Study finds tribes, state can work together on roads, bridges
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation director told a House committee that tribes have assisted the state with 39 projects over the last six years to the tune of $72 million for roads and bridges.

Director Gary Ridley noted that the tribes have been helpful to both the state and local governments on a variety of issues. He spoke at a House Transportation Committee interim study requested by state Rep. T.W. Shannon on tribal road program partnerships..

“I requested the study because I thought there might be real opportunities for the tribal governments and the state of Oklahoma to work together on some road and bridge projects to the benefit of all Oklahomans,” Shannon, R-Lawton, said.

Bill Blankenship, director of transportation for the Choctaw Nation, told the committee that the tribe and state are currently working together on a 50-50 projects on roads within the 10 counties they encompass.

“Working together, the state of Oklahoma and the tribes may be able to get more accomplished,” Shannon said. “I would like to see more of these type of joint projects.”

Truman Carter, the transportation director of the Iowa Nation, said the tribe has been able to triple transportation funding in Lincoln and Payne counties.

Both the Chickasaw Nation and Cherokee Nation are currently using stimulus funds on Oklahoma road and bridge projects. Michael Lynn, roads program director for the Cherokee Nation said they had received $11.3 million in stimulus funds. Zac Hawkins, transportation planner for the Chickasaw Nation, said they are using stimulus funds for two bridge projects in McClain County. He noted that the Bureau of Indian Affairs gets $25 million for maintenance but Oklahoma sees zero of those dollars because they only go to fund BIA-owned roads.

The Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) program is federally funded and must comply with federal regulations and be a priority to the tribe, serve tribal citizens, be on the IRR inventory and be on the Tribal Transportation Improvement Plan, Hawkins said. He also noted the focus was on upgrading dangerous roads in high traffic areas.

“I think the study shows we should do more to work together,” Shannon said. “Roads and bridges were long neglected in Oklahoma and we should do anything we can to improve the state’s transportation infrastructure.”