OOIDA Information Update – Oklahoma members
February 24, 2010

Attention: Oklahoma truckers! In one short month, the legislative session in Oklahoma has produced a slew of bills that warrant a call to your state lawmakers to share your views.

SB2066 would authorize local governments and the state to pursue public-private partnerships to get road and bridge projects completed. Any proposed deals would need to be approved by state lawmakers. SB2066 is in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

HB3220 would have state lawmakers decide whether to authorize the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to conduct a toll feasibility study for a new toll road in Tulsa. With a price tag of about $200 million, the 11-mile stretch of road would link the Tulsa end of the Turner Turnpike to the L.L. Tisdale Expressway. HB3220 is awaiting consideration on the House floor. The Senate version – SB1764 – is awaiting consideration on the Senate floor.

SB1773 would take decisions about increasing tolls out of the hands of the Turnpike Authority. It would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature before tolls could be increased. Legislative approval would also be required to issue bonds for the turnpikes. SB1773 is awaiting a Senate floor vote.

SB1664 would create split speed limits on various roadways. On the state’s turnpikes and interstates, trucks would be slowed from 75 mph to 65 mph. On four-lane divided highways where the current limit is 70 mph, trucks would be slowed to 60 mph. On other roadways with posted speeds of 65 mph and 55 mph, trucks would be required to slow down to 55 mph and 45 mph, respectively. SB1664 is in the Senate Transportation Committee.

SB1317 would slow trucks by 10 mph along turnpikes. The speed limit for big rigs on the state’s 10 turnpikes would be dropped from 75 mph to 65 mph. SB1317 is in the Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

Be sure to open up a line of communication with your state lawmakers about these bills. To find out who your state lawmakers are, click here. You can also call the OOIDA Membership Department at 800-444-5791, and they will look up the information for you.