Projects Under Construction

  • Why is the lane/street closed when no one is working?
  • This situation may have several causes, one of which may be that a new waterline is being tested. Waterline testing takes up to two days – two samples are taken approximately 24 hours apart to ensure that the water is safe to drink.

    Also, some lane- or street closures may be needed for normalization of traffic. Unpredictable openings and re-closings of streets may confuse motorists and could contribute to accidents.

    Other reasons may be that the workers are off site to replenish supplies or equipment or that concrete pavement is curing and needs time without vehicles disturbing the process. A contractor’s crews may not be on a site every day. The City allows contractors to set their own work schedules as long as they meet deadlines for project milestones and completion.

    If you have a question about a street project site where you do not see anyone working, you may call the Customer Care Center at 596-2100.
  • The contractor is blocking the driveway to my home or business. How do I report this problem?
  • Contractors are required to maintain access to a business by at least one entry, which also can serve as an exit. If you notice obstructed access to a business, you may either report it through the City internet site www.cityoftulsa.org/reporting/reporting-problems.aspx or call the Customer Care Center at 596-2100.

    If your home or business is in the project area and you received a notice from the City of Tulsa that provides the name and phone number of the construction inspector and contractor superintendent, you may contact one of those individuals regarding access to your property.
  • How do I report construction signs that impede visibility at an intersection?
  • You may report this through the City of Tulsa internet site www.cityoftulsa.org/reporting/reporting-problems.aspx or call the Customer Care Center at 596-2100.

    If your home or business is in the project area and you received a notice from the City of Tulsa that provides the name and phone number of the construction inspector and contractor superintendent, you may contact one of those individuals.
  • The project looks completed. Why did the contractor leave the signs and barricades up?
  • The project likely is not completely finished. The contractor could be waiting for delivery of equipment or a shipment of materials. Or the contractor may have to wait for proper weather for asphalt or concrete construction.

    The project also may be awaiting final inspection in the next few days. Another possibility is that the contractor soon will begin punch list items that must be done before receiving final payment for the work.

    To report a sign that has been left up after a project looks completed, call the Customer Care Center at 596-2100.
  • Why do you start putting barrels in the street so far ahead of the construction area?
  • Construction zones require gradual narrowing for a lane closure. This promotes safety for motorists, who need time to merge into the proper lanes, and for workers in the construction area, who depend on motorists being aware of their presence so close to moving traffic.
  • How about doing work 24 hours a day so projects get done faster?

  • The City of Tulsa has completed some road work with an optional 24-hour schedule. The most recent example of this was the reconstruction and widening of the intersection of West 71st Street and South Union Avenue. The contractor may not have worked literal 24-hour days, but did work both day shifts and night shifts to complete the project more quickly.

    Optional 24-hour construction has both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include completing projects in a shorter time period, reducing adverse impacts on adjacent businesses, shortening the overall time frame for work-zone traffic congestion, and allowing work to occur in larger areas.

    Disadvantages include safety issues for working at night; nighttime work lighting and construction noise disturbing residents either near the site or along routes to and from the site; higher cost for night-shift workers; higher cost for more city inspectors; lack of access to daytime city workers and businesses such as engineering firms, material suppliers, and public utilities; and restrictions on use of paving materials in colder, nighttime temperatures.

    The City of Tulsa is evaluating the feasibility of other projects for potential 24-hour construction schedules. Considerations include proximity to residential areas and whether the extra costs would provide enough benefits.
  • I received a notice that the street project to start in my neighborhood includes waterline replacement. Will this affect my water service?
  • A waterline replacement involves placing a new waterline next to the old waterline, testing the new line to make sure it is safe for drinking water, transferring service from the old waterline to the new one, and then replacing sod that was removed during construction (if necessary).

    During transfer of water service, customers will be without water on two occasions: for tie-in of the new water main line, and for tie-in of their individual service lines to the main line. These operations take a few hours and are scheduled at times to minimize inconvenience to residents. The contractor will place notices on customers’ front doors at least 24 hours in advance of a water shutoff.

