OKLAHOMA CITY (July 8) - The design review of 95 state truss bridges – similar in structure to the I-35 Minnesota bridge that collapsed in 2007 killing 13 people — points to tangible consequences of reduced funding for Oklahoma’s roads and bridges that would likely ensue should State Question 744 pass, said a former Oklahoma governor, state elected leaders and transportation advocates today.

Former Oklahoma governor, Frank Keating, who serves as co-chairman of the T.R.U.S.T. Road and Bridge Coalition said, “We have hundreds of bridges across this state that were built in the 1930s or 40s that can’t support the weight of today’s traffic or are too narrow. If SQ 744 passes, funding to repair Oklahoma’s most dangerous roads and bridges, like these truss bridges, will be wiped out.”

This week, at a state transportation commission meeting, Secretary Gary Ridley responded to a question from the commission, which inquired what the financial impact would be to road and bridge funding should SQ 744 pass. Ridley’s comments were made after a briefing on the status of bridges being inspected following the Federal Highway Administration’s call for a review of all bridges nationally that have similar structural features to the Minnesota bridge.

Incoming speaker of the house, Kris Steele (R-Shawnee) said, “Last year, house fiscal staff estimated we would have to cut road and bridge funding by $42 million in the first year SQ 744 is implemented. Over the life of our state’s eight-year construction work plan, we would lose about $336 million in funding for these critically needed repairs. SQ 744 is a reckless mandate for increased government spending with no accountability or oversight.”

At a state house budget committee hearing last fall, multiple state agencies testified about the impact of a 20 percent funding cut to their services. The cuts would likely be needed to pay for the estimated $1 billion increase in spending that would be required under SQ 744.

SQ 744 is a constitutionally mandated government spending increase that requires the state to spend at minimum the six-state regional average on per-pupil spending. The measure contains no oversight or reforms of how these funds would be spent. Additionally, the blank check provided by SQ 744 does not identify a funding mechanism to pay for the increased spending. Therefore state lawmakers would likely have to look at income or sales-tax increases, possibly as high as 40 percent, or budget reductions in other agencies as high as 20 percent across-the-board.

State Senator Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa), who serves as vice-chairman of the Appropriations Sub-Committee on General Government and Transportation said, “The legislature has labored for the last four years to prioritize and increase road funding. As a result, we have seen the largest number of bridges being repaired and replaced in state history. If SQ 744 passes, Oklahoma taxpayers can expect unsafe infrastructure to rise and progress we’ve made to be lost.”

At Monday’s commission meeting, Sec. Ridley stated 60 truss bridges on the state’s highway system are scheduled for replacement.

T.R.U.S.T. (Transportation Revenues Used Strictly for Transportation) is a transportation advocacy group that engages in ongoing public relations efforts, grassroots and media campaigns that advocate policy goals, and educate elected officials and the public on the importance of transportation funding. T.R.U.S.T. also is a part of the One Oklahoma Coalition, the opposition campaign to SQ 744. To learn more visit RestoreTRUST.org and NoSQ744.com.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – (June 24) The coalition opposing State Question 744, the One Oklahoma Coalition, held a press event today detailing the devastating consequences to state services and state employees should the ballot question be passed by voters this November in the general election.

Representatives with the Oklahoma Public Employees Association and the Oklahoma Veterans’ Affairs Department estimated that more than 20-25% of all state services - including veteran care - would be cut.

According to OPEA officials, the Office of State Finance estimates that 5,000-7,000 state workers would have to be let go to meet the estimated 20% across-the-board cut to all state agencies that may likely ensue to satisfy the cost of SQ 744.

Michele Sexton, Administrative Programs Officer with the Oklahoma Veterans Affairs Department said, “The Oklahoma Education Association says SQ 744 will cost a minimum of $850 million to implement. Taking that much money out of the state budget will do even greater harm than that because it will mean we do not get the federal match on state expenditures, like that for our veterans.”

Sterling Zearly, with the OPEA said, “It’s frightening to think about what will happen to veteran care and the state’s most vulnerable populations with these kinds of cuts. We all support education, but it should not be funded on the backs of Oklahoma’s veterans.”

Discussing the economic impact on a community like Norman, Sexton continued, "We all know the function of government is not to create jobs, but the simple fact is that dozens of people work at this facility. This is how they provide for their family, and it would be harmful to the this community and these families if we had to cut back.”

