Oklahoma § 69-304 - State Highway System - Construction and maintenance Powers of Commission

§ 69-304. State Highway System - Construction and maintenance Powers of Commission

(a) The construction and maintenance of the State Highway

System, and all work incidental thereto, shall be under the general

supervision and control of the Transportation Commission.

(b) The Commission shall have power to make all final decisions

affecting the work provided for herein, and all reasonable rules and

regulations it may deem necessary, not inconsistent with this code,

for the proper management and conduct of such work, and for carrying

out the provisions of this article, in such manner as shall be to

the best interest and advantage of the people of this state.

(c) The Commission shall have power and authority to contract

for and purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any tools, machinery,

supplies, material or labor needed or to be needed for such work,

having the deliveries of such articles made as actually needed, and

to pay for engineering, preparation of plans and specifications,

costs of advertising, engineering supervision and inspection and all

expenses and contingencies in connection with the construction and

maintenance of the State Highway System. When quality and prices

are equal, preference shall be given materials produced within the

State of Oklahoma and highway construction companies domiciled,

having and maintaining offices in and being citizen taxpayers of the

State of Oklahoma.

(d) The Commission shall have authority to make all contracts

and do all things necessary to cooperate with the United States

Government in matters relating to the cooperative construction,

improvement and maintenance of the State Highway System, or any road

or street of any political or governmental subdivision or any

municipal or public corporation of this state, for which federal

funds or aid are secured. Such contracts or acts shall be carried

out in the manner required by the provisions of the Acts of Congress

and rules and regulations made by an agency of the United States in

pursuance of such acts.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 69. Roads, Bridges, and Ferries

(e) Any political or governmental subdivision or any public or

municipal corporation of this state shall have the authority to

enter into contracts through or with the Commission to enable them

to participate in all the benefits to be secured from federal aid

funds, or funds made available from the federal government to be

used on roads and streets. The Commission may negotiate and enter

into contracts with the federal government, or any of its

constituted agencies, and take all steps and proceedings necessary

in order to secure such benefits for such political or governmental

subdivisions or public or municipal corporations.

(f) The Commission, on behalf of the state, and any political

or governmental subdivision or public or municipal corporation of

this state shall have the authority to enter into agreements with

each other respecting the planning, designating, financing,

establishing, constructing, improving, maintaining, using, altering,

relocating, regulating or vacating of highways, roads, streets or

connecting links.

(g) The Commission shall have authority to act in an advisory

capacity, upon request, to any political or governmental subdivision

or public or municipal corporation of this state in matters

pertaining to the planning, locating, constructing and maintaining

of roads, highways and streets and other related matters. The

Commission, in such instances, may provide services and may

cooperate with such subdivisions and corporations on such terms as

may be mutually agreed upon.

(h) The Commission may purchase out of the State Highway

Construction and Maintenance Fund such commercial vehicles and

passenger automobiles as may be necessary for the use of the

Department and its employees in the construction and maintenance of

the State Highway System and all work incidental thereto, and in

carrying out the duties now or hereafter imposed upon the Department

by the laws of this state.

(i) The Commission may enter into written agreements with

private citizens to allow such citizens to mow state highway rightsof-way and keep the clippings from such mowing as the sole

compensation therefor.

Added by Laws 1968, c. 415, § 304, operative July 1, 1968. Amended

by Laws 1971, c. 60, § 1, emerg. eff. April 6, 1971; Laws 1975, c.

326, § 10, emerg. eff. June 12, 1975; Laws 1976, c. 245, § 10,

emerg. eff. June 17, 1976; Laws 1978, c. 69, § 1.