More for turnpike tolls? Maybe much more?

…In several other states there has been a move in the past few years for entities to enter into a public-private-partnership with a state where a company either secures a long-term lease on an existing road or perhaps builds a completely new road. Usually the state retains ownership and grants a 50- to 99-year lease to a private entity for the operation and maintenance of the road.

Of course, the company isn

I believe there is consideration for such an idea in Oklahoma. About two and a half years ago a group known as Better Roads and Bridges sponsored the circulation of a petition for a statewide vote to raise the fuel fees on gasoline and diesel.

The group largely was made up of road and bridge contractors as well as concrete and asphalt companies. In light of rapidly rising fuel prices as well as state legislation just passed to better fund our roads and bridges, the measure went down in flames to a lopsided defeat.

Since that defeat, many of those same supporters have come together to form the organization Transportation Revenues Used Strictly for Transportation. Four of the key principles they stand for are: Protecting and growing dedicated funds for Oklahoma