OTA approves increase in turnpike tolls

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Starting in the new year, drivers will pay a little more to drive on Oklahoma turnpikes. Officials said a big part of this is to help fund the Access Oklahoma long-range plan.

If you drive along Oklahoma's many turnpikes, expect prices to go up slightly beginning January 1, after the Turnpike Authority board passed a resolution unanimously on Tuesday.

"The overall toll increase is 15%," said Joe Echelle, the OTA's Executive Director.

Echelle said if you drive a normal two-axel car, this mean's you go from paying $.06 per mile on the turnpike to $.07.

"That is still well below the national average of $.22," said Echelle.

OTA said this is a move it hasn't made often. Since 1953, the authority has only raised its tolls 11 times.

Officials said it's now time to up the charge to help fund the long-range Access Oklahoma plan.

"That's a penny a mile increase to get all these necessary safety enhancements, improvements to our existing network as well as to build these alternative alignments," said Echelle.

The board was presented with page after page showing the new increase and where they are located.

The heavier the vehicle, the more axels are needed, and the more damage left behind on turnpikes. That's why Echelle said they're rates have gone up.

"We're trying to account for how, the number of axels, and convert that into a toll rate," said Echelle.

The five existing toll classes have been condensed to three. Small vehicles, like everyday cars, have two axels. Medium vehicles have three or four axels. Large vehicles have more than five.

After the classification consolidation, some toll rates have gone down.

Part of the resolution includes a 6% inflation-based raise that could be implemented every other year.

"We will do those every other year as needed until they're no longer needed," said Echelle.

"Inflation is something that we all are affected by," said John Jones, the OTA Chairman.

The inflation-based rate increase will have to be approved by the board before it is passed on to drivers.

The OTA said because all the toll roads are now cashless, OTA can now charge the exact amount for a trip down the roads, instead of rounding to the nearest nickel.