Investing in Oklahoma’s growth: The push to expand the ROADS Fund

Oklahoma has long faced challenges in maintaining and upgrading its transportation infrastructure. For years, the state underfunded transportation, leading to a significant backlog of projects. At the same time, the state was receiving a lesser share of federal gasoline taxes back to the state. However, two decades ago, the Legislature had the vision to create the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Eight-Year Plan, which marked the beginning of a shift toward adequately funding a safer, more efficient transportation system across the state. 

As part of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s priorities in the 2025 legislative session, the Chamber has been a consistent and vocal supporter of these efforts, aware that a modern transportation system for moving people and commerce is a key driver of economic development. Major projects like the landmark relocation of the I-40 Crosstown and the opening of the I-44 and I-235 interchange highlight the success of this approach. These projects have had a lasting impact on the region, and their success is a result of careful planning and intentional prioritization by elected officials. As the Greater OKC region continues to grow and thrive, it is important that investments continue to be made. 

With rising construction costs and a challenging fiscal environment at the State Capitol, Oklahoma must remain focused on making strategic investments in infrastructure. One key way to do this is by increasing the cap on the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver’s Safety (ROADS) Fund, which is the principal funding mechanism for the eight-year plan. Currently, capped at $590 million, the fund is not keeping pace with economic conditions and will soon prove inadequate to meet current needs, let alone address the substantial projected population growth of the state. 

Legislation currently advancing through the legislature would increase the cap on the ROADS Fund, either over one year or eight years. This is an important discussion for the future of Oklahoma City and the region, which continues to attract investment and growth. The need for OKC to have a world-class transportation system competitive with peer cities and regions remains critical.