Oklahoma

As OKC continues to expand, it will encounter massive traffic problems similar cities have.

Published

2 years ago

January 15, 2024

As OKC continues to expand, it will encounter massive traffic problems similar cities have.

Colin Caso
| Guest columnist

The traffic situation on Interstate 35 in Oklahoma is becoming increasingly problematic. Commuting south of the metro area down to the Red River can be challenging due to frequent accidents and traffic congestion that negatively impact the economy of the Sooner State.

The state of the highway is very much considered a negative, and for an ever-growing state, it continues to show that Oklahoma still needs to prepare for an influx of people who could move to the state in the coming years. Solutions proposed to fix the problem, such as ACCESS Oklahoma, continue to show that the state’s car-centric attitudes will be its demise. Adding more lanes or miles to I-35 differs from Oklahoma’s current needs. A decadelong construction project alongside this, while creating economic development, will bring more negatives than positives in the long term.

The state does not need one more lane; it needs other forms of transportation while modernizing what we currently have. The development of a more advanced regional public transit system while maintaining bike and road infrastructure is a great place to start with these lofty revisions.

The metro area is already perfectly set up for a regional commuter rail system, with BNSF and Union Pacific operating multiple rail lines in all directions out from OKC. The metro area could construct a world-class transit system that can clear current traffic challenges in and out of the city. Instead of adding more cars to the problem, we remove them and put them on already-built rails. The state would have to invest in infrastructure such as stations, locomotives and passenger cars, which may be seen as a negative. However, this could be done much quicker than a 10-year highway construction project that will relocate hundreds of people.

As Oklahoma City continues to expand, it will encounter massive traffic problems that similar cities are seen to have. Inadequate infrastructure that fast-growing cities tend to face is a severe challenge.

Due to insufficient and modernized infrastructure, we want to ensure new business and economic development opportunities can be set up in the state. Mass transit will become increasingly crucial, and passenger and commuter rail can be an incredibly positive solution. Increasing the development of mass transit can stabilize increased rates of congestion and maximize the transit routes in the metro.

With more than one option, people will spread out over different modes, increasing efficiency. Drivers will have to worry less about traffic volumes, while non-car commuters will enjoy a faster ride into and out of the city.

It requires a significant investment. However, the long-term benefits of reduced traffic congestion, improved air quality and increased transportation options for residents make it a worthwhile investment.

As for funding, there are various options, such as public-private partnerships, federal grants and dedicated tax revenues. Regarding flexibility, a regional rail system may not be suitable for everyone’s specific travel needs. However, it could still provide a valuable transportation option for many people. For those who need to make multiple stops or travel outside the designated rail routes, there could be complementary transportation options such as buses or ride-sharing services.

Ultimately, a regional rail system would provide an additional transportation choice that could help reduce traffic congestion and provide Oklahoma with a modern solution to a past problem.

Colin Caso is an undergraduate student from the University of Oklahoma.

Source link

Click to comment

Oklahoma

Three Big 12 Transfers Oklahoma State Is Reportedly Interested In

Published

9 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Three Big 12 Transfers Oklahoma State Is Reportedly Interested In

PORTAL TRACKER

Oklahoma State’s newly constructed staff got on the board Saturday, picking up portal commitments on offense and special special teams, so how about some defense?

Three Big 12 defenders have been linked with Oklahoma State via the transfer portal over the past few days, including a pair of former OK Preps standouts. Here’s a look.

Kanijal Thomas, CB, Kansas State

Thomas is an Oklahoman, playing his high school ball at Del City. He visited Stillwater on Saturday, according to On3.

He was a redshirt sophomore for the Wildcats in 2025, playing in seven games as a true freshman in 2023 before an injury saw his sophomore season end two games in.

Thomas played in eight games at K-State in 2025, finishing the year with five tackles, a PBU and a forced fumble. According to PFF, he gave up four catches for 21 yards this season on seven targets.

Now listed at 5-foot-11, 186 pounds, Thomas was a three-star prospect coming out of Del City in the 2023 class. He picked K-State over offers from OSU, Texas Tech, Iowa State and others.

Maurion Horn, CB, Texas Tech

Another Oklahoma kid, Maurion Horn has spent the past four seasons in Lubbock, where he has played in 30 games during that time. According to 247Sports, Horn will visit Stillwater on Monday.

