Senators to Study Light Rail, OCC and Transportation Department

While the Oklahoma legislature’s leaders are attempting to reach an agreement on how to fix a $215 million budget hole, the Senate will hold hearings into three studies regarding transportation and light rail.

Studies will focus on light rail transport, the Corporation Commission’s Transportation Division’s Compliance with state law and on the State Transportation Department’s consulting engineers and the quality of projects.

The committee hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in room 230 of the State Capitol building. Jon McGrath of McGrath Rail and James Wagner of the Tulsa Mayor’s office will testify as the senators explore the economic benefits of light rail transporting in some areas of the state.

At 10:30 a.m. the Senators will examine the OCC Transportation Division. Then at 1 p.m., there will be discussion on ODOT’s consulting engineers.  ODOT Director Mike Patterson and Tim Gatz, director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority will testify.

Senators on the committee are: Mark Allen who is the chairman, Randy Bass, Bill Brown, Jack Fry, James Leewright, Greg McCortney, Kevin Matthews, Marty Quinn, Dave Rader, Ron Sharp and Joseph Silk.