Now allowing Kansas toll tags to be used in Oklahoma and vice versa. Will be nice. I also believe you can now use Oklahoma toll tags in North Texas and North Texas tags in Oklahoma. I really just wish they'd do away with toll tags and bill your license plate or add it to your taxes every year.

http://newsok.com/traveling-teachers-are-commonplace-at-southside-okc-schools/article/3946608

They need to make the next jump and connect into I-Pass and EZ-Pass.

Billing a license plate wouldn't work since you would have too many people getting covers that block out the plate from view - well until a cop catches them. Leave it off my taxes though. We pay enough and it doesn't even cover the non-toll roads. If I need to use a toll road, I have no problem paying to use it.They also tend to be in much better condition than non-toll highways.

Technically the service isn't available NOW. The Kansas spokesman said they hope to have it up and running by the end of the year. Don't be like a local new station and mess the wording up, PluPan.

They need to make the next jump and connect into I-Pass and EZ-Pass.

Billing a license plate wouldn't work since you would have too many people getting covers that block out the plate from view - well until a cop catches them. Leave it off my taxes though. We pay enough and it doesn't even cover the non-toll roads. If I need to use a toll road, I have no problem paying to use it.They also tend to be in much better condition than non-toll highways.

Both the Colorado and TxDOT (Austin) systems bill you off the tag (at a higher rate) if you do not have an ExpressToll or TxTAG sticker. I know it works, we got one from Colorado when we still had Texas tags and when we closed on the house in Austin and moved up the last of our possessions we got a bill since I terminated the TxTAG account the day before. Now I only have the Colorado and Oklahoma accounts.

It would be nice for them to be interoperable so I could get down to one account. I did have three at one time, OK, TxTag and NTTA since I was working up in Dallas. When the TxTag went to working statewide I closed the NTTA account.

They need to make the next jump and connect into I-Pass and EZ-Pass.

Billing a license plate wouldn't work since you would have too many people getting covers that block out the plate from view - well until a cop catches them. Leave it off my taxes though. We pay enough and it doesn't even cover the non-toll roads. If I need to use a toll road, I have no problem paying to use it.They also tend to be in much better condition than non-toll highways.You know what, I didn't even think about that. I have one of those, and I checked, they are not illegal either. I have cops behind me all the time when and they don't ever pull me over for it. So I don't think they are illegal, esp. seeing as they sell them in auto stores. Either way, I still don't believe in cheating the turnpike authority over money, I just have it for red light and speed cameras.

It would be nice to have the a license plate scanner and and toll tag. Then people who have the photo blocking plate covers(like me) could have a toll tag. It works in Texas, I'm sure it would work here.

You know what, I didn't even think about that. I have one of those, and I checked, they are not illegal either. I have cops behind me all the time when and they don't ever pull me over for it. So I don't think they are illegal, esp. seeing as they sell them in auto stores. Either way, I still don't believe in cheating the turnpike authority over money, I just have it for red light and speed cameras.

It would be nice to have the a license plate scanner and and toll tag. Then people who have the photo blocking plate covers(like me) could have a toll tag. It works in Texas, I'm sure it would work here.

The Mythbusters did some testing and figured out that NONE of the license plate hiders (at the time) worked... they tag always got caught.

On another note, I don't believe the Pike Pass has interoperability with Texas yet. Kansas will be the first.

The Mythbusters did some testing and figured out that NONE of the license plate hiders (at the time) worked... they tag always got caught.

On another note, I don't believe the Pike Pass has interoperability with Texas yet. Kansas will be the first.Not sure about the toll ways, but my tag works.

Not sure about the toll ways, but my tag works.

The OTA Twitter account confirmed that Texas is not interoperable yet... it might work because your license plate is run, but not because your Pike Pass is connected to Texas. They said "Coming soon... stay tuned."

The OTA Twitter account confirmed that Texas is not interoperable yet... it might work because your license plate is run, but not because your Pike Pass is connected to Texas. They said "Coming soon... stay tuned."Well, the only reason I have a tag photo blocker is when I go to Dallas, I have received two tickets for running red lights. I know for a fact I didn't run them and I have four dash cams in my car that record everything along with a blackbox and I spent three hours looking through footage and I stopped at every light and sent it in to the Dallas court. It is a pain in the ass and have had to do it two times!!!!! I have also had friends and family that live there tell me they have received red light photo tickets for no reason.

