Higher Tolls Push Trucks Off Oklahoma Turnpike

Higher tolls on Oklahoma turnpikes resulted in less truck travel on the roads in February.

Oklahoma Transportation Authority figures for the month show a decrease in truck traffic of about 3.5 percent, or 28,000 trucks, from a year ago, according to the Associated Press. The decrease is attributed to turnpike tolls, which have seen an increase of 25 to 30 percent for trucks.
"That's unfortunate," transportation department spokeswoman Terri Angier said. "A turnpike is a business, and any time you see a customer like the trucking industry not using your service, it's a concern."
The toll hikes were designed to pay off bonds for 50 miles of turnpike extensions. Trucking executives and industry spokesmen call the increases exorbitant and ill-timed.