House Bill 1939, which aims to increase the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s transparency, passed through the state House of Representatives Transportation Committee with a 9-3 vote and will now head to the House Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee.
Authored by Rep. Danny Sterling (R-Tecumseh), the bill would mandate comprehensive studies that consider surrounding residents and businesses when planning turnpike routes. It would also require the OTA to partner with municipal governments and hold public meetings.
Additionally, the bill would require property owners within a mile of proposed developments to be notified and given the opportunity to voice their concerns.
“We are putting in place safeguards to protect the interests of the people and to create a fair, transparent process that prioritizes responsible transportation planning,” Sterling wrote in a press release.
According to the release, the bill is a legislative initiative that aims to increase transparency, collaboration and accountability in the OTA's decision-making processes.
Other bills to limit the OTA have advanced through the state House and Senate. Rep. Annie Menz (D-Norman) and Sens. Lisa Standridge (R-Norman) and Jonathan Wingard (R-Ada) have each filed bills to prevent OTA toll increases.
Earlier this month, a Senate committee passed a bill to restrict the OTA with a unanimous vote. The bill, authored by Standridge, would require OTA to give notice to property owners impacted by construction.
ACCESS Oklahoma is a 15-year, $8.2 billion plan to develop new turnpikes and expand existing highways across the state, including along multiple routes in the Norman area.
Residents flooded city hall in August, wearing red to protest the ACCESS Oklahoma plan. After the four-hour meeting, the council unanimously rejected a resolution that would have allowed the OTA to build in “critical areas,” including the Lake Thunderbird watershed and flood hazard areas.
About two months later, the resolution reappeared, but it was postponed until a public hearing could be held.
In October, the OTA decided construction would move forward without city input. According to Lisa Shearer-Salim, OTA public information manager, the plan will no longer include frontage roads or access points in Norman because the city did not approve a resolution supporting ACCESS Oklahoma.
Shearer-Salim said the OTA may have meetings with Norman in the future, but construction must begin. According to the city’s information page, there will be no additional town hall meetings.
This story was edited by Peggy Dodd and Anusha Fathepure. Geethika Kollu, Mary Ann Livingood and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
