TULSA, Okla. — Changes are coming to the Turner Turnpike and impacting driver's wallets.
Starting May 1, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) will implement a cashless tolling system called "PlatePay," allowing drivers without a PIKEPASS to receive a bill in the mail.
OTA said cameras will capture license plate images, and drivers will find bills in their mailboxes later.
2 News covered this transition from the beginning:
Executive Director Joe Echelle said the system is about keeping things moving.
"Mail you an invoice that you're able to pay from the safety of your home. No longer stopping on a busy highway. No longer having toll operators, toll collectors having to work in the middle of heavy traffic," Echelle said.
However, this convenience comes at a higher price for those without a PIKEPASS.
For a two-axle vehicle, the journey from Tulsa to Oklahoma City will jump from $5 to $8.75 in each direction.
Lisa Shearer-Salim, an OTA spokesperson, explained the price hikes.
"It's purely a matter of the technology that we are putting in place is more costly, in addition to the manpower needed to administer that," she said. "As well as printing out invoices and mailing them to the registered vehicle owner."
OTA said the rate changes do not apply to PIKEPASS. Driver Mike Oliver said he's relieved to have a membership.
"Both ways, $8.75, I mean, that's very costly. Quite a bit, even in today's money." Oliver said.
For commuters like Jill Broomhall, the higher prices have a daily impact.
"It's a lot of money," said Broomhall. "I drive to work every day from Bristow to 61st and Yale, and I pay toll on that."
Broomhall said her family also uses the turnpike to vacation in Branson, Missouri.
"We're Silver Dollar City season pass holders," she said. "That's going to make a huge difference when the price of gas and everything else is up. It's going to probably reduce the number of trips that we're able to take, and we usually try to go about six or seven times a year."
Don McGuire is against the rate hike and tolls in general.
"I'm not for that. I'm for less government, not more. And I'm not for more tolls," McGuire said.
- Previous coverage >>> OTA could be out millions after Plate Pay fails to read certain tags
According to the OTA, the cashless conversion has been in the works for years.
"We had our first pilot project in January of 2017. We really kicked that off following some major accidents that happened in toll zones in 2019. We did the Kilpatrick in 2021, followed by the H.E. Bailey," Echelle said.
OTA plans to convert all turnpikes across the state to "PlatePay." The Will Rogers and Indian Nation Turnpikes are slated to turn cashless by the end of the year.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere --
- Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices.
- Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram
- SUBSCRIBE on YouTube