The group closed their commentary by urging Oklahomans to pull together as a state, not pull apart. Instead of working against each other, they said it is preferable to find ways to grow the entire state’s economy instead of pitting interests against each other, as this state question clearly does, said the group. Last, they encouraged all Oklahomans, rural and urban, to get involved in stopping the initiative.

To see a summary of the Fiscal Year 2011 state budget agreement click here.

FY 2011 Transportation funding agreement

As the dust is settling from the 2nd Session of the 52nd Legislature, it appears the state's Eight-Year Construction Work Plan will remain on course.

Since originally reporting the outline of the FY 2011 budget agreement, which provides long-term funding to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for road and bridge maintenance and repair efforts, additional details have been made known as ODOT appropriations bills were passed last week.

Please find the below summary of the agreement which still equates to additional investments for transportation to the tune of $154.2 million new dollars over the next ten years. Further, the cap on the ROADS fund will be lifted from $370 million to $400 million, and increase the annual dedicated "off the top" allocation to ODOT from $30 million to estimated $35.7 million (annualized). This will allow for the increased funding for the debt service and ensure expanded project planning in the future to continue.

However, ODOT will participate in the across-the-board agency reductions with a 7.5% reduction for FY 2011. Despite this reduction, the additional, long-term investments provided by raising the cap to $400M and increased annual allocations of $35.7M will allow for the following:

• The largest number of bridges scheduled for repair or replacement in state history

• Expanded project planning capacity for the Eight-Year Construction Work Plan

• Continuance of the CIP bond debt payments

• Annual increase of $30 M (plus an additional $5.7M) remains in tact for FY 2011 and beyond

• $65 million bond (in exchange for cash from ODOT's existing budget) anticipated for August 2010.

• This is in addition to the $300 million in authorization provided by HB 2272 in 2008, which will be sold in two phases. The first $150 million in bonds were sold last summer, and the second $150 million will be combined with this new authorization of $65 million for a total of $215 million.

• An additional annual $5.7 million in additional debt service ($35.7M total), beginning in FY 2012 which is the estimated cover the cost of the bond debt payments for the $65 million

• Cap in ROADS fund spending raised from $370 to $400 million (estimated cap will be hit in FY 2017)

We believe this is the best solution, in this very difficult budget climate, to allow ODOT to keep the 8-year Construction Work Plan in tact. It cannot be underscored the dire position of all state agencies, and across-the-board cuts that all agencies participating in this year. For transportation interests, allowing additional and future investments to be provided is great for Oklahoma's roads and bridges this session.

Our most sincere appreciation to Speaker Benge, Pro Tem Coffee, Governor Henry and the House and Senate for reaching an agreement that provides long-term funding to ODOT for road and bridge maintenance and repair efforts. Also, special thanks to Secretary Gary Ridley and all the professionals at ODOT for their help and guidance this session.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2010
Contact: Crystal Drwenski
405.410.7668
Cdrwenski@cox.net

TRANSPORTATION COALITION ANNOUNCES
2010 LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN

Preserving road funding and opposition to State Question 744 top concerns

OKLAHOMA CITY – (March 5) The Transportation Revenues Used Strictly For Transportation (TRUST) road and bridge coalition today announced their 2010 legislative agenda and campaign to preserve Oklahoma’s road and bridge funding and to oppose State Question 744.

The group stated during the current state budget decline everything must be done to protect road and bridge funding by examining every financing option available to hold transportation funding harmless. TRUST warned if funding was reduced beyond the $15 million cut already made in FY 2010, that critical road and bridge projects will suffer.

Former Oklahoma governor, Frank Keating, who serves as co-chairman of TRUST said, “As we saw with the partial collapse of two portions of the I-44 bridge in Tulsa last week, Oklahoma still has critical road and bridge needs. The legislature has provided significant investments over the last four years, but it is imperative to public safety these funds not be derailed.”

Neal McCaleb, former state secretary of transportation and director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, who serves as president of TRUST added, “In this economy we must hold fast to the understanding that building and maintaining roads is a core function of state government. It is essential to spur economic development and grow jobs in rural and metropolitan areas of the state.”

Kell Kelly, president of SpiritBank and TRUST co-chairman added, “In addition to protecting gains, TRUST believes we must be innovative and examine all possible funding methods to know what makes the most sense for our state. If we are going to move Oklahoma forward, we must dialog about alternative financing options we can harness to build roads in the most efficient and equitable manner possible.”

In addition to state transportation systems, TRUST also voiced concern that municipal and county road systems are in dire need of all planned funding and urged the legislature to treat them as a top priority.

