250 new jobs, and over 70 business openings/expansions in Southwest Tulsa. A permanent office space along the Tulsa Route 66 corridor will further the mission of the Tulsa Route 66 Main Street program by providing public meeting space, training/education space for entrepreneurial programs, outdoor event space for cultural/education events, and potentially coworking space for new businesses.
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$200,000​
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Approved October 20, 2021
District 2 | StoneBrooke Estates Bridge Removal & Replacement
This project entails the removal and replacement of an existing pedestrian bridge located near the northwest corner of West 81st Street and South Houston Avenue due to its failing substructure and unsafe pedestrian conditions. The bridge is deteriorating with wood rot and undermined concrete abutments creating a hazard. The existing crossing is also undersized for drainage flows underneath, which results in drainage blockages and debris accumulation. This project will resolve a public safety hazard by replacing an aging and eroding wooden pedestrian bridge with a new steel / concrete bridge that is deemed to have a 50 to 75 year life cycle.​
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$150,000
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Approved June 8, 2022
District 4 | Dream Keepers Park Remodel
This project supports the Dream Keepers Park Remodel as a District 4 Community Development Priority Project. Representatives from the Parks Department and Indian Affairs Commission presented plans to turn the park into an important cultural and event space for Native Americans and a benefit to the neighborhood and continued growth of the 18th and Boston, "SoBo" area. The $500,000 in funding matches and leverages available funding from the Parks and Public Works Department and possible funding through grants and private investment. The project will include improvements to the park with design elements reflecting native Oklahoma features including an expanded playground, one-mile trail loop, three tribal gardens with seating areas, multipurpose plaza, expanded parking, improved connection to Council Oak Park, new crosswalk/light and a focal sculpture.
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$500,000​
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Approved March 13, 2024
District 6 | Connection to Public Water Main
This project provides for a Transmission Waterline Connection and Fire Hydrant Assembly at or near 18300 East 21st Street. It eliminates a cost barrier for public access to City domestic water and can be extended by existing property owners or developers to serve existing or future development of the properties along 21st Street. It will also install a fire hydrant assembly to provide fire protection to existing, developed properties in this corridor.
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$135,000
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Approved May 24, 2023
Districts 7 & 8 | Memorial Drive Street Improvements
This project on S. Memorial Dr. from 71st St. to 81st St. will eliminate localized pavement dips at the inlets in the outside drive lane to decrease drivers' tendency to swerve into the inside lane of travel, improve the street condition, and allow the City to maintain the roadway in a smooth condition in the future. The $75,000 in District 7 funding matches and leverages the $75,000 in District 8 funding and $100,000 in available funding from the Public Works Department. This project is a direct result of citizen comments and complaints submitted to the City of Tulsa, the Tulsa Council office, and the City Councilors of Districts 7 and 8. South Memorial Drive from 71 Street to 81 Street is on the east-west boundary between Council Districts 7 and 8.
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$75,000 each
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Approved January 10, 2024
Project List and Maps
The projects listed below are all projects approved by voters during the November 12, 2019 election. Projects previously funded can be found on the map and non-street projects can be found under Other Projects.
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