[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6262611,"mediaKeyId","3114551-9484fb7166624320f959aef48ae8e823","parentId",3114551,"title","City staff recommends mobile, traffic‑rated barriers instead of fixed bollards for Campus Corner events","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4265000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3114551-9484fb7166624320f959aef48ae8e823&start=4265&end=4265","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3114551-9484fb7166624320f959aef48ae8e823/thumbnail_4265000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262611/Norman/Cleveland-County/Oklahoma/City-staff-recommends-mobile-trafficrated-barriers-instead-of-fixed-bollards-for-Campus-Corner-events","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262611-5dfa8af29c95ceaae7471c09d31733f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770497792&Signature=bPsqbp7CI75NFYDZ7iL1VwAJaEjQGF2m2qcBcC4TbH1wsKDicaWLmlKYb96V3DRfGIKlYmaAyYjFuHXLPZvrI-d-bZDZFn1tQDxRS00V4zcfnqUULddK-wi3vgmtUovIh1bOpo~WxYz~FU9tXxg8I2dETGtP0bk2bHOYj0Yn0zG15h0Eq4oDuHcjjgxN3aAntyruOy5ebAFdOSa35XOaUPYvniXHk3iGi7fb3Hv28PA2aI6QX-ajap~owpACMJFfRikiWJ9aXiP2k3JdDFroPPUETtnyrEkg4hqLtQO1uGB-WgSe~I1L5~OHfvUYTImJTVjnhAyPe6-L9eabJnUPVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Norman, OK","date","2025-04-24T23:16:47.403Z","article","City Streets staff and public safety officials told the City Council Community Planning and Transportation Committee on April 25 that permanently installed, key‑operated bollards are not the best option for securing Campus Corner during events and football game days.

Joseph Field, streets program manager, briefed the committee on a multi‑year review of a pilot plan for bollards in the Campus Corner footprint. Field and Major Barber (police) said earlier purchased, key‑operated bollards were not traffic‑rated and that traffic‑rated security bollards would require deep foundations, extensive utility relocation and far higher cost. Major Barber noted that bollards that staff had previously ordered were “more aesthetic bollards than they were safety bollards.”

Why it matters: committee members and staff emphasized two priorities that in‑ground bollards would struggle to meet — reliable emergency access and adaptability for different event footprints. Fire and police staff warned that a bollard that fails in the raised position can block emergency vehicles and is difficult to remove quickly, and that key security (many distributed keys in the community) creates control and theft risks.

Staff proposal and alternatives: instead of fixed in‑ground bollards, staff recommended pursuing a modular, mobile barrier system that is traffic rated, ADA accessible and rapidly deployable. Staff showed examples of a modular system used at national festivals and suggested the Meridian Rapid Defense System and similar mobile barriers. Those units can be arranged to provide secure vehicle exclusion while maintaining pedestrian flow, include ADA‑compliant walking pads, and are usable in multiple locations across the city (Campus Corner, Main Street, festival footprints).

Maintenance, cost and operations: staff said traffic‑rated in‑ground bollards would cost substantially more (staff cited vendor examples in the thousands of dollars per unit and heavy civil construction) and present high lifecycle maintenance and repair needs. Built, mobile modular systems cost more than the inexpensive aesthetic bollards the city had purchased earlier but avoid heavy permanent civil work and allow rental or phased purchase options; staff said rental availability should be explored for the upcoming football season while procurement and deployment details are finalized.

Merchants and event control: staff noted prior outreach to Campus Corner merchants about earlier bollard proposals and said merchants expressed mixed positions: some want more frequent closures (weekends) but have concerns about who would manage keys and equipment. Committee members and staff said the city will reengage the Campus Corner Merchants Association as staff refines modular options and tests deployments.

Next steps: staff asked for committee direction to pursue modular, transportable, traffic‑rated barriers, to explore rental options for the coming season and to develop a menu of “event‑friendly zones” where pre‑approved closures, equipment and ingress/egress plans could be used. The committee indicated support for the modular approach and asked staff to return with cost and operational details; no formal vote was taken.