TRUST further stated that defeat of State Question 744 would be vital to protecting transportation interests. The coalition cited a presentation given to the State House Appropriations & Budget Committee last fall that showed the anticipated effects of SQ 744 should it pass would be an immediate $42 million cut to the department of transportation, which over the life of the current eight-year-construction work plan would total $395 million.

The coalition explained that SQ 744 would impose a constitutional mandate that would require spending levels to be raised to the"per pupil average” of surrounding states, regardless of Oklahoma’s economic health. It is estimated this would cost Oklahoma taxpayers an additional $850 million during the nation’s worst economic recession in decades.

Since 2005, TRUST has grown into a diverse coalition of more than 120 organizations statewide that includes bankers, petroleum marketers, energy producers, agri-business, chambers of commerce, public safety groups, concerned citizens, elected officials and highway industries. The group is focused solely on issues of road and bridge funding to further Oklahoma’s infrastructure.

TRUST engages in ongoing public relations efforts,grassroots campaigns, and paid media campaigns that advocate public policy goals, as well as educate elected officials and the public on the importance of transportation funding. To learn more visit www.RestoreTRUST.org.

RestoreTRUST.org

PDF OF THIS RELEASE

FACTS ON "M.O.E. MONEY CAMPAIGN"

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 12, 2009

Contact: Crystal Drwenski

405.410.7668

Cdrwenski@cox.net

News Release

FORMER GOVERNOR FRANK KEATING AND TRANSPORTATION COALITION ANNOUNCE 2010 LEADERSHIP AND CAMPAIGN

TULSA, OK – (Nov. 12) The Transportation Revenues Used Strictly For Transportation (TRUST) road funding coalition today announced at a news conference in Tulsa the addition of Oklahoma’s 25th Governor, Frank Keating, as the new co-chairman of their coalition and efforts to launch a 2010 campaign to increase Oklahoma’s federal road funding, as well as plans to protect state funding.

During his remarks, Keating expressed that adequate infrastructure should be a fundamental priority of government at every level, “During my time as Governor, rebuilding our roads and bridges was a top priority.  I continue to believe that until we adequately invest in our state’s transportation system Oklahoma will always lag behind in jobs, prosperity and public safety.  That is why I am so pleased to join TRUST in their efforts.”

Keating is replacing Tom Love, CEO of Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, who served as TRUST co-chairman for four years and will now serve as chairman emeritus. The group expressed a deep appreciation for Love’s capable service, which helped catapult the group into a thriving statewide organization.

Keating was introduced by Neal McCaleb, former state secretary of transportation and director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority during the Bellmon and Keating administrations, and now serves as president of TRUST.  McCaleb expressed it was a pivotal time for Oklahoma when it comes to transportation issues, “The current inaction of Congress in renewing federal highway funding is costing our state millions. 

“And the reality is the federal fuel tax simply is not sufficient to maintain our state’s roads and bridges. We are going to have to be innovative, think outside the box and put all possible alternative funding methods on the table,” said McCaleb.

The group plans to launch a sustained public relations and legislative advocacy effort at federal and state levels to insure positive outcomes for Oklahoma with the next renewal of federal highway law, and to protect state road funding during the next legislative session.

Albert "Kell" Kelly, TRUST co-chairman and CEO of SpiritBank, called upon community leaders statewide to get involved, “If we don’t keep our funding commitment to transportation, we risk losing the important gains we have made in rebuilding our state’s infrastructure. So today I am calling upon all chambers of commerce, the business community and concerned citizens to join with us in our efforts to build a prosperous future for Oklahoma by becoming a member of the TRUST coalition.”

Since 2005, TRUST has grown into a diverse coalition of more than 120 organizations statewide that includes bankers, petroleum marketers, energy producers, agri-business, chambers of commerce, public safety groups, concerned citizens, elected officials and highway industries. The group is focused solely on issues of road and bridge funding to further Oklahoma’s infrastructure. 

TRUST engages in ongoing public relations efforts, grassroots campaigns, and paid media campaigns that advocate public policy goals, as well as educate elected officials and the public on the importance of transportation funding.  To learn more visit www.RestoreTRUST.org.

RestoreTRUST.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2009
Contact: Crystal Drwenski
(405) 410-7668
 
 

Keep an eye on funding

The buzz over investing in our nation’s ailing transportation infrastructure via the economic stimulus package has led to a reawakening that infrastructure is the backbone of the nation’s economy. It also has painted a picture of a seemingly high level of political fidelity to more adequately fund America’s roads and bridges.