He started all of Tech’s games in 2024, finishing that season with 56 tackles, three tackles for loss and five pass breakups. He played in seven games and dealt with some sort of injury, appearing on Tech’s availability report in Weeks 4, 14 and 15.

Horn has been targeted 88 times in his career, per PFF, where he has allowed just 47 catches.

He was a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class out of Broken Arrow. He ended up picking Tech over offers from OSU, OU, Texas, Baylor, Arkansas and others.

Braylon Rigsby, Edge, Texas Tech

Listed at 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, Braylon Rigsby will join his Texas Tech teammate in Stillwater on Monday, according to 247Sports.

He’s played in 26 games across the past two seasons in Lubbock, accumulating 25 tackles and three tackles for loss during that time.

Per PFF, Rigsby has 21 QB pressures in his career to go with two QB hits.

He hails from Woodsville, Texas, which is near the Louisiana border. Rigsby was a three-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, coming in as the No. 861 player in the 247Sports Composite ranking.

Source link

Oklahoma

Capture of Nicolas Maduro: What it could mean for Oklahoma

Published

21 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Capture of Nicolas Maduro: What it could mean for Oklahoma

Elite Delta Force captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife about 2 a.m. Saturday morning.

It happened in the Caracas, the capitol of Venezuela.

Social media posts how strikes ordered by President Trump into Venezuela and its military bases.

News 9 political analyst Scott Mitchell said the relationship between the U.S. and Latin America has not always been smooth and adds so many dominos will fall as a result.

“Venezuela is the beachhead for our adversaries that’s Cuba and Russia and China and Iran and it looks as if this latest situation where that they were assembling Iran swift attack boats that was sort of the last straw,” said Mitchell.

Retired war correspondent Mike Boettcher said the planning on capturing Maduro began in mid-December.

He adds Venezuela is a massive oil supplier whose oil has been taken off the market for years because of sanctions.

He has concerns about what comes next.

“That disrupts a lot of things.It even has an effect on the war in Ukraine, as Russia, you know, has used higher oil revenue because Venezuela’s oil was off the market.Oil prices went up.It helps fund the war in Ukraine,” said Boettcher.

The ramifications could even reach Oklahoma.

“China gets a 30 percent discount on the oil.If Venezuela goes for a more legitimate government and the sanctions are lifting, then they’re flooding the oil markets and that means bad news for the Oklahoma economy,” added Mitchell.

Following the capture of Maduro, President Trump said the U.S. will take control of the oil reserves in Venezuela.

Sources also say there are plans from the current administration to recruit American companies to invest billions of dollars in their oil industry.

A verified video shows the current state of Venezuela after the military operation.

Source link

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State expected to lose talented EDGE to transfer portal

Published

7 days ago

December 29, 2025

Press Room

Oklahoma State expected to lose talented EDGE to transfer portal

Oklahoma State EDGE Kyran Duhon plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, On3 has learned. Duhon was a member of the 2024 recruiting class.

Duhon spent one year at Oklahoma State, logged 16 total tackles (eight solo) across nine games. He began his career at UTEP, where he had a productive true freshman season, Duhon finished 2024 with 43 total tackles, including seven sacks and two PBUs.

At UTEP, his one season there resulted in second team All-Conference USA honors. He was also named to the On3 True Freshman All-America Team as well as the the Conference USA All-Freshman team.

However, Duhon’s stay in Stillwater didn’t go as expected. Oklahoma State finished the season with a 1-11 record, which included the Cowboys firing longtime head coach Mike Gundy after a 1-2 start. Doug Meacham was named interim head coach but ended the year 0-9.

Eric Morris has since been named as the program’s next head coach. He comes from North Texas, which finished with an 11-2 record and a trip to the American Conference championship game this past season. However, it doesn’t appear that Duhon will be sticking around during the changing of the guard at Oklahoma State this offseason.

Before college, Duhon was the No. 1,706 overall player in the class, and was recruited as the the No. 165 linebacker during the cycle, per the Rivals Industry Rankings, which is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was ranked as the No. 242 overall player out of Texas.

Once the NCAA transfer portal opens on Jan. 2, players can officially enter their names in the NCAA transfer portal and go on to initiate contact with their preferred schools. The portal will be open for 15 days and close on Jan. 16.

Notably, players who are on teams competing in the national championship game are allowed five extra days to make their portal decision. The College Football Playoff championship game will be played on Jan. 19, so the players on those teams will be allowed until Jan. 24 to enter the portal and choose their next school.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Source link