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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Oklahoma, Take Your Eyes Off the Road. Part 3 of the “Oklahoma, you have a turnpike problem” series

Blog, News / Pike Off OTA

**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

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Is Oklahoma on the way to Pennsylvania? Part 2 of the “Oklahoma, you have a turnpike problem” series.

Blog, News / Pike Off OTA

**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)

Is Oklahoma on the way to Pennsylvania? Part 2 of the “Oklahoma, you have a turnpike problem” series. Read More »

Oklahoma, you have a turnpike problem: Part 1

1 Comment / Blog, News / Pike Off OTA

**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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