Mayor Calling For Streets Plan

Tulsa's mayor is calling on city leaders to come together on a streets plan before it's too late. News On 6 anchor Jennifer Loren reports the streets sub-committee met on Thursday to debate and discuss current funding options that, so far, have stalled out.

"Today's reality is streets are in the emergency room. We're going to have to take drastic action to get them out," said Mayor Kathy Taylor.

The mayor's street-funding proposal is a big one, driving more than $2 billion to Tulsa streets for the next 12 years.

"To not be specific is I think the kiss of death. I got to tell you," said Bill Christiansen.

City Councilman Christiansen says he's ready to move on the mayor's funding package, but it must be specific enough that each citizen knows it's right for them.

"I would go along with the 12 year-two billion dollar package if it was specific with the widening projects as recommended by the administration," said Christiansen.

Christiansen says better roads, in some areas like south Tulsa, mean wider roads.  That's been a stalling point within the subcommittee.

Councilor Bill Martinson says he'd like to take a closer look at possible widening projects and how the city funds them. But the mayor warned everyone, time is of the essence and taking too long to agree on a plan could put Tulsa's roads on a crash course with failure.

"A year delay and we may never be able to climb the mountain that we'll put in front of ourselves," said Mayor Taylor.

The mayor's goal now is to have a proposal agreed upon by September to get it on the November ballot.