State agencies unveil ACCESS Oklahoma infrastructure initiative

View interactive maps and more at accessoklahoma.com

UPDATE, 10/24/24: It has been communicated from the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to the City of Norman that plans will move forward with ACCESS Oklahoma as indicated in August 2024 – turnpike construction with no frontage roads or additional access points in Norman. Due to information received, there is currently no intention to schedule a townhall meeting on this subject. Interested parties can learn more about the ACCESS Oklahoma plan at http://www.accessoklahoma.com/.

 

UPDATE, 10/22/24: Norman City Council will consider another resolution regarding requests for infrastructure support on the planned East-West Connector in Norman as part of the ACCESS Oklahoma plan. See Item #18 on the 10/22/24 public meeting agenda here.

After hearing from impacted constituents, this item was placed on the agenda at the request of multiple councilmembers.

 

UPDATE, 9/17/24: The temporary moratorium matter is expected to be discussed at the November 2024 Oversight Committee Meeting of the Norman City Council.

 

UPDATE, 8/30/24: Following the City's public meetings on August 27, 2024, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority shared the below statement:

"The law is clear that the Oklahoma Legislature authorizes turnpike projects. Once a project is authorized, OTA determines the route, access roads, and interchanges. Whether to include frontage roads along a turnpike route was always going to be a local decision. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has a history of working collaboratively when cities and counties seek out partnership opportunities for new connections to the Turnpike network. It was OTA’s understanding that the City of Norman desired that the Authority add several amenities to the design of the East-West Connector to be constructed in a portion of Norman as part of the ACCESS Oklahoma long-range plan. The OTA requested the resolution as a step in the public process toward signing an agreement that would determine ownership and maintenance responsibilities of the requested amenities. Frontage roads help provide long-term solutions for local traffic flow. If constructed at the same time as the new turnpike route, it would significantly lessen the construction costs for local taxpayers and lessen disruption to drivers. While the OTA was prepared to commit many tens of millions of dollars to design and build what would become City of Norman infrastructure, OTA respects the Norman City Council’s decision to reject the proposed resolution requesting that the Authority include frontage roads, pedestrian facilities, local road widenings and numerous interchanges as part of the design. OTA will complete is engineering plans for the East-West Connector without these amenities within Norman’s city limits. The Authority remains committed to adhering to all laws regarding turnpike construction, which includes following federal, state and municipal environmental quality laws and permits." 

General updates regarding ACCESS Oklahoma can be found at https://www.accessoklahoma.com/updates.

 

UPDATE, 8/28/24: The City Council of the City of Norman voted to reject Resolution R-2425-34 at the Regular City Council meeting of August 27, 2024 (Item #37). The creation of this resolution was at the request of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, managing entity of the ACCESS Oklahoma plan, and was intended to identify the City’s infrastructure needs, if any, that could be facilitated by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

The City Council of the City of Norman also voted to postpone Resolution R-2425-40, which would declare a temporary moratorium on the issuance of permits for large projects until July 1, 2025, or until the enactment of a new ordinance placing additional requirements on such projects (Item #38). Additional discussion regarding this item is intended to be picked up at the City Council Community Planning & Transportation Committee Meeting of September 2024.

Agenda item descriptions and background information concerning the above resolutions can be found at https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=NORMANOK&me=ebb8398429814b0ca94da0e228e7569a&ip=True. A recording of the City Council meeting of August 27, 2024, can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl5z_hmazLs&list=PL-4aM6_cYpGiWOwjHaSu8e_Hh6emdOkLP.

City of Norman staff operate at the direction set forth by the Norman City Council. As additional information regarding this matter becomes available, the community will be kept apprised of forward movement.

 

UPDATE, 7/31/24: Updates regarding Access Oklahoma plans, as relayed from state agencies to City staff, were presented and discussed alongside city resolution ideas at the 7/30/24 City Council Study Session. Find a copy of the presentation or a live-streamed video of the meeting through links below.

 

2/22/22: Governor Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz led announcements for the “ACCESS Oklahoma” statewide initiative during the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority meeting in Oklahoma City on Feb. 22, 2022. ACCESS Oklahoma stands for Advancing and Connecting Communities and Economies Safely Statewide. This $5 billion, 15-year long-range plan identifies and addresses ongoing highway infrastructure needs to improve access to communities across the Oklahoma turnpike network. Portions of the plan will impact Norman and Cleveland County. Maps, FAQs and informational videos can be found at http://www.accessoklahoma.com/, as coordinated and managed through the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. See information on property acquisition processes at http://www.accessoklahoma.com/property-acquisition.

The City of Norman recognizes the importance of transportation and will remain engaged in cooperative efforts as required to assist state agencies in the ACCESS Oklahoma implementation.