    After replacement of a waterline, customers should run their outside faucet to flush out pipes before using indoor water fixtures.

About the 5-Year Streets Program – Fix Our Streets 2008

  • What will be accomplished through the Fix Our Streets 2008 projects?
  • This five-year program provides $451.6 million of maintenance and rehabilitation for Tulsa’s streets and bridges. Some work on sidewalks, trails and railroad crossings also is included. A complete listing of the projects, including costs, can be found at www.fixourstreetslive.com.
  • What are the funding sources for Fix Our Streets 2008 projects?
  • Funding for Fix Our Streets 2008 projects will come from both sales taxes and general obligation bonds issued by the City of Tulsa.

    The sales taxes consist of an extension of the Third Penny Sales Tax (one cent) through 2014, and a tax extension of the same amount as the current Tulsa County Four-to-Fix sales tax (0.167 cent). When the County Four-to-Fix tax expires in October 2011, the City of Tulsa will begin collection of a 0.167-cent sales tax through 2014, providing $35.6 million to support Fix Our Streets 2008. The Third Penny Sales Tax will provide $131 million through 2014 for Fix Our Streets projects.

    Funding for Fix Our Streets 2008 also includes $285 million in general obligation bonds, issued beginning in Fiscal Year 2010. The bonds result in property tax increases that in the maximum year of impact – 2015 – will be proportional to 6.3 mills, or just $63 per year, for a $100,000 house.
  • Are all areas of the city included in these street improvements?
  • Yes. Each district will receive at least 8.2 percent of the total. Project funding is distributed among the nine City Council districts according to need, or pavement condition. The City of Tulsa has used the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers based Pavement Management System and Pavement Condition Index since the 1990s.
  • How was this particular street improvements plan developed
  • In the fall of 2007, the Mayor and City Council appointed a citizens panel to extensively study the streets issue and make recommendations on how Tulsa could best fix the streets. The panel reported its findings, and then the City Council launched a series of town hall meetings throughout the city to listen to what citizens had to say. Using citizen comments from these town hall meetings, and with additional recommendations from several city officials and the Public Works Department, the Mayor submitted the Five-Year Streets Plan to the City Council for their approval and it was approved by voters on Nov. 4, 2008.
  • Does any money from area toll roads come back to the city to pay for our streets?
  • No. Tolls go to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to support maintenance of turnpikes.
  • Do casinos help pay for city streets?
  • No. The City of Tulsa receives no taxes or general revenue from casinos.
  • Does the city match federal dollars for streets funding?
  • Federal dollars are available for the state and federal highway system, and they require a match for some projects. Federal funds are not available for neighborhood streets and most arterial streets.
  • When the Fix Our Street program was developed, were issues like inflation and the rising cost of materials taken into account?
  • Yes. Developers of the Fix Our Streets 2008 program built in a 10 percent per year increase in construction costs with an additional contingency included as well.
  • What is the "Pavement Condition Index" that is used to rate our streets?
  • Nationally, cities use a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) to rate streets on a 100-point scale, with failed streets rated at 0 and excellent streets at 100. Tulsa uses this standard rating to help determine what type of work is needed for each street, as well as to help prioritize the order in which streets are repaired.
  • Does this program fix the potholes on the Broken Arrow Expressway?
  • No, the Expressway is a state highway and repairs are the responsibility of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
  • Does this program address repairs to neighborhood streets?
  • Yes. Fix Our Streets 2008 includes extensive repair work to neighborhood streets as well as arterial streets.
  • Does the program fix any streets in Tulsa suburbs like Broken Arrow?
  • No. The repairs focus on street projects in the nine council districts of the City of Tulsa.
  • When we say this program will "fix" the streets, does that mean just filling potholes, or does it mean repaving streets?
  • Street repairs included in this five-year program include repaving, rehabilitation and similar solutions. For details, see www.fixourstreetslive.com. City street maintenance crews fill potholes year round, using funds from the general operating fund. The patches are a temporary fix until a larger patch can be made by cutting out a square section of pavement surrounding the pothole and filling it with asphalt or concrete.
  • How long will it take to fix the streets?
  • Generally, the City of Tulsa follows certain schedules regarding funding, design, and construction of street projects:

    Funding for street projects usually is included as part of a sales tax extension or general obligation bond issue. Fix Our Streets 2008 includes both sales tax extensions and bonds issued over a five-year period.

