Turnpike toll hikes dropped in Oklahoma, for now
Published 7:00 am Wednesday, August 24, 2016
- Highway
OKLAHOMA CITY — A 17 percent increase for using toll roads throughout the state of Oklahoma is on hold, at least for now.
The Turnpike Authority has delayed the three-part hike, which would raise tolls 12 percent in January, with 2 1/2 percent increases in the next two years.
Next year’s increase would have made the typical commuter pay about a quarter extra for the $2.05 trip from Norman to Chickasha.
A $2 trip from Henryetta to McAlester would increase by 24 cents. The $4 price to drive from Oklahoma City to Tulsa would increase by about 50 cents.
“We absolutely take toll increases extremely seriously. We only do them when they’re absolutely necessary,” said Tim Gatz, the Turnpike Authority’s executive director.
He said the toll hike is necessary to pay for the Driving Forward program, which will extend the existing turnpike southwest to Will Rogers World Airport, expand the turnpike through eastern Oklahoma County, widen and improve roads near Tulsa, and rebuild the Muskogee turnpike.
But the project is hamstrung by litigation filed Friday questioning the legality of issuing bonds to pay for it. Turnpike officials said they’ll likely reconsider the toll hikes once the litigation is resolved.
“I would say there’s an expectation the toll increases are going to come up at some time,” said Albert Kelly, chairman of the Turnpike Authority board of directors. “Keep in mind that Oklahoma’s tolls are some of the lowest in the nation per mile.”
Jack Damrill, spokesman for the authority, said it is still calculating how much money the increases will net.
Studies suggest that Oklahoma drivers would be fine with rates as much as 35 percent higher than they are now, he said. Anything more, and they’ll stop driving on toll roads.
Toll collections are up, in the meantime. Last year officials reported collecting $146.9 million through August. This year, they’ve taken in $154.1 million.
Tolls were last increased 16 percent in 2009.
Janelle Stecklein covers the Oklahoma Statehouse for CNHI’s newspapers and websites. Reach her at jstecklein@cnhi.com.