Norman Senator Lisa Standridge has filed a bill which will require the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) to increase the public’s involvement with turnpike projects. The proposal is meant to establish clear requirements for public notification, input, and oversight before a project can move forward.
“Our Constitution guarantees due process for every citizen,” Standridge said. “As a nation we give the worst of the worst criminals, including serial killers, due process; we certainly owe landowners in the path of a potential turnpike the same. This legislation ensures that the OTA operates with full transparency and accountability, prioritizing the interests of affected residents and businesses.”
Part of the process will require OTA to evaluate the effects of projects on property owners, businesses, and consumers. If warranted by the evaluation, the project will be amended to minimize adverse impacts.
Senate Bill 80 is the vehicle for Standridge’s legislation, which also provides for lawsuits against OTA should the agency fail to comply with the new requirements if the bill become law.
It’s amazing how stuff hits the fan when it involves land owned by a legislator compared to the land owners who got railroaded by the first leg of the Kickapoo Turnpike between I-40 and the I-44 Turner Turnpike junction.