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Oklahoma Turnpike Authority
State government agency in the US From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (formerly Oklahoma Transportation Authority) is an agency of Oklahoma that deals with issues regarding the Oklahoma turnpike system. Along with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Authority is the primary infrastructure construction and maintenance agency of the State.
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (December 2017) |
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Leadership
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is overseen by its Executive Director. As of 2025, the Authority's Executive Director is Joe Echelle, who was appointed by the OTA Board in 2024.[1] The Deputy Director is Joni Seymour.[2]
The Authority is governed by a seven-member board composed of the Governor, who serves ex officio, and six appointed members. Under the appointment structure established by House Bill 2263, effective November 1, 2023, two members are appointed by the Governor, two by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and two by the Speaker of the House.[3] Appointed members serve six-year terms. The board is responsible for overseeing agency operations and appoints the Executive Director, who manages the daily administration of the Authority.
The duties and organizational authority of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority are defined in the Oklahoma Turnpike Enabling Act, Title 69 of the Oklahoma Statutes.[4]
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Mission
The mission of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is:
> “Partnering with others, we provide our customers with a choice of a safe, convenient, efficient, user-funded transportation network focusing on fiscal responsibility and promoting economic development.”[5]
Toll collection systems
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The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority uses two primary toll-payment systems: PIKEPASS and PlatePay.
PIKEPASS
PIKEPASS is a transponder-based toll collection system that provides the lowest available toll rate. The PIKEPASS device is typically mounted inside the windshield, which automatically deducts tolls from a prepaid account. [6] PIKEPASS remains the most cost-effective way to travel OTA turnpikes even where open road tolling is used. [7] It supports seamless travel without stopping, as open-road gantries read PIKEPASS tags. [8]
PlatePay
Completed in 2024, PlatePay is OTA’s all-electronic, cashless tolling system: cameras photograph a vehicle’s license plate, and the registered owner is invoiced several days later. [9] The 2025 budget glossary defines “Platepay” as replacing cash lanes with electronic billing by mail. [10] OTA press releases note that PlatePay enables “free flow” of traffic by eliminating the conflict points and delays associated with toll booths. [11] Because PIKEPASS remains the lowest-cost option, OTA continues to encourage its use even after full implementation of PlatePay. [8][12]
Interoperability
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s PIKEPASS system is interoperable with several regional toll agencies through the Central United States Interoperability Hub, including the Kansas Turnpike Authority, the North Texas Tollway Authority, and multiple Texas tolling agencies.[13] OTA also participates in a hub-to-hub connection with the Southeastern Interoperability Hub, allowing compatibility with Florida’s SunPass and other participating systems.[14] These agreements allow PIKEPASS users to travel across partner networks with a single transponder and permit compatible transponders from those agencies to be used on Oklahoma turnpikes.
Organization
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Structure
- Cabinet Secretary
- Board of Directors
- Executive Director
- Assistant Executive Director
- Administrative Services Division - responsible for providing direction and general services to entire Authority
- Highway Patrol - Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers on assignment from Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, responsible for providing law enforcement services on turnpike system
- Information Technology Division - responsible for overseeing all information technology used by Authority
- Toll Operations Division - responsible for the collection of tolls from turnpike users
- Engineering Division - responsible for providing engineering for projects of the Authority
- Construction Division - responsible for providing construction projects of the Authority
- Comptroller Division - responsible for auditing operations of Authority
- Maintenance Division - responsible for maintenance and repair on turnpike system
- PIKEPASS Division - responsible for operating the PIKEPASS automated toll collection system
- Finance and Revenue Division - responsible for overseeing all Authority finances and budget
- Assistant Executive Director
- Executive Director
Personnel
The Turnpike Authority, as of February 2019, has 632 full-time employees.
Budget
The budget of the Turnpike Authority is derived almost exclusively from the tolls collected from the users of the turnpike system. For Calendar Year 2019, revenues are anticipated to be $330.1 million. The Authority uses those funds as follows:
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See also
References
External links
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