Tulsa World: State to slash millions in road projects after Congress fails to extend measure

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State to slash millions in road projects after Congress fails to extend measure

By JIM MYERS World Washingon Bureau
Published: 10/1/2009 2:07 PM
Last Modified: 10/1/2009 2:07 PM

WASHINGTON – A double-whammy from the federal government will force Oklahoma next month to slash a $53.5 million letting on road projects to $6.2 million, according to figures provided Thursday by state Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley.

"We are not doing very well right now," Ridley said.

He released those figures after Congress allowed a one-month extension of current transportation programs to kick in along with cancellation of budget authority provided states in a massive transportation bill several years ago.

Called a rescission, that cancellation is expected to have a $40 million immediate impact on Oklahoma's road program, and that impact eventually could climb to $135 million.

Moreover, the state's flow of federal funds also was dealt a blow by the 30-day extension of current transportation law.

Ridley explained the state must meet its debt obligation on bonds.

"That has to come off the top," he said.

"As you can see, that doesn't leave us any federal funds for the November letting." Ridley said the November list essentially will be limited to state-funded projects.

He repeated an earlier concern that the state was urged to use to stimulus dollars to speed up certain projects to create jobs only to have projects delayed later.

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., a key player on transportation issues in Congress, had worked into the evening Wednesday to try to come up with a solution.

"There is plenty of blame to go around tonight, but the focus should be on the fact that Congress failed, and as a result, thousands of American jobs are now in doubt," Inhofe said.

"This is simply inexcusable." By JIM MYERS World Washingon Bureau

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	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (10/1/2009 2:18:38 PM) Perfect time to take that $50 million from the low-water dams the Feds have given you to compensate for the lost money for roads. You need road more than the river dammed.
	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (10/1/2009 2:21:23 PM) "roads" whoops
	Report Comment parksport, (10/1/2009 2:27:58 PM) Good time to not wait until the "last minute" in the future I hope? Not really. Some of the deadlines are hard to plan in advance when the rules keep changing or get rushed.
	Report Comment TulsanBornTulsanBred, (10/1/2009 2:57:16 PM) The 50 million has been authorized, but not allocated. So those funds don't exist yet.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (10/1/2009 2:59:42 PM) "He repeated an earlier concern that the state was urged to use to stimulus dollars to speed up certain projects to create jobs only to have projects delayed later" . Are you listening Tulsa City Council and Mayor Taylor. That stimulus money has strings and the government likes to yank on them every so often.
	Report Comment Aggie, (10/1/2009 11:36:02 PM) Oklahoma has some of the worst roads and bridges in the country, and yet the state's starry-eyed politicians want to spend money on a rail line from Tulsa to OKC. Mass transit is always a black hole for taxpayer money. Is it too much to ask for the government to do the few things it ought to do? Public safety and good roads! Let investors build a dang rail line, if it is economically feasible.
	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (10/2/2009 3:46:41 PM) ... I suppose we can look forward to MORE toll roads...and an increase in taxes. ... .. .

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