Oklahoma Turnpikes' Revenue Down, Higher Tolls Eyed

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- With revenue down, the state's toll-road agency will consider raising the cost of traveling on Oklahoma's 10 turnpikes when it meets this week.

If tolls aren't raised, "the maintenance of our system is going to really take a hit," said Jack Damrill, spokesman for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

"We still think we have the best roads in the state, and in order to maintain them, it looks like a toll increase is what needs to happen," said Jack Damrill, spokesman for the Turnpike Authority.

The increase would be the first since 2001. Damrill said the higher tolls are necessary to make up for declining revenue, mostly caused by a continuing slide of commercial truck traffic during the national recession.

The authority will take up the issue when it meets Wednesday.