OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority could have to adhere to certain requirements if SB80 becomes law.
There have been calls to put more guardrails in place for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, including recently from State Auditor Cindy Byrd.
Randy Carter is a citizen activist with the group Pike Off OTA. His property was threatened by a turnpike project.
“Since I’ve gotten involved, I’ve discovered that I feel like there’s a lot of things that the Turnpike Authority does not do correctly,” Carter said.
Carter said he feels there needs to be more legislative control over the OTA, which is not a state agency. He feels SB80 could help.
“It’s not a big gigantic change in anything. It’s a start in bringing some transparency and accountability to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority,” he said.
It’s a bill State Sen. Lisa Standridge (R-Norman) started working on last session.
“What it will do is sunset 22 of the 35 projects the OTA has on their docket. It will also improve transparency and impart more public comment in turnpike projects. It also will sunset projects that are approved within five years if they do not receive a design project,” Standridge explained on the Senate floor on Monday.
One State Senator questioned Standridge on if the transparency requirements in the bill, like notifying the public, are already things the OTA is doing.
“This would make sure that public comment is more common. There’s more places for the public to comment. It would also codify those measures,” Standridge answered.
The bill passed in a 39 to 3 vote. It now heads over to the House for consideration.
