Oklahoma Unveils Advanced Mobility Strategy to Pave the Way for Transportation Innovation
By Katelyn Wade
The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA), in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), announced the launch of the Oklahoma Advanced Mobility Strategy in late September.
The announcement, held at the Oklahoma State Capitol, represents the culmination of an 18-month collaborative effort among public and private stakeholders to shape the future of mobility in Oklahoma through 2045.
Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell underscored the importance of the strategy saying, “The Advanced Mobility Strategy represents Oklahoma’s commitment to not just participating in but pioneering the future of transportation. Our vision is to improve economic opportunity and quality of life for all Oklahomans. Through coordinated, proactive efforts, we will leverage advanced mobility technologies to improve safety, resilience, and economic growth.”
The groundbreaking initiative positions the state at the forefront of modern transportation technologies, from advanced air mobility (AAM) and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to autonomous vehicles (AV) and connected automated vehicles (CAV).
“ODOT is proud to be part of this effort, ensuring Oklahoma’s infrastructure supports cutting-edge advancements in both air and ground transportation,” said Tim Gatz, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. “This strategy positions the state to be a national leader in the field, while maintaining our commitment to safe, efficient transportation for all Oklahomans.”
By laying out Oklahoma’s “Flight Plan” and “Road Map,” the strategy is designed to accelerate economic development, enhance safety, and improve access to next-generation mobility solutions for all Oklahomans.
Grayson Ardies, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics opened the event by emphasizing the importance of the collaborative effort behind the strategy. “This strategy is a culmination of the last 5 years as Oklahoma looked to transform our state’s advanced air mobility landscape and ensure we can be seen as the fly-to state for testing, development, and eventual manufacture of these emerging technologies. With input from diverse stakeholders across the state and industry, this effort sets a clear path forward for Oklahoma to lead in advanced air mobility, fostering technological innovation in aerospace and transportation.”
Oklahoma's advanced mobility strategy positions the state to build an ecosystem with transportation options for goods and people, an expanded industry presence, and the creation of job opportunities to benefit all Oklahomans. Highlighting the potential of the industry, an economic impact analysis of UAS and AAM forecasts that by 2045 Oklahoma could accumulate:
· $8.9 billion in total economic benefit
· $5.5 billion in new business activity
· $455 million in local and state tax revenue
· 9,000+ new jobs
State officials who presented at the event said:
Rep. Nicole Miller, Chair of the House A&B Transportation Committee, highlighted the economic benefits of advanced air mobility. “Through 2045, we’re looking at the potential of $8.2 billion in total economic benefits from advanced air mobility and UAS, with $5.5 billion in new business activity and over 10,600 new jobs. Oklahoma is poised to be a key player in this growing sector.”
Senator John Haste, Chair of the Aeronautics and Transportation Committee, emphasized Oklahoma’s role in ground transportation innovation. “From autonomous vehicle testing to alternative fueling infrastructure, we are committed to keeping Oklahoma competitive in the rapidly evolving transportation landscape, ensuring both industry growth and public safety.”
Senator Paul Rosino, Vice Chair of the Appropriations and Budget Committee, discussed the importance of military readiness in advanced mobility. “Our military installations like Tinker AFB, Ft. Sill, and Camp Gruber are pivotal in the future of advanced air mobility and unmanned systems, positioning Oklahoma as a national leader in defense-related mobility technology.”
Senator Adam Pugh, the 59th Legislative Aero Caucus Chair remarked, “What originally took thousands of years to modernize the way people move themselves and goods and services, now in less than a century from our first flight, our first space flight, we are able with a drone to put steel on target in defense of our national security interests, to move goods and services around the globe, unmanned, and we are on the cusp of the safest, most efficient and most effective unmanned autonomous vehicle travel for humans to be able to move from destination to destination.”
The strategy outlines several key goals:
· Vision: Improve economic opportunity and quality of life for all Oklahomans.
· Mission: Accelerate development, testing, and adoption of advanced mobility technologies through proactive, coordinated state-level guidance.
· Goal: Leverage advanced mobility technologies to improve efficiency, safety, resilience, access, and economic opportunity in Oklahoma.
Comments from industry presenters scheduled for the event were:
Dr. Jamey Jacob, Executive Director of OSU’s Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE), addressed the innovation pipeline in science, space, and technology. “With statewide facilities that include the OSU Innovation Foundation, Choctaw and Osage Nation test sites, and OSU-Tulsa’s LaunchPad Center for AAM, Oklahoma is fostering a hub for cutting-edge aerospace research and development, creating opportunities for future mobility technologies that will reshape our state’s economy.”
James Grimsley, Executive Director of Advanced Technology Initiatives for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma said, “The work that the State of Oklahoma is accomplishing is remarkable. This state has made a tremendous effort to bring together all stakeholders in autonomous transportation. This is an effort that will take all of us, and we have come quite a long way since our unmanned interim study was first held in the State Capitol in 2016. We have big ideas, and ample airspace to bring them to reality.”
Jennifer Hankins, managing director of Tulsa Innovation Labs, highlighted Tulsa’s growing role in the mobility sector. “The EDA has invested over $90M in the region since 2022 and is proof of Tulsa’s leadership in advanced mobility and other complementary industries. Now is the time to realize our full potential and build a world-class tech hub in America’s heartland. The Oklahoma Advanced Mobility Strategy demonstrates the state’s commitment to ensure we become the world’s destination for developing these innovations and that the quality jobs they bring will start, grow and remain here in Oklahoma.”
Tom Robins, Founder of Work Zone Safe, discussed the critical role of autonomous vehicles in improving public safety. “Autonomous vehicles can significantly reduce traffic fatalities and save lives. In 2022 alone, the cost of car crashes was $340 billion. By implementing AV technology and legislation, we can address these issues and make our roads safer for all Oklahomans.”
Kevin O’Connor, Deputy Director of the FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC), spoke on the federal partnership in advanced mobility. “The FAA’s $6 million investment in establishing an advanced air mobility vertiport capability at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center and partnerships with organizations like the Choctaw Nation and NASA underscore Oklahoma’s role as a leader in the national air mobility ecosystem. This capability will assist the FAA in developing, demonstrating, and validating the technologies and procedures that will safely integrate advanced air mobility operations into our national airspace system.”
For more information on the Oklahoma Advanced Mobility Strategy or to access the full report, visit these links: