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Oklahoma Turnpike Authority company history timeline

1947

Roy J. Turner, after the war the Senate and House collaborated to establish the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA), a legislative measure that Turner signed into law April 1947.

The first meeting of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority was held on August 7, 1947.

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) is an instrumentality of the State of Oklahoma (the State) and a body corporate and politic created by statute in 1947.

1950

Bonds in the amount of $31.47 million for construction of the Turner Turnpike were sold and delivered to Shields and company, the principal underwriters, on November 28, 1950.

The first bid for construction on the Turner Turnpike was awarded on December 19, 1950.

Subsequently, ground was broken on December 20, 1950, near Sapulpa by Governor Turner, and construction began.

1952

The supplemental bond issue in the amount of $7 million was completed on June 2, 1952, making the total bond issue to finance the Turner Turnpike $38 million.

1953

Roy Turner, former Oklahoma governor, cuts the ribbon over a lane of the brand new Turner Turnpike, May 16, 1953.

The Turnpike Authority has provided the mechanism to fund the construction and maintenance of 606 miles of expressways for Oklahoma road users since 1953.

1954

Bonds in the amount of $68 million were issued in December 1954 for construction of the Will Rogers Turnpike.

1955

The first bid for construction on the Will Rogers Turnpike was awarded on April 27, 1955.

1956

On opening day, October 25, 1956, 7,197 vehicles rolled onto Kansas’ first toll road.

1957

The Will Rogers Turnpike was opened to traffic on June 28, 1957.

1960

The engineering and economic feasibility studies for the H.E. Bailey Turnpike and the Indian Nation Turnpike were completed in July 1960.

1961

Bonds in the amount of $56 million were issued in November 1961 for the construction of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike.

1963

Bonds in the amount of $31 million were issued in November 1963 for construction of the North section of the Indian Nation Turnpike.

1964

The North Section of the Bailey Turnpike was opened to traffic on March 1, 1964, and the South section was opened on April 23, 1964.

1966

The North section of the Indian Nation Turnpike was opened to traffic on January 1, 1966.

1969

The Muskogee Turnpike was opened to traffic on October 16, 1969.

1970

The South Section of the Indian Nation Turnpike was opened to traffic on August 21, 1970.

1971

Bonds in the amount of $74 million were issued in October 1971 for the construction of the Cimarron Turnpike.

1975

The Cimarron Turnpike was opened to traffic on May 16, 1975.

1983

Bernice N. Crockett, "Across the Muddy Red," The Chronicles of Oklahoma 61 (Winter 1983–84).

1987

In 1987, the Oklahoma Legislature authorized the construction of the Kilpatrick Turnpike, the Creek Turnpike, the Chickasaw Turnpike, and the Cherokee Turnpike.

1989

Bonds in the amount of $558.4 million were issued in February 1989. $385.4 million was for the construction of the Cherokee Turnpike and the first sections of the Kilpatrick, Creek, and Chickasaw Turnpikes.

1991

The Cherokee Turnpike and the first sections of the Kilpatrick and Chickasaw Turnpikes were opened to traffic on September 1, 1991.

Without refunding, the original bonds issued to construct the Turner Turnpike would have been retired in the third quarter of 1991.)

1992

Since July 1, 1992, the motor fuel tax monies have been apportioned to the OTA on the first day of each calendar month.

Since 1992, the Authority has received and immediately remitted to ODOT over $900 million.

1993

A toll rate structure for the entire Oklahoma Turnpike System was adopted by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority on June 18, 1993, with an effective date of July 7, 1993.

An increase in tolls for both cash customers and PIKEPASS customers on the Oklahoma Turnpike System became effective on July 7, 1993.

1995

An increase in tolls based on the Consumer Price Index over the previous 18 months for both cash customers and PIKEPASS customers on the Oklahoma Turnpike System became effective on February 7, 1995.

The resolution establishing an automatic biennial toll increase based on the Consumer Price Index was repealed by the new Authority on February 16, 1995.

1998

On March 26, 1998, the Authority passed a resolution establishing the time schedule for the adoption of new toll rates and charges for Non-PIKEPASS customers and for PIKEPASS customers.

Bonds in the total amount of $687.01 million were issued by competitive sale in two bond issues, the 1998 Series A Revenue Bonds in the amount of $350 million on May 12, 1998, and the 1998 Series B Revenue Bonds in the amount of $337.01 on July 14, 1998.

On August 5, 1998, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the beginning of 16.3 miles of construction on the John Kilpatrick Extension in Oklahoma City.

1999

On March 30, 1999, a groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of 21.2 miles of construction of the Creek East and Broken Arrow Turnpike Extensions and the 4.8 miles of construction on the Creek West Turnpike Extension.

The Oklahoma Legislature and Governor Keating conveyed their confidence in the Authority by authorizing a bill to change the name of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to the Oklahoma Transportation Authority effective November 1, 1999.

2000

On December 15, 2000, the new Creek West Extension, from the Turner Turnpike to United States 75, was opened to traffic.

2001

On August 15, 2001, a 5.3-mile piece of the Creek Turnpike Extension from Highway 169 to 161st E Ave. opened to traffic.

The Cherokee Turnpike and the first sections of the Kilpatrick and Chickasaw Turnpikes were opened to traffic on September 1, 1991. It was estimated that a toll increase sufficient to generate a 15% revenue increase would need to be implemented on January 1, 2001.

2002

On April 15, 2002, a 4.2-mile section of the Creek Turnpike Extension from 161st St E. Ave. to 101st St opened to traffic.

2011

The new Luther/Jones Interchange on the Turner Turnpike opened to traffic on May 20, 2011.

2012

In 2012, the John Kilpatrick Turnpike expanded from 4-lanes to 6-lanes from Eastern Ave. to MacArthur Ave.

2013

On July 1, 2013, legislation formalized the partnership between KTA and KDOT, which means both organizations are directed by the Secretary of Transportation.

2014

On December 22, 2014, the Will Rogers Service Plaza, known as the “Glass House,” was renamed the Will Rogers Archway and re-opened to customers after a $17 million dollar renovation.

2016

First, two Driving Forward projects start construction in 2016.

2017

OTA raises tolls for only the 8th time by 12% on January 1, 2017.

The first bond issue was completed on January 31, 2017, and included the 2017A Second Senior Revenue Bonds in the amount of $456.1 million and refunding of the Series 2017B Second Senior Refunding Revenue Bonds in the amount of $23.9 million.

Construction on the Turner Turnpike 6-lane-expansion project begins on March 15, 2017.

2018

OTA raises tolls for the 9th time 2.5% on January 1, 2018.

The third bond issue was completed on October 17, 2018, and included the 2018A Second Senior Revenue Bonds in the amount of $344.5 million.

The turnpike opened the 6-lanes to traffic on November 15, 2018.

2019

On October 22, 2019, the OTA held a ground breaking ceremony for the start of construction of the Gilcrease Expressway Turnpike.

2020

On October 13, 2020, the Kickapoo Turnpike opened to traffic from I-44/Turner Turnpike to I-40.

2021

On January 13, 2021, the OTA celebrates the 30^th^ anniversary of the creation of Pikepass with the release of a video documenting the success of the program and those who helped create Pikepass.

On July 25, 2021, the John Kilpatrick Turnpike transitioned to cashless tolling by implementing PlatePay.

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Founded
1947
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