Local context: staff said the city will continue to use movable concrete barricades and existing event management tactics in the near term and that earlier inexpensive bollards the city purchased may be repurposed for low‑risk park or pedestrian applications where traffic‑rated protection is not required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Community Planning & Transportation Committee, 4/24/25","oneSentenceSummary","After reviewing permanent bollard options and security ratings, city staff urged a mobile, modular barrier system for Campus Corner and other event zones, citing emergency access, maintenance and utility conflicts with in‑ground bollards.","taxTitle","Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma","taxId",2684,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6262616,"Staff proposes targeted lane reductions, multimodal paths for two 2019 bond road projects",1610,2723000,4333000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3114551-9484fb7166624320f959aef48ae8e823&start=2723&end=4333","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3114551-9484fb7166624320f959aef48ae8e823/thumbnail_2723000.jpg","/articles/6262616/Norman/Cleveland-County/Oklahoma/Staff-proposes-targeted-lane-reductions-multimodal-paths-for-two-2019-bond-road-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262616-45c2147c620eaa49fe61ae93e9eb99dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770497792&Signature=RZc2HahPgRK8-tnhBDmmw7meE7G8k1Lh~w7dBY8LUGNCVN33MqHMx~F0zPBwCZVOazf17AhVBuOKS5Wpzh3rmmCQYrCWI9hQF7cDpHUox2q7i6Vh4Z4VOVs~NNIa1EpOnu3-sZW8H6vOM21TMgKD4WkqZm61gP~uORrpwZyCtwmZR8khkxEpBGWrEKE0CawpsJpcDtTgICejzUYavYCom7OelmCIADB4NgFTBjsH4Ib-Wd0lGlSV6dM2rgNuA8FqevJXzQtCAETdriuBePHF7JXXDK9LxzO8-u0aus0IPvPKekxTtFoUISDBmYysS8UCx7LBB4fkjDuE1p6sm89J8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tim Miles, city engineer, presented preliminary design changes for two road projects funded by the 2019 Transportation Bond at the City Council Community Planning and Transportation Committee on April 25.

Miles said the 40 Eighth Avenue Northwest project (Robinson Street to Rock Creek Road) and the 20 Fourth Avenue Northeast project (Rock Creek Road to Tecumseh Road) face physical constraints — floodplain, limited development potential and utility easements — that make the originally proposed continuous three‑ or four‑lane cross sections costly and unnecessary for current traffic volumes.

Why it matters: staff recommended narrowing pavement where through turn movements are rare, widening only at intersections that warrant turn lanes, and using 10‑foot off‑street multiuse paths rather than continuous on‑street bike lanes in segments where a separated path serves residents better. The changes are intended to reduce construction and storm‑sewer impacts while preserving the ability to add lanes if future development requires them.

Project specifics: Miles said the 40 Eighth Avenue NW corridor carries about 4,200 vehicles per day and that the south half of the project (near Robinson Street) will be reconstructed to match the existing four‑lane intersections. North of Davenbrook Drive, staff proposes a two‑lane segment (with intersection widenings at Stonegate and Saddleback) to avoid costly floodplain work and compensatory storage; the roadway would widen again approaching Rock Creek Road.

For 20 Fourth Avenue NE, the bond language called for a four‑lane roadway, but Miles said the corridor’s roughly 3,800 vehicles per day and prevailing large‑acreage residential parcels do not justify full widening today. He said many utility lines (OG&E) lie in private easements outside the city right‑of‑way, which would increase relocation costs. Miles suggested a three‑lane cross section as a fiscally prudent interim solution while preserving options for future developer‑funded widening.

Grant pursuit and timing: Miles said staff applied for federal grant funding through a program routed by the Absentee Shawnee Tribe; an application was debriefed and staff reported a reviewer categorization error that reduced the project’s initial score. Miles said a three‑lane design would improve the benefit‑cost ratio in future applications. He estimated 20 Fourth could be the sooner candidate for federal funds; the 40 Eighth north segment may come later in the program (possible 2028–29 timeframe), with exact timelines depending on grant outcomes.

Committee questions and next steps: Councilor Montoya asked about stormwater improvements on 40 Eighth Avenue; Miles said the project will add pavement drainage and storm sewer under the road, plus curb in areas where feasible, but noted that large adjacent ponds and floodplain areas limit how quickly standing water will drain. Councilor Hinkle raised safety concerns about how a widened 20 Fourth could redirect traffic onto a narrow, hilly section of Tecumseh and noted that companion projects in the 2019 bond (Tecumseh and Rock Creek) were intended to coordinate traffic flow; staff confirmed those further bond projects remain planned.

Staff said design choices aim to meet the bond’s intent while avoiding unnecessary right‑of‑way acquisition or utility relocation costs; if development occurs along the corridors, developers would be required to add turn or acceleration/deceleration lanes at their frontage, effectively allowing incremental widening.

The committee did not take formal votes on design changes but instructed staff to continue design and grant work and return with more detailed engineering and funding options as grant results and right‑of‑way analysis progress.","City engineers recommended narrowing proposed full-length multi-lane widening on 40 Eighth Ave NW and 20 Fourth Ave NE to targeted three‑lane sections or intersection widenings, citing floodplain constraints, low traffic volumes and utility easements; staff will pursue grant opportunities with adjusted designs.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6262621,"City committee hears ridership rebound and user complaints over paratransit scheduling after software change",2736,15000,2751000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3114551-9484fb7166624320f959aef48ae8e823&start=15&end=2751","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3114551-9484fb7166624320f959aef48ae8e823/thumbnail_15000.jpg","/articles/6262621/Norman/Cleveland-County/Oklahoma/City-committee-hears-ridership-rebound-and-user-complaints-over-paratransit-scheduling-after-software-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262621-f4332e47a640b5f6c47ef6564ac5318b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770497792&Signature=jHTjlOT1pUsvPk8x1crNJPkocwc7ni1mruSMNhsOOTovqP2UCyQkMKOC8APrl1uRpzHn~K1sPv~RwPlKRbhWtohZhCCNwxMeW3pmBjJg6MOYbFERdZR0oLZvNjNC9HqxlYT8Y5GsEYc9cTGvSj1wC9j0QD3dEuI5wKniczeDQyiTjDI4NvG9e9fDCvFHBvIgPBTCrOln0Nbw5btbvfqNqZaA7MnirBKSxCseDQ~QZ6QXCIaAMNhybZF~rd2mx2AabuMCCOHJ7mBaEt7XUj98bXAHMUL88IYIZRTL4kYwOsXrALIcRzSwM2msrXiSwzXO45vWQg9ACf~j6~dM9kYZHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Taylor, transit staff for the City of Norman, told the City Council Community Planning and Transportation Committee on April 25 that fixed-route ridership rebounded strongly in March and that staff expects updated paratransit numbers next month after a new scheduling software is fine-tuned.

