$2 Billion Street Plan In The Works

The politicians at city hall are unsure if voters are willing to approve a $2 billion street repair plan. The News On 6's Emory Bryan reports the council is divided on the issue and the mayor is suggesting compromise.

A gaggle of engineers lined one wall at a city council meeting, scribbling out numbers. They are the ones who really know how far money goes on street work, and the city council wants them to evaluate another plan to fix the streets.

"We want accountability and accountability to many citizens means we want to vote on it again in five years to see if you're doing your job," said Mayor Kathy Taylor.

Mayor Taylor has come up with a compromise that the architect of a bigger plan doesn't like.

"Well I don't think it shows a commitment to fix the streets," said Tulsa City Councilor Bill Martinson.

The original plan called for spending $2 billion over 12 years. An alternate plan would spend $270 million over four years. The newest plan suggested by Taylor would spend $452 million over five years.

The bigger plan would make the most progress on the streets, at the lowest cost overall, but many at city hall believe voters won't approve it.

"What we heard from some people at the streets meetings was that 12 years is too long for us to look forward, that concerns us," said Mayor Taylor.

Councilor Bill Christiansen suggested the four year plan, but he also likes the five year plan.

"The mayor in my opinion is right on the money with what she's proposing and I think it's a good compromise," said Christiansen.

But city councilors, who watched a slide show of Tulsa's worst potholes, were warned that smaller, shorter packages will cost more and do less.

"Our issue is that making sure the commitment stays to the streets and that's one thing the long term plan does do," said Paul Zachary of the Tulsa Public Works.

Six of the nine city councilors said on Thursday they are behind the bigger plan, the $2 billion package. They believe voters are willing to do whatever it takes. The council will pick the package and they'll probably do that next week.