Project Overview:

The Denver Avenue Streetscaping Project is an improvement plan dedicated to updating safety, walkability, and overall efficiency of Denver Avenue in Downtown Tulsa. As a primary corridor that serves pedestrians, cyclists, public transit, and auto traffic, Denver Avenue is a vital pulse of Tulsa’s downtown center. The Denver Avenue Streetscaping Project seeks to improve accessibility for all Downtown users while also strengthening the connection between districts and local activities.

Downtown Tulsa Partnership has been working with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG) to develop a safety and beautification plan to improve Denver Avenue’s infrastructure.

Local Project Goals:

● Improve Public Safety: Implement traffic calming measures through a central media and updated signage.

● Beautification Efforts: Bordering trees lining the median and sidewalk, as well as large-scale public art and lighting improvements.

● Encourage Walkability: Create wider, contiguous sidewalks to increase pedestrian safety and foot traffic.

● Accessibility for all: Infrastructure design that creates safer routes for children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.

Project Context:

Denver Avenue is known for being the highest crash corridor in Downtown, and and remains to be an unmet area of improvement. The corridor acts as a central hub for entertainment – BOK Arena and the Arvest Convention Center – as well as giving access to the Central Library, the MTTA’s Central Transit Hub, County and Municipal Courts, and an up-and-coming Convention Center Hotel. As a multi-modal corridor, Denver Avenue needs traffic calming, lighting, landscaping, signage, and wider, continuous sidewalks to accommodate the growing Downtown center. The Denver Avenue Streetscaping Project addresses safety concerns and encourages walkability in an active downtown corridor.

Since 2010, Denver Avenue has been part of planning efforts that activate Downtown Tulsa through public realm improvements. The Denver Avenue Streetscaping Project will help propel the efforts of the 2018 Arena District Master Plan, which aims to create a welcoming access point for the city of Tulsa. Through infrastructure updates and public art installations, Denver Avenue will be a vibrant main thoroughfare and point of access to Arena District activities, attracting Tulsans and visitors alike.

Project Timeline Overview:

● June – December 2025: Survey, Geotech, Preliminary Layout

● January-September 2026: Design Process

● October-November 2026: Final Approvals

● December 2026: Contractor Selection and Bid Letting

Budget Breakdown:

Roughly $7 million investment

~75% is locally funded by dedicated funds from City of Tulsa General Obligation Bonding from the 2019 Improve Our Tulsa II effort approved by citizenry of the City of Tulsa.

~15% Public Realm Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Budget

~10% is federally funded by the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)