The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority unanimously voted on Tuesday to increase tolls by 17% over the next three years.
The Turnpike Authority says that the increased toll rate is necessary to maintain and expand the state’s turnpike system.
The first increase of 12% would go into effect on January 1 with 2.5% toll increases in the next two years.
The toll increase is intended to fund the ambitious $892 million Driving Forward program consists of six individual projects and includes the building of new toll roads in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
There may be some hope for those who don’t want to see their tolls increase — the rate hikes cannot move forward until a lawsuit in the State Supreme Court regarding the legality of using tolls to fund new construction is resolved.
The last time that the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority increased tolls was 2009 — a 16% increase.
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Approves Hike In Tolls https://t.co/dVwVNZUwjd #News9 pic.twitter.com/vXGLX9EL6i
— News 9 (@NEWS9) September 28, 2016
Sources:
KRMG
KWTV
Claremore Progress