NewsOK
BY NATE WEBB
Published: December 8, 2010
With our country facing mounting debt, all items in the federal budget are on the chopping block. States must compete with others to obtain federal funding across all sectors.
One area to watch is transportation. Whether it's improving road conditions to keep transportation costs down for retailers shipping goods or attracting transportation-related companies to Oklahoma to create jobs, sound infrastructure policies are imperative.
During the November election in Oklahoma, education funding was a hot topic. Undoubtedly, education should always be a priority for Oklahoma. But I'd argue that funding for transportation infrastructure should be, as well.
With almost one in five roads in poor condition and more than one in five bridges deemed “structurally deficient,” Oklahoma ranks low nationally. Luckily, we've made progress in those areas thanks to Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley. We also have a growing aerospace industry and strong waterways, especially in eastern Oklahoma, where almost 4 million tons of commerce, equaling about $2 billion, was transported on our waters... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Wed, December 8, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski