Transportation Issues

I-40 Crosstown Reconnection 
The Chamber believes restoring full access between I-40 and downtown Oklahoma City is critical, and will therefore advocate for the reconnection of I-40 to Shields/Gaylord (at the east end) and to Western Avenue (at the west end) by the end of 2013. The Chamber will further advocate for the completion of the remaining reconnection corridor between Gaylord/Shields and Western Avenue as promptly as the environmental process allows.

The Chamber will work with the Congressional delegation, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the City of Oklahoma City to ensure the timely completion of the Downtown Boulevard as soon as it is practicable. We believe that significant delays in completing the Downtown Boulevard could impair access to downtown and negatively impact current and future businesses located along the proposed boulevard route and within the downtown core.

Major Interchanges
The Chamber will advocate for funding and completing work on major interchanges located at I-44 and Broadway Extension, I-240 and I-35 (Crossroads), and I-40 east of I-240 as well as improvements to the flyover connecting westbound Kilpatrick Turnpike with the Lake Hefner Parkway and the necessary improvements to S.H. 74 (north of Lake Hefner Parkway).

Governor’s Bridge Improvement and Turnpike Modernization Plan 
The Chamber supports providing adequate annual state appropriations to implement Gov. Fallin’s Bridge Improvement and Turnpike Modernization Plan to repair or replace all of Oklahoma’s structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges by 2019 and to complete the expansion of the Kilpatrick Turnpike.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Eight-Year Plan
The Chamber supports annual appropriations necessary to preserve and implement ODOT’s eight-year construction work plan.

Transit
The Chamber supports implementation of transit programs that will best serve Central Oklahoma including the Central Oklahoma Transportation & Parking Authority (COTPA) 2005 Fixed Guideway Transit Study (commuter rail study) and its following components: 

• Association of Central Oklahoma Government’s (ACOG) Regional Transit Dialogue Committees to identify regional transit alternatives/solutions for Central Oklahoma. 
• ACOG’s Commuter Corridors Study to examine mitigation strategies for future congestion. 

The Chamber supports the completion of the MAPS Downtown Streetcar project. 

The Chamber supports an increased allocation of state revenues into the state Public Transit Revolving Fund to meet citizen demand for public transit.

Federal Highway Trust Fund
The Chamber will work with our Congressional delegation, ODOT, and the City of Oklahoma City to secure a permanent funding solution for the Federal Highway Trust Fund (including Mass Transit programs). 

The Chamber supports full funding for the current MAP-21 transportation bill.  

The Chamber supports reauthorization of a multi-year Surface Transportation Act before the current two-year MAP-21 bill expires.  

Ports of Entry
The Chamber supports providing adequate annual state appropriations and staffing levels for the timely completion and effective use of weigh stations at Oklahoma’s ports of entry to ensure the protection of roads and bridges from unnecessary damage caused by overweight freight loads. 

Intermodal Hub
The Chamber will work with the City of Oklahoma City, ACOG, COTPA, ODOT and the state legislature to develop and fund an intermodal hub at the present Santa Fe Station that will effectively integrate various modes of transportation and enhance economic development opportunities.

10th Street Ramp
The Chamber will advocate for completion of the I-235/Harrison/10th Street Ramp access improvements by 2013. 

Heartland Flyer
Passenger rail service is a key component of the development of the Oklahoma City intermodal hub and the future development of commuter and light rail throughout the metropolitan area. The Chamber will work with our Congressional delegation, ODOT and ACOG to oppose efforts to reduce or eliminate the federal subsidy received by Oklahoma to operate the Heartland Flyer Amtrak service to Fort Worth, Texas. 

We support continued dialogue on extending the Heartland Flyer Amtrak service to Newton, Kansas – which would connect Oklahoma City to St. Louis, Chicago and other locations on the Amtrak system.

Parking
The Chamber supports increased funding for construction of additional parking to allow continued economic development downtown.  

Quiet Zones
The Chamber will work with the City of Oklahoma City and the Alliance for Economic Development to establish a Railroad Quiet Zone on the BNSF mainline running through downtown Oklahoma City

Alternative Transportation
The Chamber supports increased construction of sidewalks, trails and bike lanes. 

For more information, please contact a member of our Government Relations staff.