Oklahoma Turnpike Authority

[jn1780]

There are scenarios were this actually results in OK legislature changing law to allow construction projects being funded by bonds, If they can't hide behind OTA boogeyman anymore. Half of the population thinks OTA is a private entity.

[jn1780]

That statement just confirms the AGs actions are just political. OTA saying it doesn't want to spend money it doesn't have: oh must be something fishy going on..........

If the audit agency doesn't find a suggestion for OTA to improve on then they didn't do a very good job because every government agency has waste. That's their job after all, find government waste. They don't need a politically aspiring AG to tell then to do their job.

[Jersey Boss]

That statement just confirms the AGs actions are just political. OTA saying it doesn't want to spend money it doesn't have: oh must be something fishy going on..........

If the audit agency doesn't find a suggestion for OTA to improve on then they didn't do a very good job because every government agency has waste. That's their job after all, find government waste. They don't need a politically aspiring AG to tell then to do their job.

Correct me if I am wrong but it seems you are suggesting it is not the place of the AG to request an audit. If you feel the auditor should act on their own when auditing agencies, then you are mistaken in how it works.

https://www.sai.ok.gov/frequently_asked_questions/

Can audits be requested?
Alleged fraud or abuse in goverment may be reported to the State Auditor, but the State Auditor cannot initiate or begin an audit without the official request of a specified government entity/officer or the approval of an official petition.

The Attorney General may request an audit in any matter that the Attorney General is investigating. (74 O.S. § 18f)

[Jeremy Martin]

How is it that the OTA has so much bond debt that they can't afford to make improvement's to existing toll roads?
Oh wait, I guess that's because discovery in the latest case showed that they spend 6-15x more per mile of road than ODOT.
An audit is for sure needed.

[mugofbeer]

How is it that the OTA has so much bond debt that they can't afford to make improvement's to existing toll roads?
Oh wait, I guess that's because discovery in the latest case showed that they spend 6-15x more per mile of road than ODOT.
An audit is for sure needed.

I can think of a couple of legitimate reasons for this off the top of my head.

[bombermwc]

I wouldn't read too much in to this. It simply means that they are being fiscally responsible and pausing any work that's not funded. Once the cases are resolved (and they will be and OTA is going to get pas all the delays) and they'll be right back at it.

Nothing so far as shown (as much as I despise the OTA), that it's really anything more than delays. Re-do the meetings. Re-do the plans and things to follow the proper guidelines. They absolutely have the right to take bonds, so all of this is just going to delay what will eventually happen.

I did laugh a bit at their comment about the items being critical. It's critical if you are looking to bring in more money to the OTA, but while the Norman pieces are nice (unless you're a property owner), calling them critical is a stretch. Same with Turner being 6 lanes. If I35 in OKC can be stuck at 4 lanes as long as it has been, well i'm pretty sure we'll survive with a 4 lane Turner for a while longer.

Oh OTA, you're such a farce. You'll win in the end, but you're also a drama queen.

[jedicurt]

I wouldn't read too much in to this. It simply means that they are being fiscally responsible and pausing any work that's not funded. Once the cases are resolved (and they will be and OTA is going to get pas all the delays) and they'll be right back at it.

yup... this... i think people are reading way too much into this. the OTA was hoping all was resolved and the bond money would be coming in by now. this is just them realizing this is going to take longer, and so are waiting until they have that money... i think it means they have heard the SC ruling will be delayed even longer, not that it is coming soon and that they know the outcome is against them.

[jn1780]

Its going to be awkward if a newly elected Governor Drummond is one of the dignitaries cutting the ribbon on a new Norman turnpike in 2027.

[bombermwc]

Im not paying to read this joke, but it's typical stuff they would create to attract clickbait.
https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news...y/70127010007/

So without even reading it, i can tell you from the title, that this is bull. In case anyone forgot, it's a toll system. If they are in danger of being "insolvent" they stop maintenance or construction somewhere and just raise the tolls. Who's going to tell them no to a rate hike? Have you ever seen a rake hike denied?

I know we all hate the OTA (myself included), but much like the Norman people that were spreading lies about Access Oklahoma (and its the same group now really) this causes you lose credibility for your cause. Don't make up crap and then try to pain them as the bad guy. Creating a bunch of lies makes you just as much of a bad guy here.

And shame on the Jokelahoman for publishing trash like this, knowing it's just full of inaccuracies.

[Jeremy Martin]

Posted this earlier and it's still a good listen. Skip to minute 16 to get past all the mumbo jumbo.
Some really good info on the court case the OTA just lost and the current OTA financials.
https://freedom969.com/podcast/the-j...ay_file=133146
I can understand now why the state AG will be doing the audit.

