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New Tulsa Downtown Advisory Board Leader Hits the Ground ... Walking

The new leader of a downtown Tulsa advisory board is ready to move full speed ahead on a walkability study’s suggestions.

Downtown Coordinating Council Executive Director Brian Kurtz said he wants downtown to be a more attractive place to be, and renowned city planner Jeff Speck's 2017 study is a game plan for that.

"We have the opportunity to leverage this walkable Tulsa plan and Mr. Speck’s recommendations that will make it easier, safer and more enjoyable for everyday users to experience our streets and our sidewalks in a very fun way," Kurtz said.

"Each person, when you are downtown at any point in time — really, anywhere, you’re going to be pedestrian first. So, we need to make sure that we’re emphasizing pedestrians over any other mode of transportation because it’s the primary mode of everyone’s transportation," Kurtz said.

Kurtz took charge of the DCC Aug. 20th and said he’s already had several meetings about recommendations in the walkability study.

"Very specifically, taking a look at Third Street restriping and the introduction of bike facilities. The goal is that by the end of the month, those plans will be finalized. Then we can move on to a few of the next streets to take a look at," Kurtz said.

Kurtz said the study can help make downtown Tulsa a vibrant, fun place where people want to live and visit. Recommendations include open spaces available for use, sidewalk cafes and successful urban retail.

Speck’s study notes downtown will need a lot more housing, though.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.