A report reflecting federally funded transportation projects in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area during federal fiscal year 2015 (Oct. 1, 2014 – Sept. 30, 2015) was recently completed by ACOG. Highway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects were funded in the region using federal funds made available to the state and metropolitan area from current and previous federal surface transportation laws.

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

In addition, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation provided federal Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to the region for projects to enhance air quality and assist Central Oklahoma maintain its air quality attainment status with the Environmental Protection Agency. ACOG administers three CMAQ-funded programs: air quality public awareness, public fleet conversions to alternative fuels, and a regional rideshare program. Some CMAQ funds were also provided to the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA) for improvements to the EMBARK bus system.

Central Oklahoma obligated $19 million in suballocated STP-UZA funds during FFY 2015. Major improvements that will be implemented using these funds include the widening of Covell Road between Fairfax and I-35 in Edmond, widening Lindsey Street between 24th Ave SW and Pickard in Norman, and resurfacing Charter Oak Road between Kelley and Broadway in Logan County. In addition, pedestrian signals and wheelchair ramps will be installed at several intersections in Midwest City, share-the-road signage and striping for bicyclists will be add to portions of Boulevard and I-35 frontage roads in south Edmond, and school zone safety improvements and guardrails will be installed on Hefner Road between Broadway Extension and Midwest Boulevard in Oklahoma City.

An additional $198 million was approved for the state highway system (interstates, federal highways and state highways) within Central Oklahoma using federal, state and county funds provided through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. These improvements include pavement rehabilitation on SH-33 in Guthrie, reconstruction of I-35 interchanges at Lindsey Street and SH-9E in Norman, resurfacing SH-9 between 36th Ave SE and 72nd Ave SE in Norman, resurfacing SH-74 between N. 178th and Memorial Road in Oklahoma City, construction of the future Crosstown Boulevard in downtown Oklahoma City, relocation of the I-235 off-ramp at Harrison in Oklahoma City, and resurfacing 2.5 miles of US-77 near Slaughterville. Finally, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 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.

Click here to view the full report.