However, when one looks at the current highway bill, which expires Wednesday, and the financial well-being of the Federal Highway Trust Fund, Congress’s rekindled love for roads is a rocky relationship at best.

In fact, the trust fund has gone broke twice in the last year, requiring multibillion-dollar infusions.

And Oklahoma is facing the possibility of losing $135 million over the next 18 months, because of a flawed $8.7 billion funding "rescission” scheduled in current federal highway law.

Here is how this flaw came about.

State departments of transportation are given authorization to spend money through the multiyear highway bill, currently SAFETEA-LU. Then in the annual transportation appropriations bill, DOTs are given the actual limit they can spend for that year, called obligation authority, which is always a lower amount.

The difference between the obligation authority and the apportionment remains on each DOT’s "books” and is referred to as an unobligated balance.

A rescission normally captures a portion of this — what should represent the state’s unspendable balance — and moves it back to the trust fund.

However, due to the declining nature of the trust fund, this year the rescission will extend beyond Oklahoma’s unspendable balance. The state will be forced to redirect regular federal aid dollars previously committed to its remaining federal fiscal year 2009 construction projects.

This flawed rescission is ultimately a result of one thing: the procrastination of Congress in reforming highway law to allow for alternative revenue sources to rescue the federal fuel tax, which will never again be sufficient to meet highway investment obligations.

We don’t lack solutions. We lack the political fortitude to act on them, because solutions involve using private capital, increased tolling, congestion pricing, bonds or assessing fees based on vehicle miles traveled.

For Oklahoma there are bright spots in this dismal picture. While Congress as a whole has lacked action on this issue, Oklahoma’s congressional delegation is solidly committed to finding a solution and have shown exemplary leadership in making transportation a priority and working across party lines to do what’s best for the state.

Additionally, the Legislature has championed increased investments over the last four years. Thanks to its efforts, state Secretary of Transportation Gary Ridley reported earlier this month the largest increase in bridge work ever incorporated into the agency’s eight-year construction plan.

Those who care about the future of our state and nation should pay close attention to what Congress does to actually fund highway policy. For more information about this issue or other Oklahoma transportation initiatives, visit RestoreTRUST.org.

McCaleb, former state secretary of transportation, is president of the road and bridge advocacy coalition TRUST.

Note from TRUST Executive Director, Crystal Drwenski

September 24, 2009

This week, during a House interim study, State Secretary of Transportation Gary Ridley was asked to present to the House Appropriations & Budget Committee the effects of an anticipated $42 million cut to the department of transportation should State Question 744 pass in the 2010 general election.

SQ 744 is an attempt by the Oklahoma Education Association to remove the state legislature’s authority to appropriate and determine education spending levels. Instead it would impose a constitutional mandate that would require spending levels to be raised to the "per pupil" average of surrounding states, regardless of the Oklahoma’s economic health. By the OEA's own numbers this would cost Oklahoma taxpayers an additional $850 million during the nation’s worst economic recession in decades.

Because the state question does not identify a revenue source to fund the tax increase, state lawmakers in charge of budgeting are grappling with possible scenarios to pay for the mandate should SQ 744 pass. 

House fiscal staff prepared an analysis that showed income or sales tax rates would have to be raised by more than 30%, or all other state agencies outside of common education would have to endure a 20% across-the-board cut.   

When you consider the fact taxes cannot be raised in Oklahoma without a two-thirds majority of the legislature or by a vote of the people this makes it difficult, if not impossible, to increase taxes, which makes funding cuts the more likely scenario.

Secretary Ridley provided information to the committee detailing the department would likely not move forward with issuing the $150 million in bonds the legislature authorized in 2008, because the funding cut would render the department unable to service the debt on those bonds.

Additionally, because the department must address the cut of $42 million annually over the life of the eight-year construction work plan, the total cost to state road and bridge funding was estimated at $395 million – equivalent to a 25% cut of all state funds dedicated to highway construction.

When asked by committee members the safety ramifications to Oklahoma drivers, the secretary said it was difficult to estimate due to many wrecks being attributable to driver error.  However, he said many worn-out roads and bridges lack improved safety features that save lives. 

For example, for the last several years Oklahoma has averaged about 35 to 36 crossover fatalities a year.  But thanks to additional funding made possible by the Oklahoma Legislature the transportation department has made it a priority to place cable barriers and medians in “high-incident” corridors.  The result?  For the first nine months of this year Oklahoma has only had eight crossover fatalities.

