Oklahoma will be able to accelerate projects on the state's eight-year road and bridge construction plan if President Barack Obama's latest spending plan wins approval, state Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley says.
NewsOK
BY MICHAEL MCNUTT mmcnutt@opubco.com
Published: September 12, 2011
Oklahoma will be ready with road and bridge projects if President Barack Obama gets Congress to pass his new spending and tax cuts plan, the state's transportation secretary said Monday.
“We'll be ready regardless of what type of funding that is provided to Oklahoma,” Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley said. “Engineers and staff here at the department and the construction industry will be ready to move quickly.”
The president's $447 billion plan, unveiled last week, is a package of new spending and tax cuts intended to deliver a jolt to the economy.
According to analysis by Senate Democrats, the plan to invest more money in roads and transit projects would mean $489 million for Oklahoma. The state received $465 million in federal funds from the 2009 stimulus bill.
Ridley, who also is director of the state Transportation Department, told members of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission that if the funding package is approved, staff would review projects in the state's eight-year construction work plan... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Mon, September 12, 2011
by John Cox