I know though, it works because I have passed speed cameras in St. Louis going well over the limit and they attempted to take a photo of my tag and it didn't work. I don't plan on breaking the law, but I don't want my tag out there for any camera to pick up either. Not sure which one the myth busters use, but I have BLINDER-X-TREME Anti photo license plate cover Blinder.net (http://www.blinder.net/anti-photo.htm) plate right here.

The OTA Twitter account confirmed that Texas is not interoperable yet... it might work because your license plate is run, but not because your Pike Pass is connected to Texas. They said "Coming soon... stay tuned."I didn't realize the Texas Turnpike isn't ready yet either. I know I have a toll tag because I don't want to cheat out of paying. I have the same thing for the Kirpatrick Turnpike, Pikepass.

I don't plan on breaking the law...


I know though, it works because I have passed speed cameras in St. Louis going well over the limit and they attempted to take a photo of my tag and it didn't work

So your constant lead foot is just accidental? ;)

So your constant lead foot is just accidental? ;)I had a friend with me that ushered me into speeding on purpose to see if the camera could get my plate. Thank god it worked because if I had gotten a ticket..... TREME would have gotten a message from me explaining that their product is garbage , I'd be stuck with a speeding ticket, and I'd feel really stupid for doing such a thing. It wasn't like going 100 or anything like that, just a little over. There wasn't anyone around either.

Well, the only reason I have a tag photo blocker is when I go to Dallas, I have received two tickets for running red lights. I know for a fact I didn't run them and I have four dash cams in my car that record everything along with a blackbox and I spent three hours looking through footage and I stopped at every light and sent it in to the Dallas court. It is a pain in the ass and have had to do it two times!!!!! I have also had friends and family that live there tell me they have received red light photo tickets for no reason.

I know though, it works because I have passed speed cameras in St. Louis going well over the limit and they attempted to take a photo of my tag and it didn't work. I don't plan on breaking the law, but I don't want my tag out there for any camera to pick up either. Not sure which one the myth busters use, but I have BLINDER-X-TREME Anti photo license plate cover Blinder.net (http://www.blinder.net/anti-photo.htm) plate right here.

You wouldn't need the dash-cams and worries about tickets if we had more transportation options and a more walkable, less-driving-required urban landscape...

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

You wouldn't need the dash-cams and worries about tickets if we had more transportation options and a more walkable, less-driving-required urban landscape...

Sorry, I couldn't help it.:Smiley127

can't say you're wrong...

Those red light cameras have been proven to be inaccurate in almost every deployment. For a normal light issue, they're ok. But if something out of the ordinary happens, they go nuts. For example, out of no fault of your own, you get stuck in the intersection because something happens mid-stream in front of you (like a wreck). BAM, ticket. The thought is to keep the intersection clear so you must deserve a ticket. That's the trouble with a machine instead of a person....it can't account for all situations with critical thinking.

San Diego, CA is an example of how so many cities have deployed this in a catastrophic way. They had several put in near the airport. If you're familiar with the area, there is a high congested (and poorly planned) road structure to get from the water's edge, to get over the mountains to the actual town....and the highway (which does NOT go right to the airport believe it or not). There is a ton of traffic and it blocks intersections because of the way too many streets cross each other in too short of an area, along with a rail line. It's just horrible design. Anyway, they put these lights in there to try and control it. Except the CITY didn't put them in. They contracted it. 50% of the tickets get contested (90% of those cases are upheld) but the COST of the ticket is double to three times that of a regular light because the contractor charges so much to manage the system. There has been major PR backlash because there's that lovely "Welcome to San Diego, here's your ticket". It really turned into a whole big issue of corruption between the city and the contractor. But suffice to say, they were planning on taking them down.

