STATE ISSUES 2023 TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES
MAJOR PROJECTS The Chamber supports a continued focus on improvements, mobility and traffic management 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: • I-44/I-235 Interchange • I-240/I-35 (Crossroads Interchange) • I-35/I-44 (Remington Park) • I-44/I-40 (K Interchange/Near State Fairgrounds) West to MacArthur on I-40 • Necessary improvements to I-40 corridor east of I-35 (Tinker Air Force Base) including expansion of I-40 facility to six lanes from Douglas Boulevard to Shawnee • I-35/I-40 Dallas Junction and I-35 (including Oklahoma River Bridges) • Future development of I-44 corridor from I-40 to SH-62, including SH 152/Airport Road, (southwest OKC to Newcastle) to better provide for future mobility needs due to ongoing commercial expansion REGIONAL STUDY The Chamber supports the ODOT/OTA regional transportation study being undertaken with municipal partners with the objective of identifying, maximizing, preserving and protecting existing transportation assets. The Chamber further supports this study’s ultimate strategic goal to create additional transportation capacity as a means to protect and maximize the integrity of the entire regional transportation system.
STATE TURNPIKE PLAN The Chamber supports the 15-year, $5 billion 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, access and promote economic development. As part of this long-range plan, the Chamber specifically supports construction of the following new alignment high- speed expressway facilities in the Oklahoma City region and associated improvements: • John Kilpatrick Turnpike widening from I-40 to I-35, to increase access and improve safety • Outer Loop: East West Connector, expanding mobility of south Oklahoma City • Outer Loop: Tri-City Connector, to increase access and offer alternative routes from I-40 to I-44 and, ultimately, I-35 • South Extension: End connector south to I-35 south of Norman The Chamber supports turnpike planning consideration to include widening the Turner Turnpike, as an innovation corridor, to six lanes connecting Oklahoma City to Tulsa, the state’s two largest population centers. The Chamber supports the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s (OTA) conversion to a cashless toll system that will serve to enhance safety, increase travel time reliability, allow passage of high/wide loads, create additional interchanges to access communities and generate economic development.
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