[Jersey Boss]

State government cancel culture in action. Keep up the good work to slow down Accesss Oklahoma.

https://www.okenergytoday.com/2023/0...-by-treasurer/

[rcjunkie]

State government cancel culture in action. Keep up the good work to slow down Accesss Oklahoma.

https://www.okenergytoday.com/2023/0...-by-treasurer/

This doesn't slow down Access Oklahoma, it slows down progress in Oklahoma. Build it now!

[jn1780]

https://www.koco.com/amp/article/okl...mpact/44796792

[BoulderSooner]

https://www.koco.com/amp/article/okl...mpact/44796792

if they dont' want to play ball with the state .. .then a stop and ticket policy for all of those tags on turnpikes should be put into effect ..

[jn1780]

That's a mess OTA/OHP wouldn't want to get into even if they had the legal authority to do that. Another issue is vehicles hauling trailers. Those plates are often blocked. I suspect Oklahoma will adopt front plates specialfically for this reason.

[scottk]

Duplicate

[scottk]

That's a mess OTA/OHP wouldn't want to get into even if they had the legal authority to do that. Another issue is vehicles hauling trailers. Those plates are often blocked. I suspect Oklahoma will adopt front plates specialfically for this reason.

https://www.cars.com/articles/which-...1420663046939/

[Elrenogolf]

https://www.cars.com/articles/which-...1420663046939/

Kansas is in the process of moving to Plate Pay as well. Although their toll roads aren’t nearly prolific as they are here.

[scottk]

Kansas is in the process of moving to Plate Pay as well. Although their toll roads aren’t nearly prolific as they are here.

Kansas was smart. They have ONE turnpike and it hits Wichita, Emporia, Topeka (Capitol City), and the Kansas side of the Kansas City Metro. Oklahoma basically has this with the HE Bailey, Turner, and Will Rogers that connected Lawton, OKC, Tulsa, and ends just before Joplin. However, I think the rural turnpikes bring down the progress that could be made on the metro turnpikes and heavily traveled I-44 turnpikes.

I would assume the KTA has a much easier time maintaining one turnpike and it is traveled well enough to continuously maintain the roadway with revenue.

https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/...nualReport.pdf - Page 88 is the breakdown of Oklahoma revenue by turnpike.

For example, in 2021 the Kilpatrick brought in roughly 5 times the revenue as the Cherokee Turnpike and both are about 30 miles in total length.

[jn1780]

Kansas was smart. They have ONE turnpike and it hits Wichita, Emporia, Topeka (Capitol City), and the Kansas side of the Kansas City Metro. Oklahoma basically has this with the HE Bailey, Turner, and Will Rogers that connected Lawton, OKC, Tulsa, and ends just before Joplin. However, I think the rural turnpikes bring down the progress that could be made on the metro turnpikes and heavily traveled I-44 turnpikes.

I would assume the KTA has a much easier time maintaining one turnpike and it is traveled well enough to continuously maintain the roadway with revenue.

https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/...nualReport.pdf - Page 88 is the breakdown of Oklahoma revenue by turnpike.

For example, in 2021 the Kilpatrick brought in roughly 5 times the revenue as the Cherokee Turnpike and both are about 30 miles in total length.

That's true, but it's also true for non turnpike roads. The cities are always going to be subsidizing the rural roads. But you need the rural roads to literally help feed the city.

[Mountaingoat]

I would be willing to bet $1 the 3rd lane on l-35 from OKC to the Texas line ends up as a toll road.

[TornadoKegan]

I would be willing to bet $1 the 3rd lane on l-35 from OKC to the Texas line ends up as a toll road.

That's the only way they're gonna be able to fund it in the time frame they want to get it done.

[Harbinger]

I've turned into quite the fan of Mileage Mike. Here is a informative and thorough breakdown of the toll landscape of Oklahoma, including history and some of its absurdity...

https://youtu.be/EWxxj-DFtt8?si=OVilGBURchc-8i5E

[Snowman]

I've turned into quite the fan of Mileage Mike. Here is a informative and thorough breakdown of the toll landscape of Oklahoma, including history and some of its absurdity...

https://youtu.be/EWxxj-DFtt8?si=OVilGBURchc-8i5E

While he did some evaluation, it seems was more just an engineering evaluation, and did not even notice how much is politically motivated. At least the last two rounds of expansion approvals read like a political compromises, which is the only two rounds I have been old enough to witness, and it sounds like probably goes back to the first route. On top of which there have been multiple eras where OTA and ODOT executives are the same person, and are often building basically what ODOT would done if they had more funds.

[Jersey Boss]

Just goes to show that you ca⁸n fight "City Hall". OTA to pay over 2 million in property compensatipn.
https://kfor.com/news/jury-awards-ok...apoo-turnpike/