Transportation
AAA Oklahoma predicts travel increase over holiday
Written by Dick Pryor Friday, 20 May 2011 16:13
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Despite higher gasoline prices, automotive group AAA Oklahoma says it expects auto travel to increase slightly in the state over the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. AAA Oklahoma projects that about 500,000 motorists will take to the highways in Oklahoma over the holiday period, a less than 1 percent increase over the same time last year. In Oklahoma, the statewide average for regular gasoline was $3.77 on Thursday. On the same date last year, the average price was $2.71. Overall, AAA projects 34.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from their homes over the holiday, a slight increase from one year ago. The auto club also predicts more than 88,000 Oklahomans will fly this year over Memorial Day, an increase of about 12 percent over last year.
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United to offer OKC-San Francisco direct flight
Written by Dick Pryor Monday, 09 May 2011 17:57
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - United Airlines says it plans to start offering daily direct flights between Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport and San Francisco International Airport. The airline announced Monday it will begin offering the flight Aug. 29. The flight will leave Oklahoma City at 7:14 a.m. and arrive in San Francisco at 8:50 a.m. The return flight will leave San Francisco at 4 p.m. and arrive in Oklahoma City at 9:16 p.m. The airline says carrier SkyWest Airlines will operate the flights on a 66-seat Canadair CRJ7 jet. United spokesman James Starnes says the new service will give Oklahoma City travelers more options for connections to cities across the western United States, Asia and Australia.Â
Report: Funding boost helps improve Okla bridges
Written by Dick Pryor Monday, 18 April 2011 22:27
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A new report shows a dramatic increase in state funding for transportation has helped Oklahoma improve road safety and dramatically reduce the number of structurally deficient bridges. The report released Monday by the Washington, D.C.-based The Road Information Program, or TRIP, shows Oklahoma has reduced the number of structurally deficient, state-maintained bridges by 32 percent from 2005 to 2010.
The report also shows Oklahoma has decreased the number of miles of state-maintained highways that in "poor condition" by more than 5 percent during the same time period. Oklahoma lawmakers five years ago approved an increase in transportation spending by requiring a dedicated portion of the state's revenue go directly into a fund for road and bridge improvement. State transportation officials say the fund currently has about $465 million.
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Accident Shuts Down Interstate 35 at Purcell
Written by Dick Pryor Tuesday, 05 April 2011 19:44
PURCELL, Okla. (AP) - Southbound lanes of Interstate 35 remain have reopened at Purcell after being shut down for nine hours because of an accident involving a semi. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the interstate was shut down about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday and southbound traffic was diverted off I-35 into Purcell. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports the accident involved an overturned tractor-trailer rig. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol did not have details of the accident - but Capt. Chris West said there were no injuries.
American adding nonstop OKC-to-Los Angeles flight
Written by Dick Pryor Tuesday, 05 April 2011 14:17
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - American Airlines is set for its first nonstop flight from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles. Will Rogers World Airport officials will join their counterparts from the airline Tuesday at a ceremony marking the departure of American's first nonstop flight from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles International Airport. Airport officials say Los Angeles is one of Oklahoma City's most popular destination cities, ranking third in the total number of origin and destination passengers. Airport Director Mark Kranenburg says American's decision to add the new route is a sign of the airline's confidence in the Oklahoma City market.The addition of the American flight increases the number of daily nonstop departures from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles to three. United Airlines has flown that route since 2006.
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