Norman Turnpike Nimbys Fighting To Bitter, Self-Destructive End…

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been over two years since the Norman Anti-Turnpike NIMBYs—better known as “Pike Off OTA”—embarked on their noble fight against the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and its plan to carve a fancy new toll road through the heart of their city's pristine fringes and backwoods.

Although the NIMBYs scored some early legal victories and successfully delayed the start of the project, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ultimately gave the green light last summer:

"An Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling Tuesday approved the state Department of Transportation’s $5 billion, 15-year turnpike expansion plan, allowing the ACCESS Oklahoma project to proceed."

ACCESS Oklahoma includes three new turnpike routes: the South Extension, the East-West Connector—both of which greatly affect Norman—and the Tri-City Connector.

Undeterred by that unfortunate turn of events, Pike Off OTA has refused to apply for a Pike Pass and call it a day.

Over the past year, they’ve wielded their political might to continue fighting the OTA, even when it could lead to self-destructive consequences.

For example, just last week, the Norman City Council—backed by hundreds of anti-Turnpike NIMBYs—unanimously voted to reject a proposal from the OTA that would have allowed the agency to “construct turnpike facilities through ‘critical areas’ of Norman, including the Lake Thunderbird watershed, the Canadian River Corridor, and the city’s flood hazard areas.”

Here are some links in case you want to read more:

Listen, I sympathize with the Turnpike NIMBYs on this issue. If my house were about to be demolished to make it easier for a trucker to get from Tulsa to Dallas, I’d be pretty pissed too, and I’d fight the good fight to oppose it, even knowing there was no real way to win.

That being said, unless their Bothan spies uncover turnpike blueprints that reveal a vulnerable two-meter thermal exhaust port that can be exploited by a couple of well-placed proton torpedoes, don’t they eventually have to wave the white flag and surrender?

I mean, sure, it feels good to fight the man and stick it to the OTA, but the writing’s on the wall, and that wall’s about to be bulldozed to make way for six lanes of asphalt!

At this point, wouldn’t it make more sense to work with the OTA to at least get something out of this mess? You know, like some sound barriers, safer crossings, or even a little Pike Pass credit to soften the blow.

I guess the answer is a “hard no.”

Norman residents and city councilors have made it clear they want nothing to do with the ACCESS Oklahoma plan...

The concerned citizens at the meeting erupted in applause when the council voted unanimously to reject the resolution.

"They're going to build it if they try to come in. We can take them to court and let the citizens fight this, and the city get behind the citizens," said Dr. Amy Cerato of PIKE OFF OTA, "Because I think that the city of Norman is going to be the first city in Oklahoma history to stop the OTA."

Once again, I wish the NIMBYs the best of luck in their unrealistic endeavor to defeat the OTA, but maybe—just maybe—it’s time for them to bend the knee and try to make the best of a bad situation and get some decent access roads for their community, rather than charging headfirst into an unwinnable war.

Then again, that's not very fun to cover, so I maybe they should keep on fighting the unwinnable fight.

Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.