Odot

[HangryHippo]

Maybe a change at the top of ODOT will do Oklahoma some good?

Longtime Oklahoma transportation official to retire | NewsOK.com

Perhaps we can get someone that believes in designing and implementing new interchanges that actually alleviate problems, in lieu of expanding a highway at every point in between and leaving two-lane bridges at the interchanges...

[Dubya61]

I'm sure the cement lobby is busy prepping their recommendaitons!

[OKCisOK4me]

The problem with this is they'll probably replace him with someone that was going to make changes when they were young and they joined ODOT but that person was fed constant bs to the point that they are just like Ridley is now and has been. The only way to alleviate the issues within the organization is to let everyone go and start fresh.

[ou48A]

I don’t know……but it might be time to bring in somebody from a different state who is better at more timely methods of construction.

It shouldn’t take about 35 years to rebuild I- 35 from I-40 to the south end of Norman.

[bluedogok]

I don’t know……but it might be time to bring in somebody from a different state who is better at more timely methods of construction.

It shouldn’t take about 35 years to rebuild I- 35 from I-40 to the south end of Norman.

That is based more on funding methods than a desire to take a long time. Want roads built/rebuilt quickly? Make it a toll road because the bonds are fully funded at the start of a project. For "free roads" it is always limited to how much gas tax money is available from year to year and they can't spend (build) beyond what is budgeted from year to year because the funding past a year is not guaranteed to be there because of the whims of the feds or state legislatures.

It can be even worse in Texas, US290/Ben White in Austin has been under construction since before my wife moved there in 1989, it was still under construction when we sold our house in South Austin earlier this year. Benham quit doing work in Texas many years ago because TxDOT was a worse cluster(ya know) than ODOT. At least on the engineering side ODOT (and many other state DOT's) are much easier to work with and more logical than TxDOT. Most people that gripe vociferously about ODOT are the people who favor some other forms of transportation over roads. ODOT's main mission as put forth by the Oklahoma legislature is road building, want changes at ODOT or OTA, make changes at the legislative/executive level.

[ou48A]

That is based more on funding methods than a desire to take a long time. Want roads built/rebuilt quickly? Make it a toll road because the bonds are fully funded at the start of a project. For "free roads" it is always limited to how much gas tax money is available from year to year and they can't spend (build) beyond what is budgeted from year to year because the funding past a year is not guaranteed to be there because of the whims of the feds or state legislatures.

It can be even worse in Texas, US290/Ben White in Austin has been under construction since before my wife moved there in 1989, it was still under construction when we sold our house in South Austin earlier this year. Benham quit doing work in Texas many years ago because TxDOT was a worse cluster(ya know) than ODOT. At least on the engineering side ODOT (and many other state DOT's) are much easier to work with and more logical than TxDOT. Most people that gripe vociferously about ODOT are the people who favor some other forms of transportation over roads. ODOT's main mission as put forth by the Oklahoma legislature is road building, want changes at ODOT or OTA, make changes at the legislative/executive level.

It’s the funding methods that we need to take a look at.
In Oklahoma it seems like our legislators dole out funds for road projects based on everyone getting a little. This causes major projects to drag out over a very lengthy time

TxDOT seems to secure its funding for major projects in a way that leads to much quicker construction. Once started their major projects don’t seem like they are slowed by lack of funding. The reconstruction of Dallas central expressway (US75) took about 8 years. In terms of size and scale it’s probably a bigger project than any road reconstruction project ever undertaken in Oklahoma. It dwarfs OKC’s recent I-40 project.

A strong ODOT director with armed with the power of persuasion could help change our methods of funding.

[adaniel]

It’s the funding methods that we need to take a look at.
In Oklahoma it seems like our legislators dole out funds for road projects based on everyone getting a little. This causes major projects to drag out over a very lengthy time

TxDOT seems to secure its funding for major projects in a way that leads to much quicker construction. Once started their major projects don’t seem like they are slowed by lack of funding. The reconstruction of Dallas central expressway (U75) took about 8 years. In terms of size and scale it’s probably a bigger project than any road reconstruction project ever undertaken in Oklahoma. It dwarfs OKC’s recent I-40 project.

A strong ODOT director with armed with the power of persuasion could help change our methods of funding.

While I don't disagree with your assessment, I think its worth pointing out that TxDOT is pretty much broke right now, maybe even more underfunded than ODOT. They are suffering from the same fate that ODOT is (low gas tax collection, poor planning for future projects, etc.) I'm fairly certain that they are not adding any extra road capacity--only resurfacing/maintenance of existing roads--and pretty much everything you see getting built has some sort of toll component. Even new lanes that are added to existing roads, like the upcoming widening of I-35E between Denton and Lewisville (btw I would avoid that area for the next few years) are just the addition of toll lanes, i.e., "Lexus Lanes" with congestion pricing.

No doubt ODOT needs to address their funding mechanisms, but the root of the problems is, like every other state agency, they have to browbeat the goons at the state capitol for every penny. Until that changes they will constantly be playing catchup. It is ridiculous that the 44/77/235 interchange is going to take as long as it is, but the state can fix it tomorrow if they gave them the funds they need. The state can also look at upping the gas tax, which will have to be voter approved, or start involving OTA in some of their projects to get some toll funding.

