Questions for Oklahoma Turnpike Authority

Recently, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) has been in local news a great deal, mostly concerning questions regarding the recent raising of tolls.

Most Oklahomans would agree that the OTA is a necessary evil; that is, the roads are necessary, but the OTA and their profit scheme is evil.

I could go on about how the OTA broke its promise to Oklahoma by not making the Turner and Will Rogers Turnpikes free when they were paid for. Or I could go on about how they build unnecssary roads.  Or I could go on about how they continually raise tolls simply to build other turnpikes.

But the purpose of this post is to raise a question that needs to be raised.

My family was returning from Branson, MO, to Oklahoma via Joplin.  We had been driving on I-44 out of Joplin on nice smooth free road.  As soon as we arrived in Oklahoma, where the road was no longer free and we had to pay a toll, the road condition deteriorated. 

The surface was no longer smooth, but rough.  And we had to pay to drive on it.

That got me to thinking.

I called the Missouri Department of Transportation and asked to speak to someone who could answer my questions.  After a few moments, I spoke with Mike Middleton, District Materials and Construction Engineer.

He was quite helpful and didn't hesitate to answer my questions.  I asked how much MoDoT spent on resurfacing I-44 between Joplin and the State line.  He told me that it was about $400,000 per mile using an asphalt overlay.  He said they used Apac Missouri as the contractor and it was by competitive bidding only.  He said it usually lasts 7 years.

I then called OTA.  I spoke with Jack Damerall, director of public relations.  He seemed rather hesitant to answer any questions regarding cost related to the turnpikes.  I must have caught him on a bad day because he seemed like he flat didn't want to talk to me and I had a hard time getting information from him.  In the end, however, he said that it gets resurfaced every 5-8 years at a cost of $3-4 MILLION DOLLARS PER MILE!  He said in certain circumstances, it could be as much as 10 million dollars per mile.  He said it was by competitive bidding, but wouldn't give me a contractor's name.

Something is VERY wrong with this picture!  $400,000 per mile of free road in Missouri and $3-4 MILLION per mile of toll road in Oklahoma!

FOR THE SAME STINKING HIGHWAY!

I have contacted KOTV Channel 6 twice about this, but evidentally no one is interested in stirring up a hornets' nest.

I have waited patiently for them to break this story, but have decided it is time for me to report the information I have.

WHY does it cost 10 times the amount per mile in Oklahoma for toll road than it does in Missouri for free road?

I'm not accusing anyone of anything, but it appears that someone, or someones, have their hands in the turnpikes' pockets.

I say, ENOUGH!

Everyone, contact Channel 6, or the other channels, or the newspapers!  Let's get this information public so that someone will have to answer this!

I'm sick and tired of what appears to be corruption.

Where's the state senators?  Where are the state representatives?  What about the Governor? 

Why is everyone silent?

Why?

Fun in Branson

We took a little trip to Branson last week.  We stayed at the Yellow Rose Motel, which I would gladly recommend to anyone.  It was clean, quiet and affordable. 

We arrived before check-in time, so we headed over to Montana Mikes for lunch, then on for a quick round of putt-putt.

We had such a fun time in the motel pool, in fact, we spent the rest of the evening there.

The next day, Friday, we loaded up and headed out to Silver Dollar City.  The crowds weren't bad and it wasn't stiffling hot.  We really enjoyed ourselves.

Sally & Emily rode Wildfire

Sally and I enjoyed our time together.

Good Grief!  Isn't ONE Rick enough?

Coming Home from Vacation

Usually, the last day of vacation isn't fun. But ours was.

First, we went to Krispy Kreme! (Yea for us)

Then, we worshiped at First Baptist Church, Branson.

Then, on the way out of town, we found gas for $2.27/gallon! (we later saw it for $2.21)

Then, we decided to have lunch at the Bass Pro in Springfield.

Wow! What a place. We have a Bass Pro in Broken Arrow, but it is rinky-dink compared to the original!

We had a late brunch at Hemingway's. If you get the opportunity to have Sunday brunch at Hemingway's, I highly recommend it!

Vacation Time!

Last week, the kids had fall break and Sally and I took a couple days off and we all headed to Branson, MO! I found a great deal on a hotel, The King's Quarters, which I would highly recommend. (I am rather reluctant to recommend it, however, because I don't want my secret to get out) Call the hotel direct for a better-than-internet price. There are many, many pluses of this hotel. Sally was impressed with its cleanliness. I was impressed with the price. The only real downside was that only one of the elevators was working. It was busy during checkout on Sunday morning.


We ate well and played hard. Thursday, we played Putt-Putt and went to the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum. Below is a limo with a jacuzzi.


I was a little put out with my children and putt-putt. We played twice and the second time, both kids scored THREE holes-in-one and I didn't even score one! Good for them!

Vacation Highlights

It is really hard to know what the highlight of the trip was for the kids.


They have both wanted wax castings of their hands for a long time.


Audrey has wanted them since she saw them in Pattaya, Thailand. FINALLY!!!


Or the live show that we got to see at Silver Dollar City.


I don't like how my girls are growing up and are starting to think that boys are cute. I don't like it at all. That was certainly NOT the highlight of MY vacation!

My Favorite Part

My favorite part (if there can actually be a favorite part) was our trip to the New Shanghai Circus to see the Acrobats of China. I would highly recommend this to everyone! It was well worth the price. There isn't a bad seat in the house, but try to get down front in the center. We were on the 10th row and it was great!


I've seen the Chinese Acrobats on TV, but it was NOTHING like the show in person. I found myself saying "wow" more than any other time.


The quote of the night had to have come from a little boy in the row behind us. During one of the incredible acts, where a woman is standing on one hand and doing all sorts of stuff, this little boy says in a stage whisper, "She needs to pull her tutu down!" It was so cute.

(They didn't allow pictures in the theater, but I pulled these off the internet.)

Fun at Silver Dollar City

Last Friday, we went to Silver Dollar City. We had a great time!


Emily in the big rocking chair.


Audrey & Emily: just in time for Halloween.


One of the attractions was a mule team.


My friend Martin and his wife Linda were there. Linda and I were the smart ones. Sally and Martin (waving) were the goobers.

More SDC Fun

Silver Dollar City was having their salute to the American Farmer. Their exhibition building was filled with old tractors and equipment.


A kerosene tractor from the early part of last century.


A "butter sculpture". You don't find the likes of this in the big city!


An old Case steam tractor.