NORMAN, OKLAHOMA May 25, 2023—Today the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate voted overwhelmingly to override the Governor’s veto of House Bill 2263, a bill that will change the way members are appointed to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Board. Before this legislation passed, the Governor made all six appointments to the OTA Board. …
In May 2022, Pike Off OTA brought claims in Cleveland County District Court challenging the OTA’s legal authority to construct 3 proposed new turnpikes. Since then, there has been a motion to dismiss and an appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in this district court case. Today’s ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court simply says …
Pike Off OTA’s Statement on the OK Supreme Court Ruling on May 23rd, 2023 Read More »
Norman, Ok April 12, 2023–Pike OFF OTA is encouraged by the announcement that the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has finally decided to stop work on the ACCESS Oklahoma program. It is neither lawful nor appropriate for the OTA to continue to work on the legally unauthorized East West Connector, South Extension, or Tri-City Connector proposed new …
PIKE OFF OTA statement on OTA decision to pause all ACCESS work April 14th, 2023 Read More »
For Immediate Release: Oklahoma’s Attorney General, Gentner Drummond, calls for an audit of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA). In his letter to State Auditor Cindy Byrd, Gentner stated many concerns about their “blatant disregard for openness and transparency”. You can read AG Dummond’s full letter to Cindy Byrd below:
**Based on an original cost assessment by Michael Nash on May 29, 2022. Posted with permission** There is a very large cost discrepancy between the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). Both of these agencies operate in Oklahoma and build roads to serve the same population. Both agencies are headed …
Why does a roadway cost more when the OTA is in charge? Read More »
Where does the OTA’s money come from? From tolls? Yes. But also from bonds! The large sums of money needed to fund new turnpike projects come primarily from bonds. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) was counting on new bonds to fund the new ACCESS turnpike projects. Since August of 2022, OTA has been operating under …
Do you know that Oklahoma statute authorizes 35 locations throughout the state for turnpikes? Some of these turnpikes are already built (such as the Turner Turnpike which celebrates 70 years of tolls this year.) However, there are many statutorily approved turnpikes that could be built over people and legislators who remain unaware of this situation. …
It’s Time To Sunset Turnpike Location Authorizations in Oklahoma Read More »
**Originally written by Katherine (Tassie) Hirschfeld, Ph.D., in July 2022. Updated December 2022 and printed here with permission of author.** Oklahomans, what are we going to do about the Turnpike problem? It has only gotten worse since my first column back in May (Part 1). Despite multiple lawsuits alleging serious illegalities on the part of …
**Originally written and published by Katherine (Tassie) Hirschfeld, Ph.D., in the Oklahoman in May 2022. Updated December 2022 and re-printed here with permission of author.** This week’s column starts with a pop quiz: How much does it cost to drive from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on the Pennsylvania Turnpike? The answer has two parts: 1) …
**Originally written and published by Katherine (Tassie) Hirschfeld, Ph.D., in the Oklahoman on April 26, 2022. Updated December 2022 and re-printed here with permission of author.** Oklahoma, you have a turnpike problem. It is not a partisan problem. It affects citizens of all political affiliations. It is not a NIMBY (Not-In-My-Back-Yard) problem. The state Turnpike …
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