Campaign Push To Fix Our Streets

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- In a month, voters will pick a president and decide what to do about Tulsa's streets.  A sales tax extension and property tax increase are both on the ballot.  It's the start of a plan to repair the streets.

At 11th and Lewis, patch work is underway to the north, but without the new tax the repairs won't go south of 11th Street.  That kind of information is part of the sales pitch for the streets package.

A new TV advertising campaign kicked off Monday.  It urges voters to approve a $451 million tax to fix the streets.

Despite the economy, campaign coordinator Cheryl Lovelady believes voters will pass it.

"They're ready to fix the streets.  They're ready to make an investment in Tulsa's future," said Cheryl Lovelady.

The tax extension would cover the $4.2 million cost of repairing a mile of 71st Street just west of the Arkansas River.  It includes a $1.5 million upgrade for the 21st and Utica intersection.   

All of the projects, large and small, are detailed on the campaign website, fixourstreetslive.com.  A digital media agency called Blue View put it together.

 "Ideally this is a comprehensive set of information that the public can go to and find out what the vote is about," said Kevin Shelhamer with Blueview.

The campaign to promote the tax includes 75,000 copies of street maps that show every project.

The website is up now and it's planned as a resource that brings together all the information.  It's divided up by city council districts.

 "And I can go to and look at District 9 and find out which of the projects are associated with the 2008 streets plan," said Kevin Shelhamer with Blueview.

Lovelady believes the campaign stands a good chance of success because Tulsans are so fed up with the streets and the sales pitch is easy to understand.

"So, the campaign's approach is very simple:  here's what you'll get for your money if you vote two for Tulsa, propositions one and two," said Cheryl Lovelady.

The maps are going out in the mail and are available at QuikTrip and on the web.