June Commission Meeting Wrap-Up: ODOT preliminary budget discussed, I-35 expansion continues; $82 million in projects awarded
Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s June meeting include an update on approval of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s 2025 preliminary budget, approval of a project to continue I-35 expansion to six lanes near Thackerville, an invitation to the Heartland Flyer’s 25th anniversary celebration, recognition for a national beautification partnership and the department’s annual Safety Excellence Awards.
Commissioners voted to approve the department’s Fiscal Year 2025 preliminary $2.5 billion Budget Work Program. A few highlights of the SFY 2025 budget include:
- The ROADS Fund remained unchanged and was authorized at $590 million to continue infrastructure investments in Oklahoma’s future
- A $4.8 million increase (2.2%) from last year’s appropriations to the State Transportation Fund base derived from motor fuel taxes
- $30 million from the state’s General Revenue Fund
- A 3.6% increase to the County Improvement for Roads and Bridges (CIRB) program to $101 million available for county projects
“I want to recognize that the legislative leadership worked through an arduous process that produced a budget which recognizes the continuing needs of the transportation system. We are very appreciative of the opportunity to deliver projects in accordance with that budgetary approval,” said Gatz.
Also included in the General Appropriations bill, was an allocation of $200 million authorized in the Rural Economic Transportation Reliability and Optimization Fund (RETRO Fund). Per RETRO Fund provisions, these resources will help accelerate construction, repair and maintenance of Eight-Year Construction Work Plan projects in qualifying rural areas that have experienced robust economic development causing an impactful increase to traffic volumes and safety concerns.
Commissioners approved a project to continue I-35 expansion to six lanes with an interchange reconstruction at SH-153 near Thackerville in Love County. This $40 million project picks up at mile marker 3, where six lanes were just completed, and extends north two miles to SH-153. This project is one of many programmed along the I-35 corridor between Oklahoma City and the Texas state line.
Interstate-35 is currently being widening at SH-9W south of Norman and preliminary engineering is being done for a project near Johnson Rd. in McClain County. A corridor study of the I-35 expansion can be found here along with an interactive dashboard: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/i-35.html
ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz invited commissioners and the public to help the department celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Heartland Flyer this month. Festivities will be held at the Santa Fe depot on Friday, June 14. Amtrak is passing along anniversary savings with a 25% discount for ticket purchases; more information on the Flyer can be found here: https://www.amtrak.com/heartland-flyer-anniversary-sale
The department was recently awarded the State Agency Partnership Award at the annual Keep America Beautiful national awards ceremony in San Diego. One of four state agencies to receive the honor, it is presented to agencies that successfully partner with their local KAB affiliate to combat litter during the Great American Cleanup. The department has been partners with local affiliate Keep Oklahoma Beautiful since 1965. According to KOB Executive Director Evelyn Schaefer, during the 2023 litter clean-up effort, all 77 counties and 13,000 volunteers participated; 5,000 acres of land were cleared and 23 million pounds of trash collected.
The commission meeting also included presentation of ODOT’s safety awards recognizing its nine districts and work units with the best safety ratings in 2023. The Governor’s Safety Excellence Award for the best overall record was again given to District Three, which is based in Ada. This prestigious award is presented to the district that has the overall best safety record for the year demonstrating superior performance in leading the district’s safety program. The Progressive Excellence Award for the most improved safety record was again given to District Two, which is headquartered in Antlers. Additionally, the Director’s Safety Excellence awards were given to the individual work units in each of ODOT’s field districts and the central office with the best safety performance. More information and photos can be found here: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom.html
Commissioners voted to award 16 contracts totaling $82 million to improve highways, roads and bridges statewide. The public may access a list of all awarded contracts at https://oklahoma.gov/odot/business-center/contracts-and-proposals.html selecting the May 9, and May 16, 2024 lettings.
The next Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, July 1. The meeting will be available to view live via Ustream and past meetings are available at vimeo.com/odot.
The nine-member Oklahoma Transportation Commission, appointed by the governor and legislative leadership to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards contracts monthly for road and bridge construction.
At Monday’s Transportation Commission meeting, Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Tim Gatz invited commissioners and the public to help the department celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Heartland Flyer this month. Festivities will be held at the Santa Fe depot on Friday, June 14. Amtrak is passing along anniversary savings with a 25% discount for ticket purchases; more information on the Flyer can be found here: https://www.amtrak.com/heartland-flyer-anniversary-sale
Monday’s Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting included presentation of ODOT’s safety awards recognizing its nine districts and work units with the best safety ratings in 2023. The Governor’s Safety Excellence Award for the best overall record was again given to District Three, which is based in Ada and includes Cleveland, Coal, Garvin, Hughes, Johnston, Lincoln, McClain, Okfuskee, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie and Seminole counties. This prestigious award is presented to the district that has the overall best safety record for the year demonstrating superior performance in leading the district’s safety program.
Pictured from left are District Three Engineer Ron Brown, Commission Chairman Bob Peterson, Wewoka Resident Engineer Wendy Ross, District Three Safety Manager Annette Nichols and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz.
Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Executive Director Evelyn Schaefer presented the Oklahoma Department of Transportation with the national Keep America Beautiful State Agency Partnership Award at Monday’s Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting. One of four state agencies to receive the honor, it is presented to agencies that successfully partner with their local KAB affiliate to combat litter during the Great American Cleanup. The department has been partners with local affiliate Keep Oklahoma Beautiful since 1965.
Pictured from left are ODOT Director of Operations Shawn Davis, ODOT Maintenance Director Taylor Henderson, ODOT Beautification Coordinator Melody Johnson, OTC Chairman Bob Peterson, KOB Executive Director Evelyn Shaefer and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz.