Oklahoma PikePass To Work On Kansas Toll Roads - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/26756557/oklahoma-pikepass-to-work-on-kansas-toll-roads)

PikePass Stickers To Work On Kansas Turnpike - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/27059848/pikepass-stickers-to-work-on-kansas-turnpike)

Oklahoma drivers can soon use PIKEPASS in Kansas | KFOR.com (http://kfor.com/2014/10/28/oklahoma-drivers-can-soon-use-pikepass-in-kansas/)

Construction Causes Lengthy Delays For Drivers On Turner Turnpik - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/27617463/construction-causes-lengthy-delays-for-drivers-on-turner-turnpike)

PluPan, what was your take on the I-44-235 interchange sketch? I saw it on Steve's Twitter. Are there enough stacks going on?

PluPan, what was your take on the I-44-235 interchange sketch? I saw it on Steve's Twitter. Are there enough stacks going on?haha... I've said it before, but I think it will be a huge improvement over what is there now. I-235 is getting a massive 6 lane bridge with two fly-overs, and is being widened to six lanes all the way through. I-44 is going to be six lanes all the way through and the cloverleafs are going to be wider and have their own dedicated lanes(technically the bridge will be 8 lanes I guess) so I think this will keep traffic moving for a very long time just depending on much growth the metro sees.

All in all, I like this project and to say is much needed is an understatement. This should have been done back in the early 2000's at best. I still hope the Santa Fe bridge happens, which one of my neighbors who does something for ODOT(I don't really remember what) told me a few weeks ago the bridge is still happening, but I've heard from others it isn't.

Like I said, I do like this, but if it were me I would removed the cloverleafs and add flyovers, but due to BNSF bridge, it would require them to be much longer and higher than normal flyover ramps and be very costly, but I still would've done it.

It should make the flow of cars in and out of all the new downtown parking garages more efficient.

It should make the flow of cars in and out of all the new downtown parking garages more efficient.Yeah. It should help all the people who subsidize downtown get there quicker, that's for sure.

FYI-People that have the hard case toll tags for NTTA, they will not read on Oklahoma Turnpikes. Only the sticker tags will read. Don't know if it has to do with the transponder, or if it is due to technology issues. I heard from employees that the interoperability for Pike Pass and the NTTA was implemented due to higher demand.

Indian Nation Turnpike travel plaza to open on Thursday - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/27647111/indian-nation-turnpike-travel-plaza-to-open-on-thursday)

Turnpike Authority approves plan for PikePass use in all of Texas - Tulsa World: Capitol Report (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/turnpike-authority-approves-plan-for-pikepass-use-in-all-of/article_9e647321-c8b6-546c-a725-e73f07089ac6.html)

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Director Takes Colorado Job - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/30829712/oklahoma-turnpike-authority-director-takes-colorado-job)

In regards to the OTA approving a plan for PikePass use across all of Texas' turnpike systems - is it just me, or does this whole setup feel rather similar to the way E-ZPass began in New York? I personally think it's pretty awesome that we're getting the ball rolling on interoperability, and it wouldn't surprise me if an inter-agency group similar to E-ZPass gets created within the next several years - and we're the driving force behind the IAG.

Looks like Hefner Parkway and Kilpatrick will be getting more flyovers to further complete the interchange in 2018. Says there will be a bid for direct connect ramps @20million in 2018.

https://www.pikepass.com/pdf/5%20Year%20Capital%20Plan.pdf

Looks like Hefner Parkway and Kilpatrick will be getting more flyovers to further complete the interchange in 2018. Says there will be a bid for direct connect ramps @20million in 2018.

https://www.pikepass.com/pdf/5%20Year%20Capital%20Plan.pdf

Not sure if i'm reading this right, but one is for 2017 and one is for 2018... ?

Not sure if i'm reading this right, but one is for 2017 and one is for 2018... ?I missed that! Even better. So they are spending close to 40 million adding new ramps. Is that enough to complete the entire interchange? So this would become a solid 4 stack with flyovers in each direction.

I hope it's enough to complete the interchange, but at the very least it should get a flyover for NB LHP to WB Kilpatrick and EB Kilpatrick to SB LHP.

I hope it's enough to complete the interchange, but at the very least it should get a flyover for NB LHP to WB Kilpatrick and EB Kilpatrick to SB LHP.Agreed. Those are the two biggest needed, imo.

Hopefully the will do a SB Broadway to EB Kilpatrick someday

Does OTA have the same fiscal year as the state? If so wouldn't we be in higher year 2017 right now meaning the 1st bridge budgeted would be happening within the next 12 months?

