The impending threat to the Transportation Improvement Plan

Thank you to all of those who attended the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s town hall and hearing at Waterloo Road Baptist church this past week. The high turnout sent a strong message to state officials about the importance of upgrading the area’s road infrastructure.

Attendees were told about the upcoming improvements to the Waterloo Road exit ramp off of I-35. As a key component of ODOT’s eight year road and bridge improvement plan, the project represents the third major exit ramp improvement in our area: I-35 and HWY 33, the second Guthrie exit; and, the Seward Road exit ramp and bridge over I-35 being the other two.

Those who are concerned about the length of time for the proposed Waterloo project should find comfort in ODOT’s rapid re-work of the Seward Road ramp. It wasn’t just too long ago when the Department held their town hall at Community Church to discuss the upcoming Seward Road project. At that meeting, I picked up on and shared a general sentiment that while the attendees appreciate the proposed upgrade, they felt that it was years away. We were wrong! The Department acted quickly and a few months later the project was underway and finished soon thereafter.

The eight year plan initially focused on replacing Oklahoma’s massive inventory of deficient bridges. Motorists will be hard pressed to drive on area state highways without encountering one of these new bridges or an old bridge which is soon to be replaced. In just a few years, the plan will have replaced most of the deficient bridges and will free up funds for the repavement of road surfaces.

In fact, the latest version calls for the resurfacing of several miles of I-35, in our area, where local motorist can attest to the need for improvement. The Department just recently patched the large potholes which were created and re-created in the recent winter storms.

The success of the eight year plan has been undisputed. I suggest that this transformation is perhaps foremost item for which Oklahoma’s current generation of elected official can and should take credit.

I would also suggest that it’s quite likely that the funding for this plan will come under attack in the upcoming legislative session.

This attack could happen in two ways: legislators may redirect motor vehicle tax revenues away from the plan and towards the state’s General Revenue Fund; or, legislators may attempt to raid the plan’s funding stream only to replace it with an IOU/bond issuance. To do either would be a horrible mistake which would undermine the standing of the current generation of elected officials.

While ODOT’s commitment to projects such as the Waterloo exchange is resolute, the Legislature could undermine very necessary efforts such as future new and very necessary Interstate exchange projects in our area.

I believe there are many other legislators who are of the same mindset and am optimistic that we can stop the expected attack on the plan.

Thank you for reading this article. Your interest and input are much appreciated. Please do not hesitate to email Jason.Murphey@hd31.org with your thoughts and suggestions.

Sincerely,