Major Projects
The Chamber supports a continued focus on improvements, mobility and traffic management, and freight movement on the urban Oklahoma City interstate system (I-35, I-44, I-40, I-235) to promote economic development and, therefore, will advocate for full funding and timely completion of work on the following major interchanges/projects:
Regional Focus
The Chamber supports the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT)/Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) regional transportation focus with the strategic objective of identifying, maximizing, preserving and protecting existing transportation assets. The Chamber further supports the ultimate strategic goal to create additional transportation capacity to protect and maximize the integrity of the entire regional transportation system to meet the continued dynamic population growth trends and resulting increased traffic loads in our region.
Turnpike Authority Long-Range Plan
The Chamber supports the long-range Advancing and Connecting Communities and Economies Safely Statewide (ACCESS) Oklahoma Plan to develop a highly effective and viable state turnpike system, including construction of new access points at appropriate locations across Oklahoma to enhance safety and access, promote economic development and provide and protect adequate revenues to achieve these long-range objectives.
As part of this long-range plan, the Chamber specifically supports improvements to the following existing high- speed facilities:
As well as construction of the following new alignment high-speed expressway facilities in the Oklahoma City region and associated improvements:
The Chamber supports the OTA’s efforts to enhance safety, increase travel time reliability, allow passage of high/wide loads and create additional interchanges such as I-44/Arcadia, OK; and I- 44/Amber, OK.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation Eight-Year Plan
The Chamber supports providing adequate annual dedicated funding necessary to preserve and implement ODOT’s eight-year plan that is a transformative method for continuously improving Oklahoma’s highways and bridges.
We acknowledge the continued detrimental impact of inflation on the timely funding and completion of infrastructure projects included within the plan and, therefore, support strategies for identifying funding sources and solutions that will ensure it continues to be viable and as successful as it has been over the last two decades. Furthermore, the Chamber will strongly oppose any effort to divert dedicated transportation funding to other areas of government.
ROADS Fund
The Chamber supports continued high-level conversations on providing significant further increases to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety (ROADS) Fund, the key funding mechanism for ODOT’s Eight-Year Plan, to combat ongoing inflation and reduced purchasing power for materials, manpower and maintenance.
Sustainable Funding
To address the declining transportation revenues associated with fuel tax, the Chamber supports the innovative research and development of sustainable and growth-based funding alternatives tailored to Oklahoma’s future needs in support of transportation infrastructure.
Nationally Ranked Bridge Program
The Chamber supports providing adequate annual dedicated funding for ODOT to maintain continued investment toward addressing Oklahoma’s structurally deficient bridges on the state’s highway system and further enable ODOT to maintain a nationally leading bridge improvement program.
Infrastructure Tax
The Chamber opposes legislation to place disproportionate taxes or unnecessary regulations on infrastructure/materials/construction that would have a negative impact on Chamber-supported transportation projects and economic development.
U.S. 412 Interstate Conversion
The Chamber supports the recent federal designation of U.S. Route 412 as a federal interstate highway to foster increased safety, economic development and connectivity across Oklahoma. Developing U.S. 412 to interstate standards will enhance travel and commerce to the Oklahoma City region through improved links with Interstate 35.
Ports of Entry
The Chamber supports providing adequate annual dedicated funding to the weigh station revolving fund and staffing levels for the timely completion and effective use of weigh stations at Oklahoma’s ports of entry to ensure the protection of Oklahoma’s roads and bridges from unnecessary damage caused by overweight freight loads.
State Transit Funding
The Chamber supports protecting and dedicating state revenues allocated into the State of Oklahoma’s Public Transit Revolving Fund to meet citizen demand for public transit.
The Chamber supports the continued implementation of ODOT’s Statewide Transit Policy Plan through the Office of Mobility and Public Transit.
