Study will identify solutions for congestion, long waits at signal lights

Lawton drivers may be getting some relief from congested arterials and endless waits at traffic signal lights.

Ward 2 City Councilman Kelly Harris and Mayor Stan Booker are asking the City Council today to consider directing city staff to initiate a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a comprehensive upgrade of Lawton’s traffic signal light control system. The RFP process identifies a firm that can do specific work, and is a process that has been used on projects ranging from a traffic count study already under way to engineering designs.

In this instance, Harris and Booker want someone to help the City of Lawton tackle traffic congestion. Booker has said upgrading the city’s arterials and residential streets is a priority already being worked on, and the men say it is time to address excessive congestion and long wait times at traffic lights. A comprehensive upgrade would overcome problems in an aging and outdated traffic control system, the men said, and Lawton already has addressed congestion and wait times on East Gore Boulevard by installing new mechanisms on traffic signal lights that allowed for further adjustments in timing.

The men said evolving traffic patterns that contribute to congestion and driving delays cannot be addressed with the existing system, which is why they want to look at “modern technologies, adaptive signal control algorithms, and data-driven approaches” to create a better overall system. Funding would come from the 2019 Capital Improvements Program.

In other business, the council will address recreation-related items: an aquatics center planned for Elmer Thomas Park and leases for tenants at city lakes.

The aquatics center item is asking the council to amend a contract they approved with C.H. Guernsey on Nov. 22, expanding the scope of what was approved as a $76,600 schematic design project to an $830,085 contract to craft full architectural and engineering services for what would include construction plans.

Council members have been discussing the issue for months, creating an aquatics center in the eastern half of Elmer Thomas Park near existing splash pad and Playground in the Park, a complex that would include a lazy river, swimming pool and slide, among with things such as concession area and parking. City officials said they envision a complex that would be attractive to residents and out-of-town visitors, and one that could replacing deteriorating swimming and wading pools in other city parks.

Construction designs would be done for what engineers estimate as a $12 million project. Guernsey’s analysis said its preferred site is in an area bordered by Northwest 6th Street, Northwest 3rd Street and Prairie Dog Way because of the site’s visibility, accessibility, flatness of the terrain, nearby utilities, and parking that already exists. The site also lends itself to expansion, Guernsey said. Following an existing time table, construction could begin by August 2024 for a projected opening of Memorial Day 2025.

Council members also will be asked to set a system to assign new tenants for vacancies in camping sites at School House Slough, as well as wet and dry stalls on all city recreation lakes. The policy is being created to ensure “fair and equitable opportunity” for those who lease space on an annual basis, when space becomes available because existing tenants have surrendered the space.

The policy specifies boathouse slips and camping spaces would be made available to the public via random drawings from those who submit applications (it also specifies current tenants cannot transfer their sites to someone who buys their boathouses or RVs). Wet and dry stalls would be made available on a first-come, first-served basis as vacancies occur.

Council members also will sign off on a new lease agreement for tenants who have space at School House Slough, with those year-long agreements to go into effect in January. City officials are working with those who lease space year-round after assuming control of the concession area on Jan. 1, 2023, with the retirement of long-time operator Kent Waller.