ODOT Commission approves Fiscal Year 2026 budget work program totaling $2.585 billion

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved the Department of Transportation’s fiscal year 2026 budget work program, authorizing the agency to submit budget authority to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

Key numbers and sources included in the presentation by ODOT staff: the department requested approval of a total budget of $2,585,437,439 for FY2026. The budget package includes a roads fund allocation (motor fuel tax, motor vehicle collections and income tax) totaling $610,000,000 in FY2026 — an increase of $20,000,000 from FY2025 — dedicated to weigh-station construction and repair over an eight-year period. The department also identified $275,000,000 in bond proceeds authorized in FY2024 for three major projects: the Roosevelt Bridge replacement, the Chickasha Bypass and improvements to I-35 from Norman to the Texas state line. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding in the package was presented at $1,060,034,337, which includes formula funds, congressionally designated funding and grant funding.

ODOT staff described county funding in the budget for road and bridge programs and noted a budget line of $105,000,000 for the county portion, which the presenter said represents a $3,750,000 (3.7%) increase from the prior year. The department also identified transit and rail funding from the Federal Transit Administration and FHWA at $96,000,000 and $8,000,000, respectively.

The department told commissioners that budget revisions may be necessary during the fiscal year and that any revisions will be submitted to the commission for approval. The commission approved the FY2026 budget work program as presented.

Ending: Commissioners approved the work program and commissioners thanked staff and legislative committee chairs for their support through a challenging budget cycle.