The South Western Oklahoma Development Authority (SWODA), headquartered in Burns Flat, Oklahoma, has received a 2026 Excellence in Regional Transportation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for its leadership in developing the Forward 45 Regional Transportation Plan and implementing innovative rural mobility initiatives that improve access to healthcare and food access points in rural Oklahoma.
A key component of this effort is the $1.5 million U.S. Department of Transportation FFY 2022 RAISE Grant awarded to develop the Forward 45 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), a comprehensive regional strategy designed to improve mobility, connectivity, safety, and economic opportunity throughout southwestern Oklahoma. In addition, SWODA is the recipient of a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services funded, five-year Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program grant supporting transportation expansion and mobility access in rural Oklahoma.
Through this initiative, approximately $10.8 million over five years has been dedicated to expanding rural transportation services and mobility access in Oklahoma.
The funding supports expanding the Rural Mobility Access Program (RMAP), increasing access to healthcare services and food access points in rural Oklahoma. Together, these investments represent more than $12.3 million dedicated to transportation planning, mobility access, and regional connectivity throughout southwestern Oklahoma.
These initiatives are implemented through the Southwest Oklahoma Regional Transportation Planning Organization (SORTPO), which administers transportation planning programs, grants, and regional mobility initiatives across the SWODA and Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ASCOG) regions. SORTPO coordinates transportation planning, project development, and grant implementation across a 16-county service area that includes Beckham, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, McClain, Roger Mills, Stephens, Tillman, and Washita Counties.
These efforts support local communities by strengthening transportation access, improving quality of life, and fostering economic development throughout southwestern Oklahoma “This award reflects years of collaboration among local governments, transportation providers, healthcare partners, and community organizations working to improve mobility in southwest Oklahoma,” said Julie Sanders, Director of Transportation for SWODA and SORTPO.
“The Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards program showcases effective and creative transportation initiatives that improve accessibility, mobility, safety, and quality of life,” said Exec. Director of Region XII Council of Governments Rick Hunsaker.
