Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024
(a) The purpose of the lake and recreation
access program is to provide direct access to public user facilities located
within the immediate vicinity of lakes and other recreation areas operated by a
public agency of the State of Oklahoma, one of its political subdivisions, or
by the federal government.
(b) The
definition of direct access is based on generally accepted functional criteria
defining the limits of responsibility assigned to the various governmental
jurisdictions. The state highway system can logically be expected to provide
for the intrastate movement of traffic between the various areas of the state,
delivering the users of the State's recreational facilities to the general area
of the lake or other recreational feature. The local road system may be
expected to provide intracounty service, delivering the user to the local area
of recreation interest.
(c) Beyond
the normal limits of state and local responsibility, the Lake and Recreation
Access Program comes into consideration. This assignment of functional
responsibility forms the basis for the expenditure of state transportation
funds off the designated state highway system. It is a special purpose program
to provide for direct user access and circulation within public facility areas
built and maintained by a public agency.
Criteria to be considered are as follows:
(1) The project provides primary immediate
access between the local or state road systems and existing public facilities
operated as part of a lake, recreation area or historical site,
and/or
(2) Provides for circulation
within and between the immediate public use areas associated with the
facility.
(3) Absence of other
funding sources (federal programs, other state agency funds, etc.).
(4) Size of the recreational facility to be
served.
(5) Existing access roads
serving the same area.
(6)
Availability of local assistance in offsetting a portion of the cost of the
improvements (clearing, grading, and roadbed preparation by local government or
agency).
(7) Right-of-way and
utility relocations must be provided at no cost to the Department.
(8) The program is not be used to enhance
private development opportunities.
(9) Binding agreement to be entered into by
appropriate local government unit or public agency for maintenance of road
after completing by state. (If road is not adequately maintained, no other lake
project will be approved for county or area).
(10) The road shall not be a part of
designated state highway system.
(11) Minimum cost single project to maximize
geographic distribution.
(12)
Projects are to be programmed on a statewide basis.
(13) Formal design standards shall be
developed and approved by Commission setting forth minimum right-of-way widths
and other relevant geometric features.
(14) No project will be approved for any
county or city that is in arrears in their payments to the Department for
right-of-way or other underwriter responsibility unless satisfactory
arrangements have been made for the discharge of the delinquency.
(15) Previously approved lake access road
projects can be removed from the construction program by the Transportation
Commission for reasons including, but not limited to, the county or city having
failed to execute an agreement to provide right-of-way and utility relocation,
failure to maintain previous projects, or failure to provide agreed local
assistance.
