Project Information

Bid Title

Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project – Call to Artists

Issuing Agency

City of Tulsa

Location

Oklahoma

Published Date

Jun 2, 2026

Closing Date

Jul 1, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

RFP 26-915

Original Source

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Project Description

Bid ID:	RFP 26-915
Addendum:	0
Bid Due Date:	7/1/2026
Description:	Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project – Call to Artists
Bid Document:	RFP 26-915 Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project - Call to Artists.pdf
Attachments:

Attachment Preview

Request for Proposal

26-915

Professional Services for: Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art

Project – Call to Artists

Department: Office of Public Art & Community and The Tulsa

Planning Office

Commodity Code: 961-04

RFP Schedule

EVENT

RFP Issue Date

DATE

06/2/2026

Pre-Proposal Conference

Virtual – email buyer for invite to Zoom/Teams link

Deadline for Questions

Submit questions to assigned buyer via email.

Proposal Due Date

Mail or deliver to City Clerk address.

June 8, 2026, 2:00-3:00 PM

June 16, 2026, 9:30-10:30 AM

06/18/2026

10 Days prior to RFP due date

07/01/2026

Proposals open the day after the due date.

If You have any questions or need additional information, contact the Assigned Buyer:

Donny Tiemann | dtiemann@cityoftulsa.org

All questions should be emailed with RFP 26- 915 in the subject line.

Submit proposals (sealed) to:

Office of the City Clerk

City of Tulsa

175 E. 2ND St., Suite 260

Tulsa, OK 74103

RFP 26-915 Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project

2915 Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project

Call to Artists

| Page 1

OVERVIEW AND GOALS

The City of Tulsa is accepting submissions from professional or emerging artists or teams of artists in

response to a public art opportunity relating to the City’s traffic control boxes located along the Route 66

corridor in Tulsa. Submissions will be capped at 160 total.

This call seeks to identify artists or teams of artists capable of designing an original work of art using the

provided digital template that will be installed on a traffic control box located on Tulsa’s Route 66 corridor.

There is a total of 34 traffic control boxes. Artists may submit one design or up to four. The digital artwork will

serve as an artistic photo-op, beautify Tulsa’s Route 66 corridor, and curb graffiti on the boxes. See overview

below.

Approximate Locations of Traffic Control Boxes

Figure 1: Map of Traffic Control Box Locations

Route 66 is also known as 11th Street, Southwest Boulevard, and Admiral Place. The map above indicates

the 34 locations of the traffic control boxes. View the digital map of locations online:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1CtBmZl_F2ZTvHmlm3FUfbyxx6XfrwDA&usp=sharing.

Route 66 Corridor in Tulsa - 34 traffic control boxes along 11th Street, Southwest Boulevard, and Admiral Place

ARTISTIC GOAL

Welcome Route 66 travelers to Tulsa by beautifying the entire corridor, providing another visual cue that

travelers are on the Mother Road, and adding to Route 66’s varied public art. This project also seeks to

eliminate graffiti on traffic control boxes.

While Route 66 iconography, fonts, and artistic elements are encouraged; the artwork is not limited to

classic or vintage-inspired Route 66 designs. Artists should feel invited to be creative and submit artwork

that is also interpretive, modern, or abstract. Similarly, artwork can contribute to Route 66 storytelling, but

storytelling is not a requirement.

All designs will be unified by a Capital of Route 66 graphic and QR code linking to a Route 66 Art StoryMaps

with more information about the artworks and artists. This StoryMaps will serve as a digital self-guided tour

of all the art along Tulsa’s Route 66 corridor, including the 34 wrapped traffic control boxes.

RFP 26-915 Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project

2915 Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project

Call to Artists

| Page 2

BACKGROUND

THE CITY OF TULSA – CAPITAL OF ROUTE 66

Tulsa is known as the capital of Route 66. Our city boasts more than 28 miles of active and original alignments

of the road and spans 8+ commercial districts. Throughout each district, Route 66 is a vibrant, hyperlocal

destination where you can find unique dining, shopping, services, lodging, entertainment, and attractions

surrounded by historic neighborhoods with lots of charm. Peppered throughout the corridor is public art, new

and vintage neon signs, historic markers, and landmarks that celebrate our rich Route 66 history.

That story begins with Cyrus Avery. Avery, an adopted son of Tulsa, is known as the Father of Route 66. His

full-throated support of the Good Roads Movement in the early 20th century placed him among a select group

of people responsible for designing the Federal Highway System. Because of his influence and support, the

future Main Street of America came through Oklahoma and the city of Tulsa. Today, that same spirit of courage,

innovation, and entrepreneurship thrives.