Heartland Flyer Passenger Rail
The Chamber supports achieving long-term funding stability for passenger rail service, known as “The Heartland Flyer”, connecting Oklahoma City with Fort Worth, Texas. Our objective is to work with governmental partners to identify stable, long-term funding sources to mitigate scenarios where continued service is threatened by the current precarious and unsustainable year-to-year funding timetable.
Furthermore, the Chamber supports continued efforts to aggressively pursue federal funding opportunities that, if awarded, would connect Oklahoma City to the national rail network via Newton, Kansas. The Chamber will continue to take active steps in partnership with Federal entities, the Oklahoma Legislature, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Congressional Delegation, specific communities, Texas, and Kansas to capitalize on opportunities emanating from Oklahoma’s selection as part of the “Corridor ID” program set forth in the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021).
Interstate Commerce
The Chamber will oppose policies to limit the ability of Class 1 and short line railroads to conduct interstate commerce.
The Chamber supports the development of technology and effective transportation strategies to increase the safety and efficiency of interstate commerce. For example, the Chamber supports existing state law allowing for the platooning of semi-trucks.
Autonomous Vehicles
The Chamber supports the creation of a regulatory environment that makes Oklahoma a leader in safely using autonomous vehicles and does so without restricting their deployment and further innovation.
Automated Work Zone Safety
The Chamber supports developing technologies critical to protecting the safety of the traveling public, ODOT personnel, and contractors within ODOT work zones which can become highly dangerous due to vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit.
ODOT Rail Plans
The Chamber supports implementation of the Oklahoma State Rail Plan and Oklahoma Freight Transportation Plan developed by ODOT.
Seat Belt Law to Protect Childhood Safety
As the only U.S. state lacking such a sensible law, the Chamber supports passage of legislation to require those 8-17 years of age to wear seat belts while being transported in the back seat.
Selected Tribal Transportation Priorities
The Chamber recognizes the important work Oklahoma tribal governments perform to enhance the transportation system and will work with them as needed in support of these endeavors.
MUNICIPAL/COUNTY ISSUES
Oklahoma River Bridges
The Chamber supports construction of iconic bridges on Interstate 35 across the Oklahoma River. Replacing existing river bridges with landmark bridges would showcase Oklahoma City at the confluence of two major
U.S. interstate highways (Interstates 35/40) and facilitate increased sporting events and tourism in the Horizons District, Boathouse District, the Chickasaw Nation’s First Americans Museum/OKANA resort, as well as enhance connectivity across the river. We emphasize that addressing these bridge facilities in a timely manner is especially critical given Oklahoma City’s role as a staging site for the LA28 Olympics.
Mass Transit/Commuter Rail
The Chamber supports implementation of transit programs that will best serve central Oklahoma including the Central Oklahoma Transit and Parking Authority (COTPA) 2005 Fixed Guideway Transit Study and its following component:
The Chamber further supports efforts by the RTA, consisting of core central Oklahoma cities/population centers, to launch future regional transit services. Further planning consideration should be given to the potential future expansion of rail/transit service to Will Rogers Airport, with benefits for downtown access/convention center opportunities, and Yukon.
Intermodal Hub
The Chamber will work with the City of Oklahoma City (COTPA), the Class 1 railroads, ODOT, the Oklahoma state Legislature and ACOG to ensure the continued viability of the intermodal hub at the Santa Fe station that will effectively integrate various modes of transportation (including OKC Streetcar, Amtrak, bus, inter-city bus, future bus rapid transit and future commuter rail) and enhance economic development opportunities.
The Chamber supports efforts to work with stakeholders to maximize alignment and development of future locally preferred alternatives for mass transportation.
Street Improvements
The Chamber supports consideration and pursuit of all available funds for ongoing and future street improvements.
Alternative Transportation
The Chamber will support the following (sidewalks; BRT; bike lanes; bus service; crosswalks; streetcar) provided appropriate consideration is given to negative traffic impacts and the use of scarce taxpayer resources. We further encourage a balanced, realistic, and thoughtful approach to the prioritization of Oklahoma City transportation needs.
