ACOG Releases Transportation Projects Funding Report

A report reflecting federally funded projects in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area during federal fiscal year 2011 (Oct. 1, 2010 – Sept. 30, 2011) was recently released by ACOG. Highway and transit projects were funded and implemented in the region using federal funds made available to the state and metropolitan area through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

A suballocation of funds, known as Surface Transportation Program Urbanized Area (STP UZA) funds, helped provide for a number of street and intersection improvements, including adjacent sidewalks, which have been or will soon be constructed in communities within the ACOG region.

Along with the STP-UZA funds, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation provided federal Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to the region to enhance air quality in Central Oklahoma, to assist maintain the region’s air quality attainment status with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Central Oklahoma obligated $26.5 million in suballocated SAFETEA-LU funds during FFY 2011. Major street improvements that will be implemented using these funds include widening projects in Edmond on Kelly between Danforth and Covell and on Covell between Santa Fe and Thomas, in Norman on Lindsey between Jenkins and the BNSF Railroad and on Porter between Woodcrest and Tecumseh, and in Oklahoma City on Eastern between I-240 and the city limits. In addition, resurfacing projects were funded in FFY 2011 in Oklahoma City on Memorial Road from Western to Santa Fe and in The Village from Britton to Hefner, and bridge reconstruction projects were funded for projects in Cleveland, Logan, and Oklahoma Counties. Numerous safety projects including signal upgrades, intersection modifications, pedestrian crossings, pavement markings, and bicycle/sidewalk improvements were also funded in Edmond, Logan County, Moore, and Norman.

In addition to these developments, other transportation projects in the region were supported with other federal and state funds provided to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. An additional $82 million in federal and state funds were obligated in the past fiscal year for numerous projects within Central Oklahoma. Some of these projects include phases of the I 40 Crosstown relocation project, interchange improvements at I-44 and Broadway Extension (I-235), widening of SH-39 east of SH-24 in McClain County, widening of 60th Ave W north of Tecumseh Road in Norman, and bridge reconstruction on I-35 over Seward Road in Guthrie.

Finally, Federal Transit Administration funds assisted the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority(COTPA) and Cleveland Area Rapid Transit (CART) with the purchase of various transit capital items, property and bus maintenance, general operations and special transit services for elderly and disabled citizens. COTPA provided a portion of its federal funds to the City of Edmond to assist with operation of Edmond’s Citylink bus service.

The full report is available on the ACOG website at www.acogok.org.