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FROM THE CEO

FROM THE CEO

OKLAHOMA ADVANCED MOBILITY PILOT PROGRAM PASSES THE HOUSE, HEADED TO GOVERNOR’S DESK May 14, 2020 | Oklahoma State Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY –A measure creating the Oklahoma Advanced Mobility Pilot Program to further state investment in emerging advanced transportation technologies gained approval from the House of Representatives and moved to Governor Stitt’s desk for his signature. This bill was signed into law by the governor on May 19 and will become effective on Nov. 1, 2020.

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Contingent upon availability of funds, Senate Bill 1688 by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, would house the program under the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and would allow for coordination between state government, community leaders and economic developers across the state to create jobs in the emerging transportation technology industries, including emerging ground and aerial transportation technologies.

“The possibilities for the Oklahoma Advanced Mobility Pilot Program and the future technologies it could bring to our state are very exciting,” Bergstrom said. “It has the possibility to inject dollars in our local communities, stimulate the economy and create countless jobs for graduates seeking a career in this progressive field.”

Bergstrom noted the Oklahoma Advanced Mobility Pilot Program could be used to support and augment other federal transportation pilot programs created and/or managed by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), or the White House, and could include: · Autonomous vehicles and taxi services in cities; · Drone delivery in limited areas; · Unmanned ground cargo delivery projects; · Federal programs to test electric-powered aircraft; · Drone integration pilot programs; and · Unmanned cargo trucks on closed Oklahoma roads with USDOT

Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, is the House author for the measure. “The Oklahoma Advanced Mobility Pilot Program has the potential to position our state as an emerging leader in cutting-edge technologies,” McCall said. “The aerospace industry is already one of Oklahoma’s top economic engines, and further investment in the aeronautics industry could truly put our state on the map as a destination for future business and industry in this field.”

STATE NEWS

GOVERNOR SIGNS OIL AND GAS PRODUCED WATER AND WASTE RECYCLING AND REUSE ACT INTO LAW

May 19, 2020 | Oklahoma State Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY –Legislation designating who encourage and promote developments that allow for the owns and is responsible for wastewater resulting economical treatment of wastewater so it can become a from oil and natural gas drilling operations was signed useful resource in the future. By clarifying ownership into law on May 19 by Gov. Kevin Stitt. and liability, this law could help protect existing

Authored by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, Senate freshwater resources and groundwater from potential Bill 1875, also known as the Oil and Gas Produced pollution.” Water and Waste Recycling Reuse Act, clarifies that House author Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, produced water and waste is the property of the oil and said the bill helps clarify an issue that until now was gas producer until it is officially transferred to another ambiguous in state statute. person. It also shields liability from those who process “Such clarity will give Oklahoma a competitive edge wastewater into recycled water and/or transport this in attracting entrepreneurs looking to turn wastewater recycled water for further use in oil and gas production. into a reusable resource,” O’Donnell said. “This helps us

By clarifying ownership and liability, the measure create a stronger business environment as we continue aims to attract entrepreneurs to innovate and invest in to seek ways to diversify our state’s economy.” technology to process and treat oil and gas produced Numerous groups came together to support this water and waste, resulting in a beneficial resource and a legislation, including the Oklahoma Secretary of reduction in wastewater injection, Rader explained. Energy and Environment; Oklahoma Department of

“This law is the result of unprecedented negotiations Environmental Quality; Oklahoma Farm Bureau; The between oil, gas, agricultural and landowner Petroleum Alliance; Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association; stakeholders across the state,” Rader said. “We’ve State Chamber of Commerce; Environmental Federation all seen negative impacts of underground wastewater of Oklahoma; Coalition of Surface Owners and Mineral injection. It’s in the state’s best interest to cultivate, Owners; and Lagoon Water Midstream.

