Exposing the OTA Archives

In a succinct presentation before the Oklahoma Senate Transportation Committee Interim Study Session on September 27, 2022, Professor Tassie Hirschfeld illustrates the absurdity of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority operations. Hirschfeld is a professor in anthropology who specializes in post-soviet autocratic countries and anti-corruption research. In less than 15 minutes Hirschfeld explains how the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority operates more like a Soviet regime than a "State of Oklahoma" agency.

How the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority operates like a Soviet Regime

In a succinct presentation before the Oklahoma Senate Transportation Committee on September 27, 2022, Professor Tassie Hirschfeld illustrates the absurdity of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority operations. Hirschfeld is a professor in anthropology who specializes in post-soviet autocratic countries and anti-corruption research. Watch Hirschfeld explain how the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority operates more like a Soviet regime […]

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A Yellow Road sign reads "Bumpy Road Ahead Caution" next to the words Oklahoma Turnpike Truths

Why does a roadway cost more when the OTA is in charge?

Exposing the OTA / Pike Off OTA

**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

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

Exposing the OTA / 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.

Exposing the OTA / 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)

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Oklahoma, you have a turnpike problem: Part 1

1 Comment / Exposing the OTA / 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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The Biggest Bully on the Block: Oklahoma Turnpike Authority

Exposing the OTA / Pike Off OTA

**Originally written and published by Bryan Armstrong on Ignite Liberty in March 2022. Re-printed here with permission of author.** A Brief Background of the OTA Imagine for a moment if the state legislature decided to create a privately funded organization in order to take over an essential function of government, and then gave that

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Was the Kickapoo Built Illegally?

Broken Promises, Exposing the OTA / Amy Cerato

The Kickapoo Turnpike was originally known as the Eastern Oklahoma County Turnpike announced in the 2015 Driving Forward Program. A 21 mile toll road connecting I44 near Luther to I40 near Newalla that opened in October of 2020, it was a hotly contested turnpike; for good reason. It was never authorized by the legislature. The

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