The Oklahoma Department of Transportation launched its Rural Two-Lane Advancement and Management Plan or “RAAMP” to address the 5,162 miles of rural highways with inadequate shoulders. While just 34 percent of Oklahoma’s population lives in rural areas, 65 percent of serious injuries and fatalities happen on these roads. Oklahoma DOT has used five Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan packages to fast-track over 30 projects aimed at improving road conditions and adding eight-foot shoulders. In 2024 alone, 12 projects were completed, covering 37.23 miles. These improvements are crucial due to the mix of heavy freight and agricultural vehicles on rural roads. The new shoulders enhance safety, provide space for emergency responders, and reduce congestion caused by slow-moving vehicles and accidents. This $147 million initiative is helping reduce crashes and fatalities from lane departures and overcorrections. Due to funding from the Build America Bureau’s TIFIA Rural Project Initiative and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, RAAMP has accelerated 33 projects to improve rural travel safety.
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