    Design of a street project follows a nine- to 12-month process, depending on the size and complexity of the project design. The process begins with collection of information from sources including public meetings, field investigations and records of past issues. Once initial information is collected, the design engineer determines the best way to address the needs using available funding. Street project design plans may include replacement of substandard water and sanitary sewer lines in proximity of the street and correction of drainage issues if they affect the street.

    Street widening projects do require additional right-of-way and utility relocation. Right-of-way acquisition may take no time or up to 12 months depending on the number of parcels and necessary negotiations or condemnation through the court system. Utility relocation may take no time or up to 12 months depending on the amount required and the overall workload of the utility companies.

    Because Fix Our Streets 2008 does not include street widening, right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation will not be necessary in most cases. Occasionally improvement projects to fix the streets may require some additional right-of-way or utility relocation. This may occur when the project involves changing the street elevation for better storm drainage or sight distance.

    When the design of a street project is complete and approved, the project is usually advertised for construction bids for 28 days. During this time, the plans are available for review by all contractors on the City’s prequalification list. At the end of the 28 days, the bids are opened publicly and the City Clerk certifies the apparent low bidder.

    The bid is approved through a two-step process. The first step is to award the project to the lowest responsive bidder, usually within 14 to 21 days after the bids are opened. The second step is execution of the construction contracts, usually 14 to 21 days after the award is approved.

    Once the contracts are executed, the City notifies the contractor and a start date for construction is determined. Construction time depends on the size of the project area and amount of work to be performed.
  • Where exactly will this money be going? Can I see an itemized list?
  • A map has been created to show the locations and costs of all of the street projects included in the five-year street improvements plan. This map is online at www.fixourstreetslive.com.
  • How did Tulsa get in this situation with its streets? Why did it take so long for the problem to be recognized?
  • The reason our streets are in bad shape can be summarized in one sentence: in the past 40 years, land area for the City of Tulsa has grown 300 percent while its population has grown only 12 percent. Declining revenues have led to deferred maintenance, resulting in worsening conditions.
  • Does the City aggressively advertise contracting opportunities to out-of-area firms so we can have a more robust competition for road work?
  • The City of Tulsa currently advertises all projects with the "Tulsa Daily Commerce & Legal News" and posts all projects on the City of Tulsa website. In addition to that public advertisement, plans are provided to the Dodge Report, Bid News and Southwest Construction News. The Dodge Report is a national firm owned by McGraw-Hill and has a national database that publishes work being bid throughout the United States. Southwest Construction News is a group from Oklahoma and provides a plan room for contractors in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. They report that they also provide information to contractors in surrounding states. Bid News is from Oklahoma and maintains a plan room in Oklahoma City and Tulsa for contractors.

    The City of Tulsa also provides a list of upcoming projects for bid to the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC) and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). ABC and AGC are national organizations with offices in the state of Oklahoma. During the council’s Street Committee meetings this issue was discussed. There were two main points of view:
    1.  The sales tax and bond issues are funds raised and paid by "Tulsans" so therefore keep the work local. To that end, we have a 50 percent residency affidavit that contractors submit as part of their sealed bids for Tulsa work. The intent is to encourage and ensure "Tulsans" benefit from a locally raised tax even though a contractor may be from out of the area.
    2.  We need to open up a perceived closed market. Open up our work to Oklahoma City, Kansas, Texas, and Arkansas contractors. The intent, as noted in the question, is to get better bids.
    In the past, our construction program has attracted contractors from surrounding states and other Oklahoma communities which have set up operations in our area. As we advertise our projects and the word gets out regarding the size, magnitude, and type of work, contractors will be interested. They will see that our consistent program offers them more than just a one-shot attempt at getting work. Once here, contractors are then in a better position to operate a sustainable effort.

