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Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: March 16, 2010
Sen. Bryce Marlatt
Marlatt to Testify to US Senate Committee on Rural Road Funding
Needs
State Senator Bryce
Marlatt (R-Woodward) will appear before the U.S. Senate Environmental
& Public Works Committee this week to provide testimony regarding
rural transportation funding needs, as well as to discuss legislation
he authored this session to find ways to implement innovative funding
alternatives for Oklahoma’s state roads and bridges.
Senate Bill 1941, by Marlatt and Rep. Jason Nelson of the House,
would create the Innovative Funding for Oklahoma Roads Task Force.
The task force would study and evaluate innovations, technologies
and new methods being employed nationally and by other states to
more adequately and equitably fund road and bridge infrastructure,
including both new construction and maintenance. Marlatt’s
remarks will also include an overview of the state of rural roads
and bridges in the nation and will highlight legislation passed
last year by the Oklahoma Legislature to increase the usage of Compressed
Natural Gas. In 2009, House Bill 1949 was passed, which is part
of an ongoing statewide energy initiative to take advantage of Oklahoma’s
abundant natural resources in an effort to harness CNG for mobility
of goods, people and services.
“The legislature has made great strides in investing in the
state’s transportation infrastructure through several pieces
of key legislation over the last four years which are reversing
the tide of declining funding for our state roads and bridges,”
said Marlatt, vice chair of the Transportation Committee. “However,
we still have an $11 billion backlog on deferred road and bridge
maintenance that is only growing in cost and size. This is why it’s
imperative for us to gather all the key players on this issue and
find some new alternatives to our transportation funding problems.”
Marlatt went on to point out that over the last three years, there
has been an approximate five percent decline in the state motor
fuel tax due to less demand and increased fuel efficiencies in cars.
This has resulted in about a $30 million loss in revenues for state
roads and bridges.
“In order to continue making progress on restoring and expanding
our roads and bridges, we must start addressing the fact that we
have revenue sources and user fees that are not and never will be
sufficient enough to fully fund the needs we have in this state,”
said Marlatt, R-Woodward. “Across the country, there is innovation
occurring in design, building and funding of roads and bridges that
is being implemented successfully. I believe in this budget climate
it's a good time for us to take a look at our needs statewide and
what innovative financing mechanisms may make sense for us to explore
as a state.”
SB 1941 has passed the Senate and will now head to the House for
consideration in Committee.
For more information contact:
Sen. Marlatt: 405-521-5626
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