Tolls on the Oklahoma Turnpike system will increase 16 percent across the board starting Aug. 4.
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Board of Directors voted unanimously in favor of the increase on Wednesday, July 15.
Authority officials claimed that a decline in commercial truck traffic led to a significant decrease in traffic and revenue throughout 2007 and 2008. Much of the blame lies with high fuel prices.
The authority acknowledged that more traffic may divert from the turnpike once the toll increase takes effect. An official told Land Line Now earlier this week on Sirius XM that the 16 percent increase accounts for the numbers that may divert to alternate routes.
Ten highways make up the 605-mile Oklahoma Turnpike system. Tolls were last increased in 2001.
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Board of Directors voted unanimously in favor of the increase on Wednesday, July 15.
Authority officials claimed that a decline in commercial truck traffic led to a significant decrease in traffic and revenue throughout 2007 and 2008. Much of the blame lies with high fuel prices.
The authority acknowledged that more traffic may divert from the turnpike once the toll increase takes effect. An official told Land Line Now earlier this week on Sirius XM that the 16 percent increase accounts for the numbers that may divert to alternate routes.
Ten highways make up the 605-mile Oklahoma Turnpike system. Tolls were last increased in 2001.
