Agricultural News
House Approves Substantial Bridge Repair Funding Measures
Thu, 24 May 2012 10:12:46 CDT
The House of Representatives voted recently to significantly reduce the backlog of bridges needing repair or replacement in Oklahoma.
"Road and bridge funding is not only a safety issue, but is also an economic development issue," said T.W. Shannon, a Lawton Republican who chairs the House Transportation Committee. "We have made some progress in this area in the last seven years, but this is a core service for Oklahomans that simply cannot wait any longer. I am very pleased that my colleagues in the House of Representatives agreed to focus our resources on a substantial increase in transportation funding so that our citizens will be safer and our businesses that rely on shipping goods and services on our roads can expand."
House Bill 2248, by Shannon, would increase road funding in the coming fiscal year. Current law calls for an annual increase of $41.7 million in road funding. Shannon's bill would hike that amount to $59.7 million, directing an additional $18 million to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund.
The bill directs that the fund continue receiving an additional $59.7 million each year until the total increase equals $575 million.
House Bill 2249, by Shannon, would gradually reduce over a three-year period the amount of motor vehicle collections for licensing fees and penalties currently going to the General Revenue Fund from 29.84 percent to 24.84 percent and direct 5 percent balance to the County Improvements for Roads and Bridges Fund (CIRB).
The CIRB program is currently funded with 15 percent of the motor vehicle taxes and fees. House Bill 2249 would increase the estimated annual funding for the CIRB program from approximately $80 million to more than $111 million.
Currently, 706 of nearly 6,800 bridges on the state highway system are identified as structurally deficient. Of the 706 bridges, 413 are currently scheduled to be replaced in the next seven years, but 293 remain unfunded. Many of those bridges will be replaced if Shannon's legislation becomes law.
The two bills are part of Gov. Mary Fallin's announced transportation agenda for the 2012 session.
House Bill 2248 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 73-5 vote, while House Bill 2249 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 83-3 vote.
Both bills now proceed to the state Senate for final approval.
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