Turnpike Authority approves speed limit increases

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OKLAHOMA CITY – With an emphasis on the safety of motorists, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority held a vote Tuesday morning that approved recommendations on raising the speed limit to 80 miles per hour on certain sections of the state’s turnpike system.

For motorists in southwest Oklahoma, this includes a five-mile stretch of the Norman Spur of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike from mile markers 102 to 107. No other sections of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike were recommended for a speed increase at this stage.

Due to COVID-19, the OTA board, led by Chairman Gene Love, met remotely via teleconference. After addressing the speed limit matter on the agenda, the board voted 5-1 to approve the recommendations, the lone holdout being board member John A. Titsworth.

The speed study, completed by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Traffic Division, came as a result of House Bill 1071, authored by state Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, who sought to have the speed limit increased, with the condition that a speed study was conducted. The speed study was completed in the first quarter of 2020, as scheduled.

Pae’s bill was approved in 2019 and was signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Addressing the OTA board via teleconference, Pae was pleased with the comprehensive data gathered during the extensive and thorough speed study, which included the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the state Department of Public Safety.

“From the beginning, we wanted to emphasize safety of Oklahoma drivers on the state’s (turnpike system),” Pae said, noting how impressed he was with ODOT and OTA staff working in tandem in the midst of a global pandemic.

Specifically, the study examined five-year accident data, average daily traffic, safety appurtenances, roadway surface conditions, tolling operations, and roadway geometrics, noted OTA staff.

This information was collected and analyzed in connection with the Rural Interstates and the Authority’s Rural Turnpikes and found that it is reasonable, given current conditions, to consider an 80 mile per hour maximum speed at the aforementioned locations.

“I’m confident these speed limit changes will be implemented gradually and safely,” added Pae. He also said he looks forward to continued dialogue about the speed limit increases.

DPS Chairman John Scully, who initially had difficulty teleconferencing with the board, was able to finally be heard and said he “absolutely agreed” with the final speed limit recommendations.

Added Scully, “(We want to) make sure the turnpikes are as safe as they can possibly be.”

The OTA and ODOT still have to install speed limit signs reflecting the changes and until those signs are installed, the speed limits will remain as they are, with OHP enforcing the current speed limits. Changes are also expected to come to state highways at a future date, per recommendations in Pae’s bill.

ODOT Secretary Tim J. Gatz, meanwhile, addressed the OTA board and said that the “benchmark” study’s results were “extremely serious” and that he was pleased with the final results, although changes could always be recommended in the future.

“I can’t emphasize enough the effort that has gone into this analysis to put this together,” Gatz said. “We performed a comprehensive evaluation and we will continue to monitor these (changes) going forward, either going up with speed limits or, if we see results that are unfavorable, we may be back in front of you making recommendations to go down with speed limits.”

Along with the aforementioned Norman Spur of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike, the other stretches of turnpike to see increases include:

1. Creek County - Turner Turnpike, from mile marker 203 to mile marker 216, approximately 13 miles within the newly constructed six-lane section, from 6 miles east of Bristow to Sapulpa.

2. Wagoner and Muskogee counties - Muskogee Turnpike, from mile marker 2 to mile marker 33, approximately 31 miles, from Muskogee to Tulsa.

3. Mayes and Delaware counties - Cherokee Turnpike, from mile marker 3 to mile marker 28, approximately 25 miles.

4. McIntosh and Okmulgee counties - Indian Nation Turnpike, from mile marker 93 to mile marker 104, approximately 11 miles, from SH-9 to Interstate 40.

5. Oklahoma County - Kickapoo Turnpike from mile marker 130 to mile marker 149, approximately 19 miles, from Interstate 40 to the Turner Turnpike (Interstate 44).