Does OTA have the same fiscal year as the state? If so wouldn't we be in higher year 2017 right now meaning the 1st bridge budgeted would be happening within the next 12 months?

That is correct. The state's FY is July-June and OTA follows it.

Does OTA have the same fiscal year as the state? If so wouldn't we be in higher year 2017 right now meaning the 1st bridge budgeted would be happening within the next 12 months?

I saw on one of the reports on OTAs website where it states they're in "negotiations" for this project. I'm guessing that means they're negotiating with the consultant on the design fees so it probably won't be until later in the FY when they go to bid.

http://www.news9.com/story/33431549/oklahoma-turnpike-authority-to-test-all-electronic-toll-in-jenks

This sounds like a good idea, but I have questions. The main one is how much would this cost me? Theoretical question, considering I have a Pikepass, but let's roll with it. What bill am I mailed? A bill for the toll, or a bill for the toll, plus processing, plus fee for mailing, plus whatever other fees OTA thinks they can get away with?

http://www.news9.com/story/33431549/oklahoma-turnpike-authority-to-test-all-electronic-toll-in-jenks

I love this.

This sounds like a good idea, but I have questions. The main one is how much would this cost me? Theoretical question, considering I have a Pikepass, but let's roll with it. What bill am I mailed? A bill for the toll, or a bill for the toll, plus processing, plus fee for mailing, plus whatever other fees OTA thinks they can get away with?


My experience in Denver is the toll for paying by plate is slightly higher than other methods, so you will receive a bill once a month in the mail and there are no dditional fees. The slightly higher toll covers admin costs and postage.

Yeah, Texas does this and I like it. If you don't have a "tolltag" account with fund (just like a pikepass) you get billed at a higher rate. They send out the bills monthly, and you have 25 days to pay, or you get a $10 administrative fee. I've actually gotten mailed a bill up here (you have to get over $50 to get mailed if you're out of state).

What's nice about this, is that it encourages out of state drivers to use the toll roads more.

What's nice about this, is that it encourages out of state drivers to use the toll roads more.

Great point, jerry.

Great point, jerry.

Agreed, very convenient and will definitely lead to more out of state users.

This is great. When Texas went to the system I found it very easy to use and didn't mind paying when I went to see family as the bill just came in the mail.

I don't know how many times I see people slam on breaks and cross three lanes to make it to the toll booth.

I don't know how many times I see people slam on breaks and cross three lanes to make it to the toll booth.

Right?! That is so damn irritating!

I also wonder about the cost difference between these, manned booths, and unmanned toll stations (the latter two, besides maintenance, have a labor expense as well). If seems like a system like this would ultimately save the turnpike authority some dough.

Yeah, Texas does this and I like it. If you don't have a "tolltag" account with fund (just like a pikepass) you get billed at a higher rate. They send out the bills monthly, and you have 25 days to pay, or you get a $10 administrative fee. I've actually gotten mailed a bill up here (you have to get over $50 to get mailed if you're out of state).

What's nice about this, is that it encourages out of state drivers to use the toll roads more.

The out of state part was something I had in mind as well. I really wish states would interlink their turnpike tag systems, but in lieu of that just sending the registered owner a bill via plate scan will do as well. I'm fine with the charge being slightly higher, because there are mail costs, but on the other hand I also agree that not paying someone to sit in the booth is going to result in a certain amount of savings as well. What I had in mind was a fresh experience from recently renewing my tags. There's the tag fee. Then the insurance fee (not really 100% certain what this is, it costs $1.50 to verify I have insurance? Then why am I printing that card out every six months?). Then the mail fee. Then the fee if paying by credit card.

Thankfully it doesn't look like it would be something like that, so bring it on. Like I said, I have a Pikepass, but let's be honest, the real reason I have that is to avoid the bottleneck that results from paying cash. Removing the booths removes that bottleneck.

We can rebuild it. We have the technology.

Maybe they will put this technology in the Norman Spur toll area next. I always thought, it was crazy that people with pikepasses have to veer left while the toll booths are in the middle of the road.

