A proposal by Transportation Commissioner T.W. Shannon to keep the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s 8-Year Work Plan intact was voted down by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission this week.
KWTV News 9’s Augusta McDonnell writes the vote took place after Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz explained why he pulled back on an interchange project with the Chickasaw Nation at I-35 and Highway 9. The Chickasaw Nation, which operates a casino near the interchange, has offered to pay for $10 million of the $17 million dollar proposed project.
Last month, Shannon questioned Gatz about a meeting to kick off the project which was canceled three days before it was to happen. Shannon wanted to know if Governor Stitt was using his political influence to interfere with projects between ODOT and tribal nations.
Stitt has been vocal about the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, McGirt v. Oklahoma, which says Congress never de-established the Muscogee (Creek) Nation reservation, therefore, the state has no criminal jurisdiction within the territory. However, since the decision, the other Five Tribes also have had McGirt applied to them in state court decisions. Stitt and others have speculated the McGirt decision will impact other areas of law, like taxation, property rights, etc.
The agency will now create a standard protocol for partnerships with the tribes on projects. Several major projects have been completed around the state because of tribal participation. This will impact the current line up of projects within the 8-year plan.
The Commission also voted down Shannon’s proposal to request an official opinion from the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office on relationships between the tribes and ODOT on construction projects.
The I-35/Highway 9 exchange project is being re-evaluated and may still include participation with the Chickasaws.
You can read the KWTV News 9 story here.
You can watch the May 3, 2021, Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting below.
