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TRIP report reveals state infrastructure needs

Video Credit: KJRH | Tulsa | Channel 2 - Duration: 02:33s - Published
TRIP report reveals state infrastructure needsTRIP report reveals state infrastructure needs

NOW."OKLAHOMA NEEDS TO PROVIDE MOREFUNDING FOR CONTINUEDIMPROVEMENTS TO THE STATE'SCRUMBLING ROADS AND BRIDGES.THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEWREPORT BY TRIP, A NATIONALTRANSPORTATION NON-PROFIT.2 NEWS REPORTER JEANETTEQUEZADA... JOINS US LIVE NOWWITH MORE ON THE FINDINGS..

ANDWHAT O-DOT HAS TO SAY.THE REPORT SAYS THE STATE HASDONE A GOOD JOB IN TRYING TOIMPROVE ROADS AND BRIDGES BUT ISNOT DOING ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN THEWORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE ANDSTILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THEOKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OFTRANSPORTATION HAS MADESIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTs ONSTATE BRIDGES.BUT A NEW REPORT RELEASED BY ANATIONAL TRANSPORTATIONNON-PROFIT group 'TRIP' SAYSSTATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION NEEDSARE OUTPACING THE FUNDINGAVAILABLE .ROCKY MORETTI/ TRIP DIRECTOR OFPOLICY AND RESEARCH"When it looks at the projectsthey know they need to proceed,both on the interstate but alsothe other state maintainedhighways, they only see adequateresources to address 15 percentof those needed repairs."ODOT says the state has come along way in improving bridgesbut agrees with the report thatsays the state still needs toaddress pavement conditions,provide better shoulders forrural two-lane highways, andaddress urban trafficcongestion.ODOT GOES ON TO SAY QUOTE:"ADEQUATE AND SUSTAINED STATEAND FEDERAL FUNDING WILL BENECESSARY AS ODOT CONTINUES TOMAKE MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TOTHE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, ESPECIALLYWITH RECENT HARSH WINTERSACCELERATING THE DETORIRATION OFOLDER AND ALREADY STRESSEDPAVEMENTS AND AS THE STATE'SPOPULATION CONTINUEs TO GROW."ROCKY MORETTI, DIRECTOR OFPOLICY AND RESEARCH FOR TRIPSAYS WHEN IT COMES TO BRIDGES --IT'S CRUCIAL TO KEEP UP WITHTHEIR MAINTENANCE.ROCKY MORETTI/ TRIP DIRECTOR OFPOLICY AND RESEARCH9:18:00-9:25:06"The danger is not that theseare bridges in danger ofcollapse, the danger is aneconomic danger."MORETTI SAYS IF THE STATE FALLSBEHIND ON BRIDGE MAINTENANCE, ITBECOMES AN EVEN GREATER BURDENTO FUND THE NECESSARYIMPROVEMENTS.ROCKY MORETTI/ TRIP DIRECTOR OFPOLICY AND RESEARCH9:36:03-9:47:00"If you don't fund thoseimprovements, you have to startclosing bridges, you have tostart restricting bridges foremergency vehicles, for largetrucks, and that is a realdanger."MORETTI SAYS WHILE ADDITIONALRESOURCES ARE IMPORTANT,FLEXIBILITY IS TOO SO THATOKLAHOMANS CAN DECIDE THE BESTUSE FOR ADDITIONAL FEDERALTRANSPORTAT




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