Why Turnpikes Don't Become Free (70 Years of Tolls)

Video Description

Oklahoma’s Turner Turnpike opened in 1953. And there's a good reason why drivers are STILL paying tolls. Buy me tacos 😀🌮► https://patreon.com/roadguyrob Ask a road question ► https://patreon.com/roadguyrob ------------------------- Sources cited: ------------------------- "2025 Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Outlook" (2005) https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/ota/documents/other/2025%20OTA%20Infomational%20Pamphlet.pdf "Why Does The Interstate System Include Toll Facilities?," Federal Highway Administration (Updated 30 Jun 2023) https://highways.dot.gov/highway-history/general-highway-history/rambler/ask-rambler-why-does-interstate-system-include-toll Oklahoma Historical Society https://www.okhistory.org/research/film "Which is cheaper, PlatePay or PikePass? How to get a PikePass before holiday travel," The Oklahoman (13 Nov 2024) https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/11/13/pikepass-in-oklahoma-cost-how-to-sign-up-ahead-of-holiday-travel/76256241007/ "Motor fuel tax," Oklahoma Policy Institute (15 Sep 2015) https://okpolicy.org/motor-fuels-tax/ ------------------------------------- Periodicals referenced: ------------------------------------- Seminole Producer, March 17-18, 1947 The Daily Oklahoman, February 25, 1947 The Bristow News, September 1, 1949 Tulsa World, March 11, 1947 The Bristow News, January 19, 1950 The Daily Oklahoman, May 7, 1950 Tulsa World, December 21, 1950 The Bristow News, November 15, 1951 Tulsa World, December 2, 1951 Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times Democrat, December 7, 1952 The Frederick Leader, August 8, 1952 The Hugo Daily News, August 11, 1952 Okmulgee Daily Times, May 10, 1953 The Daily Oklahoman, March 1, 1953 The Lawton Constitution and Morning Press, August 2, 1953 Beckham County Democrat, January 7, 1954 Durant Daily Democrat, January 25, 1954 The Daily Ardmorette, January 24, 1954 The Daily Oklahoman, January 24, 1954 The Duncan Banner, January 17, 1954 The Norman Transcript, January 24, 1954 The Poteau News, January 14, 1954. The Ringling Eagle, January 21, 1954. The Tulsa Tribune, January 21, 1954. Waurika News Democrat, January 15, 1954. Claremore Daily Progress, June 27, 1957. Seminole Producer, March 18, 1947 (misdated as 1957 in file). The Vinita Daily Journal, June 27, 1957. Stroud American, February 16, 1961. Lawton News Review, May 10, 1962. The Walters Herald, September 20, 1962. The Tulsa Tribune, May 11, 1963. The Daily Ardmoreite, January 25, 1954 (misdated as 1964 in file). The Daily Oklahoman, June 13, 1965. Tulsa World, December 30, 1966. Tulsa World, May 14, 1968. Sapulpa Daily Herald, April 29, 1973. Tulsa World, May 10, 1973. The Daily Oklahoman, March 1-2, 1986. The Daily Oklahoman, August 28, 1987 (no title provided). Tulsa World, April 3, 1988. Tulsa World, November 18, 1988 Tulsa World, November 21, 1988 The Daily Oklahoman, November 2, 1990 Tulsa World, November 17, 1990 Tulsa World, December 12, 1990 The Daily Oklahoman, October 4, 1991 The Daily Oklahoman, December 16, 1991 Tulsa World, January 3, 1991 Tulsa World, August 29, 1991 Henryetta Daily Free-Lance, November 29, 1992 Sapulpa Daily Herald, November 29, 1992 The Daily Oklahoman, June 23, 1992 The Daily Oklahoman, August 22, 1992 Tulsa World, February 12, 1992 Tulsa World, April 7, 1992 Tulsa World, December 21, 1992 Tulsa World, May 2, 1993 (misdated as 1992 in file) Tulsa World, July 11, 1993 Tulsa World, September 12, 1993 Tulsa World, April 9, 2001 Tulsa World, May 5, 2003 The Daily Oklahoman, April 24, 2005 ------------------------- Time sections: ------------------------- Why? (0:00) Route 66 (1:06) Turner Turnpike (2:58) Interstate Highways (4:31) Not a Sponsorship (6:26) Cross-Pledging (6:49) Funding Methods (8:42) Double Taxation (11:13) Who Keeps the Profits? (12:37) Pike Pass (13:21) Interoperability (15:36) Terrible Interchanges (16:28) KJ 103! (17:39) Access Oklahoma (17:47) Conclusion (18:31)