Posted on 05/01/2021 8:21:35 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The toll booths on Oklahoma’s turnpikes are coming down, but the road isn’t free.
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is adopting an all-electronic toll collection system starting this summer.
Legislation to authorize collections on the new system are pending before the Oklahoma Legislature.
It will mean very little change for drivers who use the PikePass system, which allows them to pay their fare while barely slowing down and at a discounted price. About 80% of Oklahoma turnpike drivers take advantage of that system.
OTA cameras will will capture the license tags numbers of other drivers and bill the vehicle’s owner.
That’s a system that has worked well in Texas for years. It will save OTA money in the long run, which should mean less pressure for higher turnpike tolls.
The new system is safer, more fuel-efficient, less polluting and more convenient.
(Excerpt) Read more at tulsaworld.com ...
It has happened. The Interstate Bridge, where I-5 crosses the Columbia River, used to have a toll.
I know what you mean. I drive to/from Maryland To California twice a year and if my route goes thru Oklahoma I always make sure to bring lots of quarters (it’s not worth it to get Pike Pass).
New York started building the overhead scanners before COVID broke out. Just a coincidence?
New York started building the overhead scanners before COVID broke out. Just a coincidence?
Most of human history took place before COVID. Not a coincidence at all.
Oklahoma rest areas are an embarrassment. Texas, Kansas, Iowa and Illinois, all have very nice rest areas. When we have to stop at one in Oklahoma on our way to Texas, I’m ashamed for people to read our car tag. (We live in Oklahoma).
It has happened. The Interstate Bridge, where I-5 crosses the Columbia River, used to have a toll.
Amazing!
I’m still waiting for any toll in California to be removed.
Some states share. Texas and Oklahoma honor each other’s transponders.
When I have to stop for the gate at a tool booth even though I have an EZPass I think the state ought to have to pay me!
Looking at you Pennsylvania.
An EZ Pass covers most states east of the Mississippi, at least the northeast states. Illinois has an IPass which works in EZ Pass states and Illinois tollroads will accept EZ Pass. The last time I needed to use my IPass across state lines the only road it did not cover was the Ohio Turnpike.
Thanks very much for that information and I guess the answer is no, there is not one pass that does the entire country. However, based on what you are saying, between EZ Pass and IPass they at least cover quite a few of them.
As far as I know, the turnpike is starting to replace its booths with gantries, but they haven’t done all of them yet.
Toll takers were fired some time into the pandemic, when the turnpike realized it could save money, a sort of compensation for far fewer people driving the turnpike during the lockdowns and thus yielding far less revenue.
The Pennyrile Parkway in Kentucky used to be a toll road and now is free. I don’t know if there are still some toll roads in Kentucky.
Turner Turnpike, by any chance?
Georgia 400, and people had to fight to get rid of the toll.
When I drove through Oklahoma in 2005, the rest stops there didn’t bother me. And they were positively pristine compared to the one in New Mexico which had a urinal full of beetles.
All the Kentucky parkways have had their tolls removed, and portions of a few of them are now I-69.
So this means people without a pass will pay about double, and rentals cars will be charged a $3.95 per day rate FOR THE ENTIRE RENTAL even if charged tolls one day!!! Super rip-off!!!
“Turner Turnpike, by any chance?”
Mostly Will Rogers.
A long time ago I drove the Pennyrile Parkway and had to pay $1 (for maybe 70 miles). I drove it again later when it was free. I didn’t know about the other former toll roads—I have an old road atlas which still shows them as charging fees.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.