Mayor Creates Citywide Tulsa Route 66 Commission

12/7/2016

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett has, by executive order, created the citywide Tulsa Route 66 Commission, to support and continue efforts for promotion and development along historic Route 66 in Tulsa.

"Route 66 is a worldwide destination and is an important part of Tulsa's history," Mayor Bartlett said. "We have a great opportunity with the Route 66 commission to help concentrate and leverage our resources to enhance the Route 66 experience in Tulsa."

The citywide Commission will be composed of 15 members. Five members will be appointed by the mayor and five members will represent council districts two, three, four, five and six. Each of these districts includes a segment of Route 66.

The other seats include the Chair of the Board of Directors for INCOG, the Executive Director of the Route 66 Interpretive Center, and a member at large. Two seats will also be selected by Tulsa Route 66 Main Street.

The Commission will support and assist all ongoing efforts locally and statewide with both public and private entities involved in Route 66 matters. Members will also create and help implement specific strategies and plans to encourage economic development and promotion for Route 66.

"The Route 66 Commission is exactly what we need to help further advance The Mother Road in Tulsa," District 2 Councilor Jeannie Cue said. "Route 66 is part of my district and a point of pride for all of Tulsa. I appreciate Mayor Bartlett's willingness to create a commission that was not only important to me, but to many councilors, constituents and visitors to Tulsa."

Through the executive order by Mayor Bartlett, the commission is officially in place and board members will be selected within the coming weeks.

Route 66, also known as the Mother Road and America's Main Street, stretches across the country from the West to the Northeast, right across Oklahoma The final 1932 - 1979 alignment entered Tulsa from the southwest: Route 66 begins on Southwest Boulevard (then Quanah Avenue), goes to the old 11^th Street Bridge over the Arkansas River, turns east on 11^th Street, extending to South 193^rd East Avenue and the city limits.

From the west into downtown, the original 1926 - 1932 alignment turned north on Cheyenne Avenue, east on Seventh Street, north on Detroit Avenue, east on Second Street, north on Lewis Avenue, and east on Admiral Place to Mingo Road, where it turned south to East 11^th Street, continuing east to South 193^rd East Avenue.