You can end up spending a lot of money on toll fees if your not careful in Dallas where every other road is a toll road it seems like. Its also more complex in that the fees change based on traffic conditions in some places.

Maybe they will put this technology in the Norman Spur toll area next. I always thought, it was crazy that people with pikepasses have to veer left while the toll booths are in the middle of the road.

This.

This sounds like a good idea, but I have questions. The main one is how much would this cost me? Theoretical question, considering I have a Pikepass, but let's roll with it. What bill am I mailed? A bill for the toll, or a bill for the toll, plus processing, plus fee for mailing, plus whatever other fees OTA thinks they can get away with?

Neither. If you have a Pikepass, nothing will change. This is for those who don't have one.

Neither. If you have a Pikepass, nothing will change. This is for those who don't have one.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/theoretical

I know how Pikepass works, but thank you.

I misunderstood your question since you didn't state that your theoretical exercise contained an assumption you didn't have a Pikepass. All you said was that you do have one.

The out of state part was something I had in mind as well. I really wish states would interlink their turnpike tag systems, but in lieu of that just sending the registered owner a bill via plate scan will do as well.

Electronic tolling does enable interoperability, as long as the toll collection equipment can read the tags, and indeed many tolling systems are linked together. For instance, in the northeastern US, a handful of states are members of the EZ-Pass network; Pikepass has enabled IOP with K-Tag in Kansas, and NTTA in the DFW Metroplex. Additionally, OTA has secured an agreement with TxDOT to allow Pikepasses to be used on the rest of Texas' toll roads beginning sometime in 2017, and in the future hopes to also secure agreements with turnpike operators in Georgia and Florida (Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/turnpike-authority-approves-plan-for-pikepass-use-in-all-of/article_9e647321-c8b6-546c-a725-e73f07089ac6.html). IOP is dependent upon the tolling hardware being able to read tags from other toll roads; there are something like 3 different electronic tolling standards in use in the US right now.

Has anyone seen or heard an update on the Kilpatrick/Hefner Parkway ramps scheduled for FY 17 & 18. We are halfway thru FY 17 now

Latest status report available on the website says estimated bid opening 2017/2018.

ODOT and OTA need to team up and create toll express lanes that take you from OKC to Norman with minimal exits. This has been done in Dallas along the I635 LBJ Freeway and it's incredible. It's a whole other highway right below 635 that is toll while the upper stack (untouched from construction) has all the original exits. We made it from 35 to Central Expressway in mere minutes the other day while traffic was jammed up top. It was awesome. Imagine commuting from downtown OKC to Moore in just minutes and onto Norman for another couple. Check it out:

http://www.lbjtexpress.com/

Not sure they would go to that extent but I could see them adding an HOV lane once the work on the interchanges have been completed.

ODOT and OTA need to team up and create toll express lanes that take you from OKC to Norman with minimal exits. This has been done in Dallas along the I635 LBJ Freeway and it's incredible. It's a whole other highway right below 635 that is toll while the upper stack (untouched from construction) has all the original exits. We made it from 35 to Central Expressway in mere minutes the other day while traffic was jammed up top. It was awesome. Imagine commuting from downtown OKC to Moore in just minutes and onto Norman for another couple. Check it out:

http://www.lbjtexpress.com/

I agree and you forgot to mention the 75MPH speed limit. TxDOT seems to be even surpassing Caltrans in freeway building/innovation which unfortunately seems to be focusing on mass transit over freeways at the moment.

I don't see Oklahoma being this progressive on that end. As said, I'd be happy with an HOV lane at the moment.

ODOT and OTA need to team up and create toll express lanes that take you from OKC to Norman with minimal exits. This has been done in Dallas along the I635 LBJ Freeway and it's incredible. It's a whole other highway right below 635 that is toll while the upper stack (untouched from construction) has all the original exits. We made it from 35 to Central Expressway in mere minutes the other day while traffic was jammed up top. It was awesome. Imagine commuting from downtown OKC to Moore in just minutes and onto Norman for another couple. Check it out:

http://www.lbjtexpress.com/

And where would the traffic come from to justify the multi-BILLION dollar investment? According to ODOT's 2015 AADT counts, there aren't even 100k cars on I-35 except for immediately south of downtown OKC.