By Gene Love The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has purposely kept toll rates extremely low for decades because its leadership understands Oklahomans’ desire for a low cost of living and low tax structure. Today, Oklahoma’s turnpikes remain one of the best transportation values with one of the lowest average toll rates in the nation.
The Authority has charged only what was needed for operations and maintenance of the system throughout its 71-year history. Toll rate increases during OTA’s existence, with rare exception, have always coincided with significant upgrades and reinvestment into the turnpike system.
A 1-cent per mile on average toll rate increase went into effect on 11 of Oklahoma’s turnpikes Jan. 1, 2025. This increase in tolls is 68% below the national average of 22 cents per mile. The previous rate increases were in 2017, 2018 and 2019 as part of the Authority’s “Driving Forward” initiative, which saw construction of the Kickapoo Turnpike in eastern Oklahoma County, the Gilcrease Expressway in west Tulsa, and the extension of the John Kilpatrick Turnpike in Oklahoma City.
Here are some cost comparisons for the state’s first turnpike and the I-44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike through Lawton.
I-44/Turner Turnpike
• Original toll: $1.40 in 1953.
• 2024 toll: $4.50 for PIKEPASS passenger vehicles and $8.75 for PlatePay motorists.
• 2025 toll: $5.40 for PIKEPASS and $10.50 for PlatePay.
• This equals to a 1-cent per mile toll rate increase for the full trip between Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
• The 2025 toll rate increase for the Turner Turnpike was 20% across all three vehicle size classifications.
• If the OTA had done inflationary toll rate increases since 1953, the toll rate would have been $16.22 in 2024.
I-44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike
• Original toll: $1.70 in 1964.
• 2024 toll: $5.10 for PIKEPASS passenger vehicles and $10.95 for PlatePay.
• 2025 toll: $5.89 for PIKEPASS and $14.05 for PlatePay.
• The 2025 toll rate increase for the H.E. Bailey was 15% across all three vehicle size classifications.
• If the OTA had done inflationary toll rate increases since 1964, the toll rate would have been $17 in 2024.
It’s important to note that nearly 90% of turnpike motorists take advantage of the lowest toll rate possible through a PIKEPASS account, while the remaining 10% of travelers use PlatePay as their billing and payment method. The Authority converted the final three of its turnpikes in 2024 to fully cashless tolling, which greatly increased safety for both motorists and workers.
Why increase toll rates?
Highway infrastructure must have regular upkeep and maintenance, much like homeowners should do with their residence. Eventually age and condition will mandate upgrades.
With the original Turner Turnpike turning 72 later this year, it is no surprise that a significant reinvestment is necessary as bridges and other components start to reach the end of their intended lifespan. OTA’s engineers estimate a minimum of $2.5 billion investment during the next decade to fully widen the Turner Turnpike to six lanes and upgrade the bridges and pavement to modern standards.
The sole reason for the recent toll rate increase is to support the most significant reinvestment in the turnpike system since its inception in 1953. The ACCESS Oklahoma longrange plan will reinvest $8.2 billion into major upgrades such as widening the Turner, Will Rogers and John Kilpatrick turnpikes to six lanes, adding new interchanges to several turnpikes that will increase community access and improve emergency response times, update bridges and pavement and add new routes that complete the Oklahoma City Outer Loop and a new I-35 southern corridor reliever route.
The H.E. Bailey will benefit from three new interchanges near Amber, Chickasha, Cement and Ninnekah, plus an improvement to the Whitfield Road interchange near Cyril. Additionally, OTA is projected to spend more than $50 million in the next five years through its capital plan to make further improvements to the H.E. Bailey.
It bears repeating that OTA does not receive state tax appropriations. Tolls paid only by users of the system fund all operations and maintenance and pay back bond debt. This direct user fee, which is also charged to out-of-state motorists, allows for the faster design and construction of these state projects than what can be done within the tax-supported system.
We at OTA understand that no one ever likes a cost increase. But we hope the public sees that the Authority never takes for granted the role it plays in keeping Oklahoma’s people and goods moving and the responsibility to provide a turnpike system that is safe, reliable and efficient. OTA is making the investments necessary to improve safety, travel time reliability and ease congestion, while also ensuring a key segment of the state’s transportation system remains in good condition for decades to come for all who travel in Oklahoma.
I assure you that I and my fellow Authority Board members will continue to make informed and well-considered decisions in providing the Oklahoma driving public with the transportation infrastructure that is critical for Oklahoma’s future.
Gene Love resides in Lawton, serves on the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Board and is the immediate past Board Chairman.