    The most recent example is the extensive sanitary sewer rehab program we ran from the 1990s to 2006. General contractors as well as specialty contractors came to town to work on manhole and pipe-lining projects. As the work curtailed, these contractors either diversified into other types of work or left the area. We get similar attention from professional consultants in surrounding states.

    Having contractors come into the community does not occur without some conflict and growing pains. Each contractor must become accustomed to doing business in the Tulsa environment including our urbanized areas. Although our technical specifications are fairly standard, we have added unique items and deleted others according to what has worked in the past. Other areas of adjustment may include slight variations in standard drawings, construction techniques to meet our performance specifications, and developing working relationships with superintendents and project managers. Becoming familiar with our work environment requires a time investment to achieve success.

    We have been and are open to new contractors. It does work best, however, when they open a local office and delegate authority to a local individual to handle day-to-day issues. State statutes and our bidding processes require that we do award to the lowest, responsible bidder. We have a prequalification process to screen the capabilities and financial viability of the contractors that work for the citizens of the City of Tulsa. Our bonding requirements are another level of protection for the taxpayer. So the City’s program is set up with certain levels of safeguards that do allow us to open up our work to "out-of-area" contractors.

    As far as additional, specific efforts and plans to "reach out" to out-of-area contractors, a process has not been defined. One approach may be to solicit approved or pre-qualified contractors from surrounding states’ Department of Transportation agencies. A mailing could be generated that would introduce the funding program and explain our pre-qualification ordinance with information on how to be eligible to work for the City.

    The pre-qualification process is not something to be completed after a project advertises. It takes time to generate the required information for the application, have the background information verified by the City Clerk’s office, and then have the application approved by the contractor pre-qualification committee. As outlined above, the notification of public bids is currently going to a wide audience, but it is a business decision for the out-of-area contractors to expand their operation to our area. The opportunity to participate in the amount of work included in Fix Our Streets may be the needed incentive.
  • How do the City of Tulsa and Oklahoma Department of Transportation coordinate their projects to allow the best possible traffic flow?
  • The City of Tulsa and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation coordinate all work where overlaps between city streets and highways exist. Both entities try to minimize disruption to users. The projects are reviewed to determine whether adjustments in implementation are needed. City of Tulsa and ODOT Division 8 representatives are working to reduce the disruption of moving people, goods, and services in the vicinity of our highway segments.
  • I see money in the package for rebuilding streets, as we’ve been doing. But where is the money for paving, crack sealing, milling and overlay? Is there adequate money in this package for the preventive maintenance we haven’t been doing?
  • There is $40,776,000 budgeted for arterial and non-arterial routine and preventive maintenance. Arterial streets received $15,494,000 and the non-arterial streets received $25,282,000. These funds will be used for crack sealing, fog sealing and overlays with some milling or leveling courses. A portion of the 70 percent to 80 percent of the funds for rehabilitation includes overlays that have not been adequately funded in the past. Those rehabilitation (not reconstruction) dollar amounts are: arterial - $109 million, non-arterial - $177 million.

    Our funding over the past 16 years has been right at 50 percent of the funds needed to maintain a PCI through a funding package term. We have been on a downward trend for many years. The 2006 Sales Tax (six years) provided the following for routine and preventive work citywide: arterial- $2 million and non-arterial- $3 million.

    Fix Our Streets 2008 gives an incredible boost to routine and preventive maintenance: 7.7 times more funding for arterial streets and 8.4 times more funding for non-arterial streets than what was in the 2006 Sales Tax. Due to the lack of funding for street operations and the capital maintenance program, we have developed a very large backlog of work and it will require a longer horizon than five years to correct.