JUNE COMMISSION MEETING WRAP-UP: MAJOR INTERSTATE IMPROVEMENTS COMING TO OKC, DEL CITY THIS SUMMER; $157 MILLION IN CONTRACTS AWARDED June 3, 2020 | ODOT

Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s, June 1 video teleconference meeting include approval of contracts for two major interstate projects in the Oklahoma City metro area, a report on state funding for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in the coming fiscal year, a briefing on the financing arrangement for the Gilcrease Expressway in Tulsa, introduction of ODOT’s new Division Three Engineer and updates on two significant project completions in McCurtain and Delaware counties.

The commission met to conduct business in a video tele

conference with all nine commission members attending remotely as a public health precaution due to COVID-19. A recording of this meeting can be viewed online Commission members approved contracts for two major interstate projects that will greatly affect traffic in the Oklahoma City metro area, with work on both expected to begin in late summer. The first is a nearly $80 million project to replace six bridges on I-40 at Crutcho Creek, S.E. 15th St. and Sooner Rd. in Del City. The bridges are in poor condition and require constant maintenance and repairs, and five of the structures are rated structurally deficient. The second is a nearly $28 million project to rehabilitate the concrete pavement and nine bridges on

at https://vimeo.com/odot. I-44 between I-40 and just south of I-240 on the city’s southwest side. The rehabilitation work will require lane closures on this very busy corridor that serves Will Rogers World Airport.

“These six bridges on I-40 in Del City are some of the worst we have anywhere on the interstate in Oklahoma, so we’re really looking forward to getting those replaced with brand-new infrastructure,” Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz said. “The

work on I-40 in Del City and on I-44 will be very disruptive to metro-area traffic, so we ask drivers to be patient and mindful in these work zones and others statewide.”

Gatz briefed commissioners on state funding for transportation in State Fiscal Year 2021. The budget agreement approved by the Legislature for the coming fiscal year included a $180 million reduction to ODOT’s highway construction program, with authorization for the agency to issue $200 million in bonds to help keep projects on track and to make bond payments for the first year. He also reported that the Transportation Infrastructure Finance Innovation

Act loan for the Gilcrease Expressway project in Tulsa was approved by the federal government in May. The project is being built by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and includes ODOT as a partner along with other local entities.

Commissioners were introduced to Ron Brown, who was recently named division engineer for ODOT’s Division Three, which is based in Ada. He will oversee all highway operations in 11 south-central Oklahoma counties, including the southern portion of the Oklahoma City metro area. Brown has been with ODOT for 30 years, most recently serving as the construction engineer for Division Three.

Finally, Gatz highlighted the work by ODOT field division workers and construction contractors to fully open two important highways to traffic in advance of Memorial Day and the start of the summer tourist season. Crews were able to complete work on new turn lanes for US-259 in Hochatown near Beavers Bend State Park in McCurtain County to help address congestion and safety issues related to the influx of tourists each year. Additionally, the new SH-85 bridge over Duck Creek near Ketchum in Delaware County was opened in time for the holiday weekend, restoring access to residents, businesses and tourists on the north side of Grand Lake.

Commissioners voted to award 35 contracts totaling more than $157 million to improve highways, roads and bridges in 28 counties. Contracts were awarded for projects in Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Carter, Choctaw, Comanche, Custer, Delaware, Ellis, Garfield, Grady, Johnston, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Logan, Murray, Muskogee, Noble, Oklahoma, Ottawa, Pittsburg, Seminole, Pontotoc, Stephens, Texas, Tulsa, Washington and Washita counties. A list of all awarded contracts can be found by visiting www.odot. org/contracts, selecting the May 2020 AM letting, clicking Go, then Award.

The nine-member Oklahoma

Transportation Commission, appointed by the governor and legislative leadership to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards contracts for road and bridge construction monthly. The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, July 6, and will be available for the public to view live on the web. Contracts, bid information, the commission’s monthly agenda and project details can be viewed at www.odot.org.

Work to replace the worst interstate bridges in the Oklahoma City metro area will be underway soon, thanks to the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s approval of a contract for a nearly $80 million project to replace the I-40 bridges over Crutcho Creek, S.E. 15th St., pictured above, and Sooner Rd. in Del City. The six bridges have decks and structural members that are in poor condition, requiring constant maintenance and repairs that frequently disrupt traffic along the interstate corridor.

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