Blog Archives

Another win! Oklahoma Attorney General finds House Bill 2263 amendments Constitutional

The Oklahoma Attorney General (OAG) Gentner Drummond published a second opinion on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, detailing why House Bill (HB) 2263 amending Title 69 Section 1703 is constitutional and does not violate the separation of powers provision in the Oklahoma Constitution. HB2263 divided the executive powers of appointment to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) […]

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Oklahoma Attorney General agrees with PIKE OFF OTA that no individual may simultaneously serve three state transportation roles

Blog / Pike Off OTA

On Wednesday, February 28, 2024, the Oklahoma Attorney General (OAG) published an opinion that it is illegal for Secretary Tim Gatz to serve in three state “offices,” and he must resign or be removed from two “offices.” In addition, AG Drummond stated that when a state officer takes on the duties of a second office

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2023-07-12 Responses to OK Supreme Court Legal Questions

Blog / Pike Off OTA

Confused about what is happening in the Supreme Court?
Our latest post on PikeOffOTA.com breaks down what happened this week. Three on fire and well-prepared protestant briefs were submitted to the Court with sound arguments for why the OTA cannot lawfully build the 3 new alignments in the ACCESS program.

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ACCESS PROGRAM UPDATE Until the Oklahoma Supreme Court issues its decision on OTA's application for approval of bonds, the OA does not have access to the bond market to fund planning and construction activities for the ACCES Oklahoma Program.

Where Does the OTA’s money come from?

Blog / Pike Off OTA

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

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It’s Time To Sunset Turnpike Location Authorizations in Oklahoma

Blog / Pike Off OTA

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.

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Open Letter to Governor Stitt

Blog, News / Amy Cerato

Pike Off OTA sent a letter to Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-Okla.) on January 2, 2023 asking for him to replace Tim Gatz, the state secretary of transportation, and Joe Echelle, the deputy director of the OTA. Here is the letter. January 2, 2023 To the Honorable Kevin Stitt Governor of the State of Oklahoma Office

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Turnpike Expansions Will Harm State

Blog, News / Amy Cerato

Originally written by Tassie Katherine Hirschfeld and Amy Cerato and published in the Tulsa World on January 6, 2023. Tulsa World link. An effort is underway to expand turnpike construction under the guise of economic development. After reviewing the troubled history and past performance of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, we believe projects such as the

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What is the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Hiding?

Blog / Amy Cerato

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) has proposed rolling five billion dollars further into debt for improvement projects on existing turnpikes and constructing three new toll roads. They already sit nearly $2 billion US dollars in debt. In their 70 plus years of existence, the OTA has never had an audit conducted by the Oklahoma State

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Psychological Factors in the Threat of Eminent Domain

Blog / Pike Off OTA

By Twyla Smith Subjective Value is the worth of a Home and Land to the family who owns it. This personal worth of Home has increased during the past two years with our sequestering in our homes due to the pandemic. We have made our homes our schools for home schooling, offices for working at

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Questions about Accountability

Blog / Pike Off OTA

By Travis Wilson Their agenda was not to find the best route, a creative route, perhaps one that combines a new tollway with existing infrastructure, perhaps using highway 9. Their agenda was not to minimize bulldozed houses. (550 bulldozed houses on their plan map). Their agenda was not to minimize environmental impact. They didn’t even

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