Beginning next year, TRUST intends to play a significant, vocal role in opposing SQ 744 for the fiscal health and betterment of our entire state.  While we all desire good schools and quality education for our children, we live in a modest state with finite resources.  In these shaky economic times this initiative will prove disastrous not just for roads, but for all areas essential to good state government. 

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 20, 2009
Contact: Crystal Drwenski
405.410.7668
Cdrwenski@cox.net

TRUST Coalition To Host Congressional District 2
Federal Highway Funding Panel

Sen. Jim Inhofe, US Reps. Boren, Fallin and Transportation Sec. Gary Ridley to Speak

Media Advisory

McAlester, OK – The Transportation Revenues Used Strictly For Transportation (TRUST) Coalition will host three of Oklahoma’s congressional members and the state secretary of transportation, Gary Ridley, in McAlester to discuss the pending renewal of the federal highways program.

WHERE/WHEN

Aug. 26th at 10:00 a.m
McAlester Expo Center, Room 101
4500 W Highway 270

Attendance is complimentary

REGISTER: Attendees, including media, must register at RestoreTRUST.org

PANELISTS TO ATTEND

• US Sen. Jim Inhofe, Ranking Member, US Senate Environmental & Public Works Committee
• Congressman Dan Boren, 2nd District
• Congresswoman Mary Fallin, 5th District, (Member U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee)
• Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation, Gary Ridley
• Representative from Senator Inhofe (invited)
• Greg Treat, office of US Sen. Tom Coburn
• Kell Kelly, CEO, SpiritBank and TRUST Co-chairman, Emcee
• Neal McCaleb, Former St. Secretary of Transportation and TRUST Coalition President

The majority of Oklahoma’s transportation funding comes from the federal government.  In the last year, the Federal Highway Trust Fund has been replenished twice with multi-billion bailouts from Congress, but a long-term solution to funding infrastructure must be found. 

In order to foster understanding among Oklahoma stakeholders about this critical issue, TRUST is partnering with The Oklahoma State Chamber to host a series of moderated question and answer panel discussions on solving the federal funding crisis.  McAlester is the fourth of five events statewide.

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Click here for a comprehensive review of major transportation-related legislation and activites for the 2009 Legislative Session.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Transportation Revenues Used Strictly For Transportation (TRUST) Coalition today announced passage of a key legislative agenda item by the Oklahoma Legislature this week.

Senate Bill 832, by Senator Brian Bingman and Representative T.W. Shannon, allows partnerships between the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) and County Governments to repair functionally obsolete county bridges that go over turnpike systems.

Under this bill, the OTA could pledge turnpike revenues toward bridge repair and replacement to financially partner with counties to replace these bridges.  All projects must be initiated by the counties and approved by the county circuit engineering districts based on criteria such as traffic volume and bridge safety assessments.

Sen. Brian Bingman, Vice-chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee said, "This is simply creating another tool to help expedite replacement of narrow, dangerous county bridges that go over turnpikes.  This won't solve all of our problems, but we have to continue to use every option available to us to begin replacing bad bridges statewide."

Rep. T.W. Shannon, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said, "I am very pleased we passed this legislation.  Replacing dangerous bridges is a top priority of the legislature.  This, along with the historic investments we are making in roads and bridges this session, is going to have long-term safety and economic development benefits for the entire state."

 It is estimated there are 178 functionally obsolete country bridges in 20 different counties that go over turnpike systems statewide.

SB 832 also includes TRUST-supported language that would authorize a Task Force to study indexing of the ROADs fund, a concept that may prevent transportation funding erosion due to increased construction costs to build highways and bridges.  Currently this bill is awaiting signature from Gov. Henry before being signed into law.

For more information about TRUST's 2009 Legislative Agenda, please visit our Take Action page.

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TULSA, OK – The Transportation Revenues Used Strictly For Transportation (TRUST) Coalition today hosted several of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation members and the newly appointed Secretary of Transportation, Gary Ridley, in Tulsa to discuss the pending renewal of the Federal Highway Bill with Tulsa-area leaders and citizens.

The luncheon was attended by Oklahoma Congresswoman Mary Fallin, Congressman John Sullivan, and representatives from Senator Inhofe, Senator Coburn's and Congressman Dan Boren's offices.

Attendees heard from the State Secretary and members of Congress on the options currently being considered by Transportation Committees in Washington and how they would help or hurt Oklahoma's federal funding share. 

