Federal Funding Halted; ODOT Concerned About Projects

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Reimbursements from the Federal Highway Trust Fund to state transportation departments have been halted.

Oklahoma depends on the fund for about $40 million per month. Reimbursements are applied for and granted on a weekly basis which is why ODOT is so concerned.

"This creates a serious cash flow problem," said ODOT Director Gary Ridley.

If lawmakers don't come up with a solution, transportation leaders say project contracts will have to be suspended. It's the kind of thing Bob Lemon with Haskell Lemon contractors is concerned about. 

"We depend on that money ODOT gets. Without it, we can't fund our payroll. This is a jobs issue, 95 percent of our work will be affected if there is not an immediate solution," Lemon said.

Lemon also said, beyond his employees, freezing projects could be a safety concern since trenches and drop offs would be left open. He hopes Congress will act fast.

"It's not good for the public. It's not good for us. It's not good for anybody," Lemon said.

The freeze on the fund is the result of a one man filibuster in the Senate last week. Republican Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky blocked a bill that included a short term extension of the fund. As a result, the programs expired at 12 a.m. Monday.

ODOT leaders say an immediate extension is necessary, but what they really need is a long-term transportation bill. The last one expired in September. Since then the fund has been operating on short-term extensions. ODOT said since transportation takes long-term planning, the uncertainty of the extensions has made everything difficult.

Lawmakers are working on a solution, but a timeline is not clear. Congresswoman Mary Fallin's office said the House may take it up on Friday.