TIMELINE

The schedule below provides estimated dates for the RFP and contracting process. The City of Tulsa

may adjust this schedule as needed.

EVENT

RFP Issue Date

Pre-Proposal Conference (TEAMS)

Deadline for Questions

PROPOSAL DUE DATE

RFP Opening Date

Review and Evaluation

Tulsa Arts Commission Review

Award Recommendations Approved

Execute contracts (anticipated)

Design Revisions

Fabrication / Installation

Opening

DATE

06/2/2026

June 8th & June 16th

06/18/2026

07/01/2026

07/02/2026

07/06/2026 – 07/10/26

07/13/2026

07/16/2026

July / August

July / August (If Needed)

August / September

TBD

RFP 26-915 Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project

2915 Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project

Call to Artists

| Page 3

PHASE 1 – CALL TO ARTISTS

1. Call to Artists Issued: The City of Tulsa’s Office of Public Art & Community Partnerships and

the Tulsa Route 66 Commission is issuing this Call to Artists. The Independent Review

Committee will review submissions and administer the artist selection process.

2. Informational Conference (TEAMS) Call: Register via sending an email request for the intended date

to the point of contact at least one day before the meeting. One attendance strongly encouraged

as conference calls are the artist’s opportunity to ask questions and receive clarification.

a. Conference (TEAMS) Call 1 June 8, 2026 – 2:00 pm -3:00 pm

b. Conference (TEAMS) Call 2 June 16, 2026 – 9:30 am -10:30 am

3. Deadline: Submissions received after 5 PM CDT Wednesday, July 1, 2026, will not be

accepted. All submitted materials will be reviewed by the Steering Committee.

PHASE 2 – REVIEW

1. Evaluation/Scoring: The Steering Committee will evaluate all submissions and will select several

artists’ designs for the 34 traffic control boxes. An individual artist or artist team may have more than

one design selected, but not more than four.

2. Recommendation: The Steering Committee will formally recommend artists to the Arts

Commission and Route 66 Commission, which advises the Mayor of the City of Tulsa on

final approval. Award Recommendation Approval will take place on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

PHASE 3 – IMPLEMENTATION

1. Contract Issue Period: Contracts will be issued to all selected artists. Once the final digital design file

is received, then the artists fees will be paid.

2. If needed, the selected artists will be expected to work with stakeholders to make any revisions to

artwork requested by City staff or the Tulsa Arts Commission into the final digital design. Any revisions

requested would be minimal. If needed, the selected artists may also need to coordinate with City

staff on edits to their StoryMaps description to ensure accuracy. Any revisions would be implemented

before issuing payment.

3. Fabrication: Fabrication and installation will be handled by the City of Tulsa. This is anticipated for

August/September of 2026, depending on the weather.

4. Opening: Once all vinyl art wraps are installed, the City of Tulsa will host an opening event and invite all

artists to attend.

RFP 26-915 Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project

2915 Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project

Call to Artists

| Page 4

SCOPE OF WORK / DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

The selected artists/teams will be responsible for designing digital art that:

1. Serves as a 360 degree “photo-op” art piece wrapping a City of Tulsa traffic control box.

2. Includes a descriptive title and 5-10 sentence description of the artwork to be used in a Route 66 Art

StoryMaps.

3. Design to include “Capital of Route 66” Art StoryMaps graphic with QR code on it (in a bottom corner of one

side of the design).

4. Design files must be 300 dpi or more. Accepted file types are .pdf, .ai, and .psd.

5. Adheres to Public Works’ policy for wrapping traffic control boxes. No messaging or advertisements are

allowed.

BUDGET

The artists fee, paid to the artist upon receipt of digital artwork files, will be $500 per design selected. The

selected artists will be paid artists fees, and the City of Tulsa will handle the purchase of materials, artwork

fabrication, site preparation, installation of work, and other miscellaneous fees.

SCORING CRITERIA

Your submission(s) will be judged based upon the creativity and thoughtfulness of the overall design by an

independent review committee. The committee will use a rubric scoring artistic merit & visual impact,

historical & cultural context, narrative richness & representation, high school student participation, place-

based insight into the corridor, and technical feasibility. A full rubric is included at the end of this RFP.

Artists whose studios are located on Route 66 and students who attend school on Route 66 are strongly

encouraged to apply (E.g. University of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College, East Central High School, Lindbergh

Elementary, Tulsa Street School, Will Rogers High School, Mayo Demonstration School, Bell Elementary,

Tulsa Girls Art School, and Daniel Webster High School).

RFP 26-915 Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project

2915 Route 66 Traffic Control Box Art Project

Call to Artists

| Page 5

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 237310Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction

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