The New I-40 (Construction Updates)

[okc_bel_air]

Are there any aerial pictures? The ground shots look good but I would like to see a overhead image to get a feel of the progress.

[king183]

According to ODOT the surfacing work is to begin this month. I haven't been by to see the progress for about a month, so does anyone know if this is likely to remain on schedule?

[LordGerald]

According to ODOT the surfacing work is to begin this month. I haven't been by to see the progress for about a month, so does anyone know if this is likely to remain on schedule?

It's on schedule. The cement pouring will be continuous, not incremental. Once they start pouring cement, they are going to keep going until the whole thing is done. It's pretty remarkable that they could stay on schedule given our cruel winter. The spring is supposed to be pretty wet, so we'll see what happens next.

[Larry OKC]

According to ODOT the surfacing work is to begin this month. I haven't been by to see the progress for about a month, so does anyone know if this is likely to remain on schedule?

May be in doubt now...

NewsOK

Budget cuts could hamper Oklahoma transportation projects (Oklahoman, 4/13/10)

Funding cuts could push back the completion date on major projects such as Oklahoma City’s Interstate 40 Crosstown realignment and improvements to Interstate 244 in Tulsa by at least a year, Ridley said.

[LordGerald]

May be in doubt now...

NewsOK

Budget cuts could hamper Oklahoma transportation projects (Oklahoman, 4/13/10)

I'd hate to see that. The current I-40 isn't going to last much longer. It is extremely dangerous right now...

[bombermwc]

And this is why I keep saying we need to put in that 5cent gas tax. 5 cents a gallon is nothing per fill-up and would give ODOT so much more money to help projects along. But us short-sighted Oklahomans see a tax and automatically put the breaks on and say no...whether it helps us or not.

[okcpulse]

And this is why I keep saying we need to put in that 5cent gas tax. 5 cents a gallon is nothing per fill-up and would give ODOT so much more money to help projects along. But us short-sighted Oklahomans see a tax and automatically put the breaks on and say no...whether it helps us or not.

I'm with you. I voted in favor of the nickel increase in 2004. Unfortunately, it failed.

So everyone can stop complaining about the roads.

[mugofbeer]

Is that 5 cent gas tax collected in OK and stays in OK or does it go to the feds first?

[okcpulse]

Is that 5 cent gas tax collected in OK and stays in OK or does it go to the feds first?

Since it is state gas tax it stays in OK. Federal gas tax is collected seperately.

[Kerry]

The thing is, Oklahoma doesn't have a revenue problem. It has a spending priority problem - just like every other government.

http://oklahoma.watchdog.org/522/spe...revenue-drops/

Money, Smith said, “kept rolling in” and rather than socking it away, “they just grew programs. That’s why the budget went up 95 percent from 2004 to 2009. They kept passing and approving programs. Teacher raises, early childhood education and more.”

Smith also points to U.S. Census data that show how there has been a 5.6 percent increase in the state’s population.

“As the revenue increased, the legislature had three alternatives – increase the Rainy Day Fund, put more money back for tough times and watch for wasteful spending, or increase programs, which is what they chose to do,” Smith said.

“Now, as revenues decrease, we’re faced with this tremendous shortfall,” Smith said. “If we’d put more money in Rainy Day Fund, and we didn’t start all these other programs, we wouldn’t be in all this trouble.”

“They expanded it to every program you can think of,” Smith said. “And as income grew for the state, expenditures per person exploded.”

[mugofbeer]

Since it is state gas tax it stays in OK. Federal gas tax is collected seperately.

I was living out of state when that vote took place, but if the money stayed 100% in OK I would probably be in favor of it. From looking at the state-by-state comparisons in gas taxes, it looks like 2-3 cents/gallon would do no more than even us up with neighboring states except Missouri. You just don't want to give truckers and travelors the excuse to use Kansas or Texas hiways instead of ours to avoid higher gas taxes.

[mack1520]

Yeah, I usually base my travel plans on state gas taxes.

[mugofbeer]

You might not but trucking companies do. Look beyond your own nose.

[mack1520]

I guess anything is possible, but the minimal tax that we're talking about only increases the cost of going completely across the state by $2-3. That's assuming their gas tanks are empty when they reach the border and they buy all of their gas in Oklahoma.

To me, a minor tax increase would be viewed far less negatively than the poor infrastructure that they currently have to use.

[Kerry]

Yeah, I usually base my travel plans on state gas taxes.

I do also. I used to drive between Florida and Georgia every week and I never bought gas in Florida. I would buy it just before leaving Georgia or right after leaving Florida. When I was going to visit in the laws in Kentucky I would also stop and fill-up in Tennessee - coming and going.

[mack1520]

I guess I'm just different that way. If I couldn't afford an extra $2-3 dollars to make sure that the bridges didn't fall down, I'd probably just stay home and save my pennies.

[Kerry]

I guess I'm just different that way. If I couldn't afford an extra $2-3 dollars to make sure that the bridges didn't fall down, I'd probably just stay home and save my pennies.

What makes you think an extra $2 or $3 would keep the bridges from falling down? The state doesn't have a revenue problem - they have a spending priority problem.

[mack1520]

I guess I just figure that an extra 2-3 cent gas tax designated for infrastructure maintenance and improvement couldn't hurt.

[mack1520]

Money, Smith said, “kept rolling in” ... “they just grew programs ...They kept passing and approving programs. Teacher raises, early childhood education and more.”

Kerry, Where do you want to see spending reductions made? Do you agree with Mr. Smith from the article you quoted where he talks about the money we wasted on teacher raises and early childhood education?

[king183]

Money, Smith said, “kept rolling in” ... “they just grew programs ...They kept passing and approving programs. Teacher raises, early childhood education and more.”

Kerry, Where do you want to see spending reductions made? Do you agree with Mr. Smith from the article you quoted where he talks about the money we wasted on teacher raises and early childhood education?

Heck, multiple studies have shown early childhood education has NO lasting effect on student achievement, so I'd cut that right away and divert all that funding to transportation. That'll never happen, though, because people will grasp onto the silly idea that you're hurting children.

[Larry OKC]

What makes you think an extra $2 or $3 would keep the bridges from falling down? The state doesn't have a revenue problem - they have a spending priority problem.

Agree completely. Over the decades there has been more than enough money raised through the various transportation related taxes. Problem is, they have diverted a lot of those funds to other areas. Not saying it was illegal or that those other projects weren't deserving but many have there own dedicated funding source. Most think that transportation taxes go to transportation. Then there has been the graft etc that just naturally occurs in government.

[jbrown84]

I'm with you. I voted in favor of the nickel increase in 2004. Unfortunately, it failed.

So everyone can stop complaining about the roads.

I saw a teabagger bumper sticker that said "Stop Raising Taxes and Fix the Damn Roads".

[HOT ROD]

^ (rolling eyes) now that's an oxymoron for ya, jbrown.

[mugofbeer]

I saw a teabagger bumper sticker that said "Stop Raising Taxes and Fix the Damn Roads".

Though I do see the irony in the statement, how do you know it was a 'teabagger' bumper sticker?

[metro]

Though I do see the irony in the statement, how do you know it was a 'teabagger' bumper sticker?

I agree, sounds more like a liberal bumper sticker than a "teabagger". Keep demonizing the teabaggers though, it's the socialist strategem.