[MagzOK]

It's amazing what ODOT can do when it has the money. Ridley and his engineers actually started something new in the country with the reconstruction of the I-40 bridge collapse in Webbers Falls in 2002. He implemented incentives and disincentives within the contract itself and got the Feds to loosen all the red tape. Pretty remarkable actually.

[LakeEffect]

I would be surprised if his replacement is NOT David Streb.

[HangryHippo]

I would be surprised if his replacement is NOT David Streb.

I'm not familiar with David Streb. Will he provide a change of pace or can we expect more of the same?

[CaptDave]

Mr Streb was the ODOT official on the stage at the last Public Meeting for the boulevard. I think the video is available on the OKC website.

I would like to see the "T" in ODOT actually mean something. Presently we have an ODOR - Ok Dept Of Roads and not much more......

[OKCisOK4me]

I like to call it ODOD (Difficulty)!

[Just the facts]

I suspect whomever is in charge at ODOT they will want to build new roads and rebuild existing roads. It is what they do and they are one of the few government agencies that can generate their own work. The trick is living a lifestyle that reduces ODOT's influence on your life, especially if you don't like them.

[OKCisOK4me]

Kerry is spot on. Don't like ODOT? Stop buying gas.

I don't think Edmondites are going to walk 20 miles to work. It's a monopoly I tell ya!

[Stew]

I'll never understand what people have against roads and parking lots. I must be missing something.

[CaptDave]

I'll never understand what people have against roads and parking lots. I must be missing something.

Nothing - it is building highways exclusively at the expense of other forms of transportation that can help reduce our dependence on foreign oil that is the primary issue with ODOT.

[Stew]

Nothing - it is building highways exclusively at the expense of other forms of transportation that can help reduce our dependence on foreign oil that is the primary issue with ODOT.

Ultimately won't the free market and the electorate dictate the need and arrival of other forms of transportation. I think your average Oklahoma taxpayer is fairly satisfied with the status quo. At least that's my experience but as always I could be wrong.

[Dubya61]

Ultimately won't the free market and the electorate dictate the need and arrival of other forms of transportation. I think your average Oklahoma taxpayer is fairly satisfied with the status quo. At least that's my experience but as always I could be wrong.

Maybe I drank some of JTF's kool-aid, but I don't think the free market is permitted to speak in deciding the preferential form of transportation. There is so much government involvement in the pricing of fuels and right of way funding that it would be impossible to compare rail versus highway. If the government were totally not involved, I bet that we would find rail cheaper. If that's true and rail is cheaper, the free market would have already built more rail and made good money off of it and we would be wondering why we need so much roadway.

[Just the facts]

Maybe I drank some of JTF's kool-aid,

Not only does it taste good, it is good for you. As for free market, look at OKCs own history of streetcars. The city charged Oklahoma Rail Company to use the public right of way and offered no funding to the system while mandating a maximum fare. Meanwhile, the City built public roads for privately owned cars and let people use them for free.

[Just the facts]

As long as we are good with war for cheap oil we will keep building roads, or until we run out of money.

[Popsy]

As long as we are good with war for cheap oil we will keep building roads, or until we run out of money.

You seem to be having a very rough time representing your handle (JTF) as I haven't seen many facts since the handle change. Seems to be mostly your biased opinion or gross misrepresentations for the most part. If you need that to advance your agenda, why not change your name to Spartan II?

[ou48A]

As far as our future transportation goes…..

It’s..... just a fact…… that as long as the human race is growing we’re going to need more streets and highways.
It’s the prosperous societies that will build and maintain them.



The only real question is what will be the fuel choice? On this there is very good news!
We have new very large supplies of oil and natural gas coming on line
But it’s GTL that offers us the most promise.
The potential of GTL is something that I don’t think a lot of people comprehend, including some posters on this thread.
GTL can be produced at significantly cheaper prices than current gasoline prices.
But just as important it’s very abundant with supplies that will last well into the next century just with today’s technologies. It can be produced on a scale that can meet the demand. It is even currently blended with gasoline.
GTL could be produced from entirely North American sources. It doesn’t take up valuable farm land. It burns cleaner than traditional gasoline. It is my strong opinion we should mandate its use and phase it’s usage in over time.

In time it would make us not only free from non-North American oil but a net energy exporter. This would give us more money to spend on decongestion projects such as light rail in locations where congestion is a major hindrance to the quality of life.

[catcherinthewry]

why not change your name to Spartan II?

That's funny! I kinda like Mini-Spart though.

[Just the facts]

You seem to be having a very rough time representing your handle (JTF) as I haven't seen many facts since the handle change. Seems to be mostly your biased opinion or gross misrepresentations for the most part. If you need that to advance your agenda, why not change your name to Spartan II?

Are you saying we are not involved in the Middle East to ensure cheap oil? Why do you think we are there?

[ou48A]

I'm guessing the fact that Texas has a GDP of 1,307,432,000,000 where Oklahoma's is only 160,500,000,000 has something to do with the differences in funding.

I don't mind comparing Oklahoma to Texas but I think it is easy to forget how very different our economies and states are.

Our differences in scale shouldn’t be used as an excuse for taking 35 years to rebuild I- 35,,,, a comparatively very small project.

The way we fund such projects needs improvements.