    Is this adequate? Street work funding needs could be added to the proverbial list of items never satisfied. Some would like the streets "fixed" overnight. There is not enough funding to do so. This funding level is adequate for us to turn the corner and begin to see a real impact on our street network. We are looking at a 12- to 15-year horizon in achieving our PCI goals.

    The funding amounts in this program represent a huge increase over past funding levels in previous programs. This five-year program provides for all strategies approximately 10 times the amount of funding for non-arterial streets and more than five times the amount for arterial streets than in the six-year 2006 Sales Tax program. Regardless of funding levels, our goal is to optimize the pavement condition of our street network and improve as much road area as possible.
  • What “capital improvements” are included in Fix Our Streets 2008?
  • Fix Our Streets 2008 capital improvements include work to be done on sidewalks, railroad crossings and trails, but do not include street widening, flood control projects, water, sewer or public facilities maintenance.
  • What is the federal aid dependent on, and if we don’t get the federal aid, where does the rest of the money come from?
  • Federal aid depends on national funding levels and state/regional priorities. Federal aid has been used for projects such as the Gilcrease Expressway and requires a local match.

    All of the street projects listed in Fix Our Streets 2008 were approved for local funding. The City of Tulsa, however, successfully applied for federal funding through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 and received $15.8 million for construction of 16 street maintenance projects. Some of these were part of Fix Our Streets 2008, and some were from previous street funding measures. The City of Tulsa was able to save money, which can be applied to other street projects where needed.

City Accountability

  • Who oversees the work that’s being done to Tulsa streets?
  • All phases of the street improvements – from planning to design to construction – are being overseen by City of Tulsa Engineering Services and the Transportation Advisory Board.
  • How will the public know progress is being made on the street projects?
  • A street improvements website www.fixourstreetslive.com is being maintained so citizens can track the progress of street projects in every phase – from beginning of design to completion of construction. For information on specific projects, adjacent property owners will receive an informational letter or flier and public meetings will be held before the street work begins.
  • How many local contractors will be utilized?
  • The projects will be competitively bid and local contractors may submit bids.

Taxpayer Impact

  • Does funding for these street projects include a tax increase?
  • The sales tax rate in the City of Tulsa will remain the same as it is now. This plan includes a renewal of Tulsa’s Third Penny Sales Tax, and the same amount as Tulsa County’s Four-to-Fix sales tax.

    Extension of the Third Penny Sales tax through 2014 will provide $131 million for streets. Continuing the same amount as the Four-to-Fix sales tax through 2014 provides $35.6 million for streets.

    Funding for Fix the Streets 2008 also includes a $285 million General Obligation Bond Issue, which began in Fiscal Year 2010. This will enact property tax increases that in the maximum year of impact – 2015, will be proportional to 6.3 mills or $63 per year for a $100,000 house.
  • What do local property tax rates look like compared to those in other states?
  • When comparing property tax as a percentage of personal income, only Alabama at 1.3 percent has a lower rate than Oklahoma. Oklahoma, Arkansas, Delaware and New Mexico are all at 1.5 percent of personal income. The average for all states is 3.1 percent. (Source: Governing Magazine’s Sourcebook – 2006, the latest data available)
  • How does the city sell bonds and get the money, and what assets does it leverage?
  • The City of Tulsa takes competitive bids from underwriters and selects the one offering the lowest interest cost. No leverage is used. The bonds are secured by a full faith and credit pledge of the City of Tulsa and a pledge of property tax revenue.
  • How is the city currently using Tulsa homeowners’ property taxes?
  • The City of Tulsa receives about 11 percent of the property taxes paid by a homeowner. Other government entities, primarily schools, receive the balance. The property tax received by the City is used for payment of general obligation bond principal and interest and for judgments issued by a court against the City.
  • Will the property tax increase approved for Fix Our Streets 2008 supersede the annual 5 percent property tax increase cap?
  • The property tax increase approved for Fix Our Streets 2008 is an increase in tax rate. The 5 percent limit is a constitutional limit on the increase in property value each year, unless the property is improved or sold.
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