SECTION 730:10-1-4. Eight Year Construction Work Plan balancing process

(a)   Project priorities among the individual Commission Districts shall be established in the context of the relative priorities for the systematic improvement of the highway system on a statewide basis.

(b)   The development of Eight Year Construction Work Plan shall begin with the Field Division Engineers and will be guided by their knowledge of the transportation needs and priorities in their respective divisions. The Field Division Engineers and their staff shall work to maintain an understanding of the condition of the roads and bridges in their areas of responsibility. The general transportation system data and characteristics are considered to be fundamental considerations:

(1)   roadway condition

(2)   bridge condition

(3)   geometrics (vertical and horizontal alignment)

(4)   average annual daily traffic (AADT)

(5)   percentage of truck traffic

(6)   accident history

(7)   local, regional and national traffic patterns

(8)   capacity.

(c)   This information shall be coupled with the careful consideration of the Field Division's condition and capacity assessments of the highway network and the associated critical needs, as well as, the anticipated improvement budgets and further communication with the Division's Transportation Commissioner.

(d)   The Department is responsible for coordinating the State's transportation planning efforts with those of Oklahoma's Metropolitan Planning Organizations, substate planning districts and consulting with the tribal governments and local officials with responsibilities for transportation. The development of the Long Range Plan and the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan as derived from the first four years of the Eight Year Construction Work Plan, Corridor Studies, as well as early project development all include opportunities for public participation and review. The results of this public involvement, input from ongoing coordination and consultation, and the planning documents shall be provided to the Field Division Engineers for their consideration during the development of the Eight Year Construction Work Plan.

(e)   Project Schedules. The Department shall work to set realistic project delivery schedules, taking into account many variables, to maintain the integrity of the Eight Year Work Plan.

(f)   Additional considerations.

(1)   The final divisional projections and projects identified in the Eight Year Construction Work Plan shall be adjusted within a given year to accommodate variances to the benchmark amount resulting from the annual State and Federal appropriations process and the inherent need to maintain a balance between available funds and the divisional funding commitments.

(2)   The Department may request revisions to the Eight Year Construction Work Plan to establish, cancel or revise a project. The justification for the change shall be documented and approved.

(3)   Balancing the Eight Year Construction Work Plan within these guidelines shall be determined an equitable representation to the satisfaction of the Department and the Transportation Commission.

[Source: Amended at 17 Ok Reg 1368, eff 5-11-00; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1488, eff 6-25-12]