New turnpike expansion

[ForsakenConservative]

No, I don't work for or support OTA in any way shape or form. But facts are facts. Misinformation is the worst part of the whole situation right now. Pulling at heartstrings by saying there's only one when it in fact exists in other places is just wrong and makes people angry over issues that are moot. And I've read a lot of the comments from the groups, but none seem to be pursuing a prime offender of making their drinking water undrinkable. Make the lakes non motorized if that's truly a concern, but don't bring it up and then take jet skis out on it. That makes them as believable as they claim the OTA is. I feel the bigger issue here is people want progress but not in their back yards. Can't have it both ways. It always goes in someone's back yard.

Yup…..progress ran just outside my back yard a few years back. Now we get to listen to the effect of that progress instead of owls and the like….. None of the enlightened Norman folk cared then, despite the fact anyone with eyes could have seen the current situation coming. The twist of the knife was when that jackass Steve Russell went into a closed-door “briefing” with the OTA, came out “convinced“ it was the right thing to do. I still wonder how much that support cost the OTA crooks….

 

[Range Pllunker]

Speaking of PIKEPASS, I wish they had not closed itheir customer service office across from Mercy hospital, which was convenient for those on the westside of OKC to pay bills, etc.

 

[SoonerP226]

None of the enlightened Norman folk cared then, despite the fact anyone with eyes could have seen the current situation coming.

Bubba, there have been "enlightened Norman folk" trying to fight this for a good 20 years.

 

[1911Sooner]

Doesn't Oklahoma already have more turnpikes than any other State in the Country?

 

[El Pablo]

More road capacity just equals more traffic, it only alleviates it briefly. Field of dreams had it right, if you build it they will come..

 

[TerryMiller]

More road capacity just equals more traffic, it only alleviates it briefly. Fileld of dreams had it right, if you build it they will come..

I can remember after the Kirpatrick Turnpike was finished that it seemed that very few people even used the thing. Now, rush hour there is almost as bad as in other places, although it hasn't gotten to "bumper to bumper slow lane speed" yet.

 

[wawazat]

I can remember after the Kirpatrick Turnpike was finished that it seemed that very few people even used the thing. Now, rush hour there is almost as bad as in other places, although it hasn't gotten to "bumper to bumper slow lane speed" yet.

Just wait until they get all of the in progress developments finished up. We need 5 lane roads from MacArthur to Council for several miles north of Memorial to not be stuck in queue at a stop sign for 10min.

 

[4play]

For a group worried about pollution in their watershed, I don't see any of them rallying to end motorized boats on the lake. And Rose rocks are barite or such. It's found in other places, not only in the US, but in the world.

Well, the major pollutants were found to be coming from the tributaries, but if the levels don't start improving they might consider closing down water sports and other park activity . The biggest problem area I believe is the Little River, if you drive over the twin bridges and look north you will see what I'm talking about, its erosion and what ever else is in the water (pesticides/herbicides). Most of this erosion however comes from upstream of Norman, or in Moore/OKC. I'm not the expert on rocks but as I heard, the certain type of barite/rock is exclusive to this area only, I think other rose rocks are different colors, different types.

 

[Billybob]

Not Norman but still turnpike related. Turns out the new Gilcrease extension will be a toll road, more interesting is it's financing. Most turnpikes are financed by bonds, this one combines a fed loan ($120.6mil.) and a "build-finance contract, with partners Duit Construction and National Bank of Canada"($261Mil), could they not get the bonds approved and did no American banks think it was a good loan?
https://www.shimmick.com/portfolio/gilcrease-expressway/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/w...set-over-gilcrease-expansion-tolls/ar-AAW1D4C

 

[SoonerP226]

Looks like the OTA has stopped all ACCESS projects pending action by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

From
https://www.accessoklahoma.com/_files/ugd/7181a5_ba47c2c04f9d4148bb01c93ce4b1eee7.pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #015-23
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority stops work on ACCESS Oklahoma projects
Earlier today, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority notified its board and its consultants that all work on the comprehensive, long-range plan, known as Access Oklahoma, will cease as of Friday, April 14. This stoppage includes the work on the Turner Turnpike as well as the widening and interchange additions for safety and community access on other highly used turnpikes across the state – projects that are high priorities to the board, OTA and the state as a whole.
While OTA remains in a strong financial position in large part due to exceptional accounting practices and financial controls in place, it can no longer continue funding work without a clear timetable for access to the bond market.
“I have mentioned several times, including during the recent board meeting, that our continued ACCESS Oklahoma project work would be impacted or even stopped due to our inability to enter the bond market,” Secretary of Transportation and OTA Executive Director Tim Gatz told the board in the memo.
Several factors impacted this decision. In recent months, legal matters pending before the Supreme Court, including the “validation” case, and an impending state investigative audit, have prevented access to the bond market.
The OTA will continue normal operations and maintenance to existing toll roads as well as moving forward with the conversion to cashless tolling. OTA will also continue to service existing debt. All of these activities are funded through toll receipts that are consistently meeting or exceeding financial projections while the ACCESS Oklahoma projects are funded through bond proceeds.
“Despite the tremendous transportation needs across the state, I feel it is prudent to take this difficult step,” Gatz said. “This is an unfortunate decision that the OTA does not take lightly due to the critical nature of the ACCESS Oklahoma plan and the effect it will have on all our consultants and their employees as well as many Oklahoma communities and businesses that rely on these necessary transportation improvements. While these delays slow progress for the state, it doesn’t eliminate the need for these critical transportation enhancements that will improve safety and the quality of life for all Oklahomans.”
OTA remains committed to its statutory mission to relieve traffic congestion throughout the state through the construction of legislatively authorized turnpike projects which increase safety for the traveling public in a conservative and fiscally responsible manner.
et is cleared, I am confident we

“Once these roadblocks are resolved and a path to the bond market is cleared, I am confident we will resume ACCESS Oklahoma and begin moving forward on behalf of the people of Oklahoma,” Gatz said.