Seminar Leads To Traffic Nightmare

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Monday saw event overload in downtown Tulsa.  It was the first time a sold out event at the new arena took place during the work day.

When the crowd poured out of the arena for lunch, traffic wasn't much of an issue because most everyone was walking.  But, before 8 o'clock when the seminar kicked off, traffic backed up outside downtown.  On the west side, over the river, drivers were backed up for miles.

"It was crowded and congested, but we got here pretty good," said one woman.

"Took us a really long time, but it was worth it.  We were just a tiny bit late," added another woman.

The surge in traffic was despite room for 8,000 cars in satellite parking lots away from the arena.  Shuttle buses took people to the seminar.  But, many people chose to search for a spot closer to the arena or they didn't know about the shuttles.

"Parking was a little bit difficult, unless you were here really, really early," said one man.

"We just got the tickets last night from a friend who couldn't come, so we didn't get the details," said another.

With 18,000 people at the seminar on a workday, it was the biggest test yet of downtown traffic control.

Tulsa Police had 30 extra officers on traffic duty and what they thought was a good plan.

"We've got to do some improvements," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Skipper Bain.

Sgt. Skipper Bain says next time they'll try to get more people on shuttle buses, and work out a system so paid parking lots can get people in faster.

"Not everybody used the shuttle as we hoped.  A lot did, but the shuttle areas never got full," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Skipper Bain.

Some people had to walk several blocks to find parking, but it turned out there was a parking spot for everyone who needed one.