ODOT EIGHT-YEAR PLAN The Chamber supports providing adequate annual dedicated funding necessary to preserve and implement the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight-year construction work plan. Furthermore, the Chamber will strongly oppose any effort to divert dedicated transportation funding to other areas of government. STATE BRIDGES The Chamber supports providing adequate annual dedicated funding for ODOT to maintain continued investment toward addressing Oklahoma’s structurally deficient bridges on the state’s highway system and further enable ODOT to maintain a nationally leading bridge improvement program. SUSTAINABLE FUNDING To address the declining transportation revenues associated with fuel tax, the Chamber supports the research and development of sustainable and equitable funding alternatives, including concepts of a Road User Charge (RUC) tailored to Oklahoma’s future needs, in support of transportation infrastructure. INFRASTRUCTURE TAX The Chamber opposes legislation to place disproportionate taxes or unnecessary regulations on infrastructure/materials/ construction that would have a negative impact on Chamber- supported transportation projects and economic development. PORTS OF ENTRY The Chamber supports providing adequate annual dedicated funding and staffing levels for the timely completion and effective use of weigh stations at Oklahoma’s ports of entry to ensure the protection of Oklahoma’s roads and bridges from unnecessary damage caused by overweight freight loads. STATE TRANSIT FUNDING The Chamber supports protecting state revenues allocated into the State of Oklahoma’s Public Transit Revolving Fund to meet citizen demand for public transit. The Chamber supports the implementation of ODOT’s Long Range Transit Plan through the Office of Mobility and Public Transit. HEARTLAND FLYER Passenger rail service is a key component of the future development of commuter rail throughout the central Oklahoma region and the continued viability of the Oklahoma City intermodal hub. The Chamber will work with the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation, the Oklahoma State Legislature,
ODOT, the City of Oklahoma City, the Class 1 Railroads and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) to oppose efforts to reduce or eliminate state or federal funding received by Oklahoma to operate the Heartland Flyer Amtrak service to Fort Worth, Texas. Moreover, the Chamber supports ongoing efforts by ODOT to negotiate with the State of Texas and Amtrak to ensure Amtrak can be maintained as the passenger rail carrier. The Chamber supports taking active steps to extend the Heartland Flyer Amtrak service to Newton, Kan., which would connect Oklahoma City to Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago and other locations on the national Amtrak system. Furthermore, the Chamber supports the designation of the entire Heartland Flyer line (Fort Worth – Oklahoma City – Newton – National Network) as a national Amtrak route within the Federal Rail Administration’s specific “Corridor Identification Program”. This designation would serve to assist with the federal/state burden/ cost-sharing and would strategically address a significant gap in the national Amtrak system. INTERSTATE COMMERCE The Chamber opposes legislation to limit the ability of Class 1 and short line railroads to conduct interstate commerce. The Chamber supports development of technology and effective transportation strategies to increase the safety and efficiency of interstate commerce. For example, the Chamber supports existing state law allowing for the platooning of semi- trucks. AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES The Chamber supports creation of a regulatory environment that makes Oklahoma a leader in safely using autonomous vehicles and does so without restricting their deployment and further innovation.
ODOT RAIL PLANS The Chamber supports implementation of the Oklahoma State
16
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online