Owasso staff outline $12.5M lane‑widening plan and plan to apply for federal surface transportation funds

Dwayne Henderson, a city staff member, briefed the council on a proposal to apply for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds to widen East 80 Sixth Street North from North Garnett to North 119th East Avenue and to modernize signals and pavement.

Henderson said traffic counts for the corridor range from about 21,000 to 25,000 vehicles per day and that the city has previously secured similar federal funds for other road projects. He said the project concept covers widening the outside lanes by one lane, replacing aging concrete pavement (about 30–35 years old) and updating traffic signals. Henderson gave a conceptual project cost of $12.5 million and said the STBG program allows a maximum federal award of $4 million for this solicitation; under that scenario the city would be responsible for roughly $8 million of the remaining cost. The application is due March 14 and awards are expected to be announced in June, he said.

Why it matters: Henderson said the corridor is one of the busiest city streets in Owasso and that higher traffic counts increase competitiveness for STBG funds. "This was a prime candidate for a submittal," he said. The city could leverage grant money for engineering, right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation; staff said early engineering work could speed later construction if the grant is awarded.

Supporting details and funding: Henderson said the STBG solicitation has about $44 million total this cycle but after existing commitments roughly $22 million per year is available for competing projects in the urbanized area. He described an 80/20 match concept but noted the program ceiling for a single award in this call is $4 million; projects seeking more than $4 million would require a larger city share. He estimated the city would apply for the full $4 million and added that INCOG administers the solicitation. Henderson also said the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is studying the nearby 169 interchange and the city hopes potential ODOT work could coincide with or reduce the city's eventual share.

Council questions and staff clarifications: Council members asked whether the project needed prior CIP approval; Henderson said the city does not need CIP approval before submitting the application but would need to identify funding in the CIP if the grant is awarded. He said staff plans to introduce the project to the CIP committee in April and, if funded, return to CIP in June or July with updated cost estimates. Henderson explained technical terms at a council member's request, describing the road "crown" as the center high point that helps drainage and noting dowel-bar retrofits or full replacement are options when concrete pavements have differential movement.

Next steps: Henderson said staff will prepare a resolution for council consideration and include it with the March 14 application if the council agrees. The resolution authorizing submittal is scheduled to be presented to the council next week, he said.