Discussions on how to use a possible Vision sales tax renewal in Tulsa have just begun, but a list of unfunded capital projects is already in the mix.
Capital Planning Manager Gary Hamer told councilors paying for things like a downtown circulator is one challenge.
"The biggest obstacle is identifying a sustainable source of continuing, ongoing operations, which is a challenge we face with almost every aspect of the city's operations," Hamer said.
Hamer said there are four priority items on the city's capital improvement plan: the downtown circulator, reducing train noise downtown, implementing a Red Fork area plan and redeveloping the Evans-Fintube site.
"So those four priorities in the public CIP total about $43 million," Hamer said.
The big-money items were the downtown circulator at $27 million and redeveloping the Evans-Fintube site at $10 million.
Planning Director Dawn Warrick told councilors the site could still be a tough sell after that investment, however.
"Unless we can relocate the Watco rail line and the transloading facility that's immediately to the west of that city-owned property, we're going to continue to struggle to find redevelopment that can happen there and that can make reasonable and meaningful connections to both OSU Tulsa and to downtown," Warrick said.
Evans-Fintube is just north of downtown. The 22-acre facility is an EPA brownfield site, meaning it housed hazardous chemicals.
