Daily News Briefs, October 17, 2022

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Oklahoma Turnpike Executives Will Begin To Undergo Deposition Today

The Norman Transcript reports, “Depositions in an Oklahoma Open Meeting Act lawsuit against the state’s turnpike authority will begin [today], but will not be open to the public.” The authority’s top leaders — executive director (and ODOT secretary) Tim Gatz and deputy executive director Joe Echelle — will be the first two deponents in a process that could continue until Thursday. Their testimony will become public record after transcripts are prepared and certified. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of 244 state residents who claim OTA did not provide adequate notice that its board was considering projects incorporated in the ACCESS Oklahoma expansion initiative. The newspaper notes that OTA has now moved to obtain discovery from individual plaintiffs regarding the basis of the complaint that they lacked notice.

Issues of Law Oklahoma Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) Public Outreach And Communication

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USDOT Issues Guidance On Public Involvement In Transportation Project Development

USDOT last week issued “Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making,”  a guide for for funding recipients and partners. “We know that working with the community, early and often, is one of the best ways to successfully deliver good transportation projects on time,” said Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This guide will help transportation projects get done faster and better serve the entire community.” The document includes recommended practices and “concrete examples of what constitutes meaningful public involvement to help address [barriers to full inclusion of affected communities] in transportation decision-making.” The department said it plans to offer related training and technical assistance on the topic, and it welcomes feedback and “real-life examples of funding recipients that have been able to implement these practices.”

Public Outreach And Communication US Department of Transportation (USDOT) US Infrastructure Funding And Financing Initiatives

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Ohio Turnpike Prepares For Winter With Equipment Inspections

WFMJ reports, “The Ohio Turnpike is preparing for winter weather with a 136-point inspection of all snow plows and equipment at all eight of its maintenance buildings across the state. This year, over 100 snow plows will be available to maintain the 1,395 lane miles, 31 toll plaza interchanges and 14 service plazas. . . .”

An Ohio Turnpike news release has more information about the inspection process and the effort required to keep the turnpike open throughout the winter storm season.

Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) Ohio Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission

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These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.

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