State House passes funding bill for roads, bridges

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A bill that supporters say will provide more money for road and bridge repair without raising taxes passed the state House Wednesday. <br/><br/>The bill by Representative Jim Newport

Wednesday, March 16th 2005, 12:52 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A bill that supporters say will provide more money for road and bridge repair without raising taxes passed the state House Wednesday.

The bill by Representative Jim Newport redirects some of the $600-million raised by car tag fees. Newport says about half of the money is dedicated to schools, cities and counties while about $270-million goes to the general revenue fund for non-transportation needs.

Newport says his bill provides $35-million for road and bridge repair in the first year and $170-million after five years.

Transportation officials have said the state's highway system includes 135 bridges more than 80 years old and more than three-thousand miles of highways that are inadequate.

The bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration.