Oklahoma Transportation Authority
Encyclopedia
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (formerly Oklahoma Transportation Authority, and before that originally the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority) is a government agency of Oklahoma
that deals with issues regarding the Oklahoma turnpike
system. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation
, the Authority's mission statement is to "construct, operate, and maintain a safe and economical turnpike system for the convenience of customers". Along with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation
, the Authority is the primary infrastructure construction and maintenance agency of the State.
The membership of the Authority consists of the Governor of Oklahoma
, an ex officio member, and six members appointed by the Governor with consent of the Oklahoma Senate
. There are six districts within the Turnpike System and one member is appointed from each district.
The Authority was established in 1947 during the term of Governor of Oklahoma
Roy J. Turner
.
. Under Governor of Oklahoma
Mary Fallin
, Gary Ridley
is serving as the Cabinet Secretary. Secretary Ridley also serves as the Director of the Authority.
The Board of Directors of the Turnpike Authority is responsible for governing the Authority. The Board is composed of the seven members, six of which are appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma
, with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate
, with the Governor serving ex officio as the seventh member. The Board is responsible for appointing the Director of the Authority, who serves as the Board's pleasure.
As of 2011, the Board of Directors has the following members:
, callers "found themselves calling a sex line where they could speak with 'exciting people', such as lonely housewives, students and fantasy girls for $US2.99 a minute." The article notes that spokeswoman for the authority, Brigette Berglan, stated that "We're not that exciting here at the authority. We prefer to think of ourselves as helpful.", and that the authorities sent a postcard to the users with a phone number correction.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
that deals with issues regarding the Oklahoma turnpike
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
system. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation
Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation
The Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...
, the Authority's mission statement is to "construct, operate, and maintain a safe and economical turnpike system for the convenience of customers". Along with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Oklahoma Department of Transportation
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for the construction, maintenance, and regulation the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
, the Authority is the primary infrastructure construction and maintenance agency of the State.
The membership of the Authority consists of the Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
, an ex officio member, and six members appointed by the Governor with consent of the Oklahoma Senate
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
. There are six districts within the Turnpike System and one member is appointed from each district.
The Authority was established in 1947 during the term of Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Roy J. Turner
Roy J. Turner
Roy Joseph Turner was the 13th Governor of Oklahoma.-Biography:Turner was born on November 6, 1894 in Lincoln County, Oklahoma Territory. Upon completion of his high school education, he attended Hill's Business College in Oklahoma City...
.
Leadership
The Turnpike Authority is under the supervision of the Secretary of TransportationOklahoma Secretary of Transportation
The Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...
. Under Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....
, Gary Ridley
Gary Ridley (transport director)
Gary Ridley, PE, is an American engineer from the state of Oklahoma who is the current Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation, having served since he was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry in 2009...
is serving as the Cabinet Secretary. Secretary Ridley also serves as the Director of the Authority.
The Board of Directors of the Turnpike Authority is responsible for governing the Authority. The Board is composed of the seven members, six of which are appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
, with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
, with the Governor serving ex officio as the seventh member. The Board is responsible for appointing the Director of the Authority, who serves as the Board's pleasure.
As of 2011, the Board of Directors has the following members:
- Governor Mary FallinMary FallinMary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....
- Doug Riebel - Chairman
- Mike Leonard - Vice Chairman
- Ken Fergeson - Secretary and Treasurer
- David Burrage
- Hal Ellis
- Clark Brewster
Structure
- Cabinet Secretary
- Board of Directors
- Director
- Deputy Director
- General Administration Division - responsible for providing direction and general services to entire Authority
- Highway Patrol - Oklahoma Highway PatrolOklahoma Highway PatrolThe Oklahoma Highway Patrol is a major state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. It is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was legislatively created in 1937 due to the growing problem of motor vehicle accidents, the expansion of a...
troopers on assignment from Oklahoma Department of Public SafetyOklahoma Department of Public SafetyThe Oklahoma Department of Public Safety is a department of the government of Oklahoma. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security, DPS provides for the safety of Oklahomans and the administration of justice in the state...
, responsible for providing law enforcement services on turnpike system
- Highway Patrol - Oklahoma Highway Patrol
- Information Technology Division - responsible for overseeing all information technology used by Authority
- Toll Operations Division - responsible for the collection of tolls from turnpike users
- Engineering Division - responsible for providing engineering for projects of the Authority
- Comptroller Division - responsible for auditing operations of Authority
- Maintenance Division - responsible for maintenance and repair on turnpike system
- PIKEPASS Division - responsible for operating the PIKEPASS automated toll collection system
- Finance and Revenue Division - responsible for overseeing all Authority finances and budget
- General Administration Division - responsible for providing direction and general services to entire Authority
- Deputy Director
- Director
Personnel
The Turnpike Authority, as of calendar year 2009, employees 681 employees as follows:| Program | Staffing |
|---|---|
| Administration | 81 |
| Toll Operations | 242 |
| Turnpike Maintenance | 169 |
| Highway Patrol (on assignment) | 125 |
| PIKEPASS Operations | 64 |
| Total | 681 |
Budget
The budget of the Turnpike Authority is derived almost exclusively from the tolls collected from the users of the turnpike system. For Calendar Year 2010, tolls were $223.8 million. The Authority uses those funds as follows:| Program | Funding (in millions) |
|---|---|
| Operations and Maintenance | $73 |
| Capital Outlay Plan | $57.1 |
| Debt Payments | $93.7 |
| Total | $223.8 |
Controversy
In January, 2005, the authority caused a minor stir when it sent a letter to 41,000 people with a number purported to be a customer service line but, according to ReutersReuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
, callers "found themselves calling a sex line where they could speak with 'exciting people', such as lonely housewives, students and fantasy girls for $US2.99 a minute." The article notes that spokeswoman for the authority, Brigette Berglan, stated that "We're not that exciting here at the authority. We prefer to think of ourselves as helpful.", and that the authorities sent a postcard to the users with a phone number correction.