Oklahoma receives more than half of its annual road and bridge funding from the Federal government, but declining fuel tax revenues will likely result in the Federal Highway Trust Fund going broke again by late summer or early fall of this year.

Even though recent stimulus funding has allowed the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to expedite dozens of planned projects, the Trust Fund will be insolvent soon without action from Congress, which is slated to renew the six-year Highway Bill this September.  

TRUST hosted the moderated question and answer about the Trust Fund to promote awareness and advocacy among key Oklahoma stakeholders and policy makers to ensure a solution is met that keeps Oklahoma’s federal funding in tact.  

TRUST wishes to thank our sponsors for this event!

APAC-Oklahoma, Inc.
BAE Systems
C L Frates & Company
Chesapeake Operating, Inc.
CP&Y
Craig & Keithline, Inc.
Dolese Bros. Co.
Duit Construction
FirstBank
Garver Engineers
Haskell Lemon Construction Co.
Johnston Enterprises
Koss Construction
Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc.
Manhattan Road & Bridge
Mauk & Associates
Oklahoma Aggregates Association
Oklahoma Asphalt Pavement Assn.
Oklahoma Association of General Contractors
Plains Bridge Contracting
Poe & Associates, Inc.
SpiritBank
The Benham Company
The Chickasaw Nation
The State Chamber
TTK Construction
Tulsa Chamber
W & W Steel, LLC
Woodward Industrial Foundation

The TRUST Road and Bride Coalition hosted the 4th annual Transportation Day at the Capitol where participants heard from State Treasurer Scott Meacham on the current state of Oklahoma's fiscal health.  Speaker of the House Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, also both delivered strong messages of support indicating they did not support reducing transportation funding.

In between speaking sessions, TRUST members met individually with lawmakers across the state to deliver three key points of advocacy:

1. Thank you for three years of increased investment in roads and bridges, including last year's passage of HB 2272 under the support of the 2008 TRUST "Fix Our Roads" campaign.
2. The Federal Stimulus is not a windfall for state roads and bridges.  While it will expedite dozens of planned transportation projects across the state, Oklahoma's share of Federal dollars is expected to be $480 million less over the life of the next eight-year construction work plan.
3. Preserve state funding increases provided for in HB 2272 which includes; a $300 million bond in two phases, $30 million increase annually until $370 million cap on ROADS fund is reached, increase of state cap on road spending from $270 million to $370 million, and removal of a 3% growth trigger that governed increases to the ROADS fund.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 22) – Newly elected state senators and representatives gathered today at the new Penn Avenue interstate bridge to be recognized as the first participants in the education initiative, The Roads Scholar Program.  Lawmakers were also given updates on the possible federal economic stimulus package and a progress report on the new Crosstown I-40.

The event, hosted by the Restore T.R.U.S.T. (Transportation Revenues Used Strictly for Transportation) Coalition, was followed by an education initiative that gave a thorough overview of the state of Oklahoma's roads and bridges.

"Gov. Henry and the legislature have made it a priority to significantly increase funding for roads and bridges over the last three years," said Phil Tomlinson, state secretary of transportation.  “These investments are an important part of ensuring Oklahoma's ability to grow our economy and keep citizens safe as they travel state roads. Following the historic inauguration of President Obama, I am pleased to share Oklahoma is well-positioned to benefit from the potential passage of a federal economic stimulus package, should Congress approve it."  

Gary Ridley, director of the Oklahoma department of transportation, agreed. “This potential, one-time infusion of additional transportation funding is key in expediting much-needed projects already identified critical in our 8- yr plan, statewide in our rural and urban communities.”

"Thanks to the foresight of ODOT's long range planning, the contracting community stands ready to employee hundreds of Oklahomans to begin the process of rebuilding the critical corridors the department has submitted for consideration in the stimulus package," said Bobby Stem, executive director of the Oklahoma Association of General Contractors.  "It is so encouraging to see these freshmen legislators take the time to join us for this important event.  Oklahomans want, and deserve safe roads and bridges, and we stand ready to get to work."

"Through the Roads Scholar Program, legislators are listening to their constituents and taking the time to learn more about how to address our state's transportation funding needs.  They are to be congratulated for their diligence in going the extra mile," said Neal McCaleb, former state secretary of transportation and president of the T.R.U.S.T. coalition.

The T.R.U.S.T. Coalition is a bi-partisan group of concerned citizens, TRUST is a coalition of highway industries, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and concerned citizens that seek to improve the condition of Oklahoma's roads and bridges through education and legislative advocacy.  RestoreTRUST.org.