USDOT allocates $114 million to make rural roads in Oklahoma safer

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will provide $113.8 million to the Oklahoma Capital Improvement Authority (OCIA) to enhance rural road safety and infrastructure across 15 counties. The three loans, in combination with two prior loans, will improve 111 miles of rural roads.

The funds will support Phases 3, 4 and 5 of the $426.7 million Rural Two-Lane Advancement and Management Plan (RAAMP). The plan will support the OCIA’s efforts to accelerate and deploy 33 projects that will create uniform and consistent road conditions. The projects will prioritize building 8-foot shoulders, rehabilitating driving lanes and installing drainage and grading work. In addition, OCIA will replace three bridges and four concrete bridge boxes.

The 111 miles of rural roads covered by RAAMP account for 65% of all serious and fatal crashes in the state. Once completed, the additional shoulders will provide additional room for farming equipment and accident clean-up, alleviating congested traffic and reducing carbon emissions. OCIA will also recycle existing materials to rehabilitate roads rather than replace pavement.

OCIA will receive $200 million in Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loans to support RAAMP. The TIFIA Rural Project Initiative (RPI) provides financial support for rural communities across the nation. These communities have a disproportionate number of roads, bridges, tunnels and other forms of transportation infrastructure in poor condition that limit access to critical amenities.

The TIFIA RPI provides loans to eligible community projects worth between $10 million and $100 million. The loans can cover up to 49% of the project’s cost. Eligible projects include:

• Roads, bridges and tunnels.
• Transit systems including infrastructure, bus and train stations and buses and passenger rail vehicles and facilities.
• Transit-oriented development.
• Intermodal connectors.
• Pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
• Freight transfer facilities.
• Sea and inland waterway ports.
• Airports.