New round of road projects
Bridges, road shoulders and pavement are the focus of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's latest eight-year construction plan, approved this week by the commission that oversees ODOT.
Reducing the number of structurally deficient bridges remains a priority. The number of such bridges on the state highway system has fallen from 1,168 in 2004 to 132 by the end of last year. Under the new eight-year plan, 657 state bridges are set to be replaced or see major renovations.
In addition, improvements are scheduled to 780 miles of shoulders along two-lane highways. This work is badly needed — too many state highways have shoulders that aren't wide enough, which puts stranded motorists at risk and contributes to traffic accidents.
Under this eight-year plan, about 3,100 lane miles of pavement will be improved so that they will be in good condition.
The road plan also includes money to continue work on major interchanges in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. And, the commission OK'd a plan to spend nearly $1 billion over five years on county road and bridge projects that, due to their size and complexity, would be tough for the counties to handle themselves.
The best thing about ODOT's rolling eight-year plan is that it's produced by the agency's engineers and staff. They know best what work is needed, and that work is getting done.
An emergency notification upgrade
Residents of Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian and Logan counties have a new way to get in touch with 911 dispatchers — via text message. Officials with the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments announced the text-to-911 system this week. Brent Hawkinson with ACOG said the system is especially important for the deaf and hearing impaired. However, “People in medical emergencies who are incapable of talking — it's very important for them, as well,” Hawkinson said. An example of the latter was cited — an Edmond woman recently involved in a domestic dispute texted 911 after her initial call got disconnected and she couldn't answer a return call from the dispatcher. Jamie O'Leary, director of Oklahoma Police 911 communications, says a voice call remains the preferred way to reach 911. “Call if you can, text if you can't,” O'Leary said. Having the option to do so is a nice fallback.
Plea an indictment of county jail
Cody Gregg was arrested in August 2018 after allegedly trying to elude police. A search of Gregg's backpack revealed a coffee can with a baggie containing white powder. The officer thought it was cocaine and arrested Gregg, 29. Last week, the homeless man pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. But then a lab report came back showing that the substance he had been carrying was powdered milk. Gregg asked to withdraw his plea, a judge agreed and the case was dismissed. Why plead guilty in the first place? Gregg told the judge he wanted to get out of the Oklahoma County jail. It says something about conditions inside the jail when someone — in this case an innocent man — would prefer to be housed in the state prison system.
Mayor Pete right about gun buyback plan
At this week's debate, former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke was asked about his vow to implement a mandatory buyback program involving highpowered rifles. Anderson Cooper of CNN wondered how O'Rourke would make unwilling gun owners take part. “I expect my fellow Americans to follow the law,” O'Rourke replied. “The same way that we enforce any provision, any law that we have right now. We don't go door to door to do anything in this country to enforce the law.” Cooper stayed with it, offering a scenario of a gun owner refusing to comply. If someone doesn't turn in a weapon but “brings it out in public and brandishes in an attempt to indimidate … then that weapon will be taken from them,” O'Rourke explained. Asked about that explanation, Mayor Pete Buttigieg addressed O'Rouke: “Congressman, you just made it clear that you don't know how this is actually going to take weapons off the streets.” Score one for Mayor Pete.