The update came as paratransit users brought detailed complaints about customer-service breakdowns, long on‑vehicle times and safety problems since Embark implemented the new scheduling system two months earlier. Chris Nanny, a paratransit user who said he chaired the CART advisory committee for 10 years, told the committee the new software has “wreaked havoc for us,” listing missed messages, rides dropped or delayed, and drivers under stress.

The memo and ridership reports attached to tonight's meeting show fixed‑route trips in March totaled 43,178, compared with 31,961 in March 2024. Taylor said weekday fixed‑route productivity rose to about 21 passenger trips per service hour, roughly a 15% increase over last March. Norman on Demand reported “just over 3,800” rides in March versus about 2,662 the prior March, a roughly 30% increase.

Why it matters: committee members and staff framed the ridership gains as positive but cautioned that service quality for paratransit customers — who depend on demand‑response service for medical appointments and work — showed operational problems that may violate federal expectations for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit service and could require corrective steps.

Users described sustained problems since Embark’s new paratransit scheduling software rolled out in late February and March. “There’s all kinds of scheduling problems, hold times on the phone, multiple phone calls, calls not returned, missed messages, missed rides, pickups way outside of our pickup window,” Chris Nanny said. He and other users reported being on vehicles for up to an hour or more and said the system was inserting additional pickups mid‑route, prolonging trips.

Taylor said March was the first month the new software was implemented for Embark Plus and that staff expects revised paratransit figures next month after the vendor fine‑tunes the software. On the committee’s performance metrics, staff noted Norman required paratransit capacity denials were 0.85% year‑to‑date against a 0% target; Taylor said the federal rule requires jurisdictions to provide required trips and that 1% or less is “great,” though 0 remains the target.

On Norman on Demand funding, Taylor outlined a set of budget scenarios staff has analyzed: a 10‑month contract with Via to bridge the coming fiscal year could save about $95,000; an identified $48,000 duplicate charge was corrected; the University of Oklahoma has offered to increase its contribution by about $6,000 (from roughly $121,000 to about $127,000) for the coming year. Taken together with other expense reductions, Taylor said transit could be “just over $80,000 in the black,” while noting the margin is narrow and dependent on sales tax and other revenue.

Council members asked staff to return with additional detail. Council member Grant asked whether the fiscal year targets (for example, 312,000 YTD fixed‑route trips vs a 400,000 target) are adjusted after the fiscal period and how shortfalls affect planning; Taylor said staff uses forecasts in the annual budget process and will present FY‑26 assumptions during that cycle. Council members also requested fare‑generation scenarios for fixed route to be brought back for discussion.

Public comment focused on paratransit operations: Nanny detailed multiple rider safety and service complaints, including drivers rushed to meet on‑time performance, riders experiencing unsecured mobility devices and riders reporting missed medical appointments or shortened appointments. Nanny urged restoring local Norman scheduling personnel, reinstating a monthly passenger liaison/advisory committee, expanding subscription rides for regular service users, and allowing more older residents to qualify for Plus service on age alone.

Staff response and next steps: staff said they are taking notes, will continue to investigate the software issues with the contractor, will return with April paratransit numbers once the vendor supplies corrected reports, and will bring further budget and fare scenarios for committee consideration. The committee did not take a formal vote on any action tonight.

Local context: staff noted Norman voluntarily provides paratransit and demand‑response service across the entire city limit (the federally required area is three‑quarters of a mile from fixed routes). Committee members emphasized the city’s responsibility to keep federally required Zone 1 trips accessible while balancing budget constraints for extra citywide coverage.

The committee meeting closed this item with staff directed to continue negotiations with the contractor on both performance and budget scenarios and to report back to the committee with updated ridership and proposed fare/budget options.","Council committee was presented March ridership gains for Embark and Norman on Demand and heard detailed complaints from paratransit users about a new scheduling software that riders say has caused missed rides, long ride times and safety concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff recommends mobile, traffic‑rated barriers instead of fixed bollards for Campus Corner events

Staff proposes targeted lane reductions, multimodal paths for two 2019 bond road projects

City committee hears ridership rebound and user complaints over paratransit scheduling after software change