As used in this article, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context shall indicate another or different meaning or intent:
1. "Authority" means the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, created by Section 1703 of this title, or, if such Authority shall be abolished, the board, body, or commission succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to whom the powers given by this article to the Authority shall be given by law;
2. “Project” or "turnpike project" means any express highways, superhighways, or motorways, wayports, aviation transfer centers or aviation hubs constructed under the provisions of this article by the Authority, and shall embrace all bridges, tunnels, overpasses, underpasses, interchanges, entrance plazas, approaches, free access roads, bridges, and road construction, toll houses, service stations, and administration, storage and other buildings which the Authority may deem necessary for the operation of such turnpike, together with all property, rights, easements and interests which may be acquired by the Authority for the construction or the operation of such turnpike. The Authority may contract or lease concessions for gas stations, garages, restaurants, parking facilities and other services for all or any portion of any turnpike project or projects;
3. “Cost”, as applied to a turnpike project, shall embrace the cost of construction, the cost of the acquisition of all land, rights-of-way, property, rights, easements and interests acquired by the Authority for such construction, the cost of all machinery and equipment, financing charges, provision for working capital, interest prior to, during, and after construction and a reserve for interest in such amounts as the Authority shall determine, cost of traffic estimates and of engineering and legal expenses, plans, specifications, surveys, estimates of cost, and of revenues, other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of constructing any such project, administrative expense, and such other expense as may be necessary or incident to the construction of the project, the financing of such construction, and the placing of the project in operation. Any obligation or expense incurred by the Transportation Commission with the approval of the Authority for traffic surveys, borings, preparation of plans and specifications, and other engineering services in connection with the financing and construction of a project shall be regarded as a part of the cost of such project and shall be reimbursed to the state out of the proceeds of the turnpike revenue bonds hereafter authorized. However, the Transportation Commission shall not incur obligations or expenses totaling more than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per turnpike mile. Provided further, however, that an additional sum not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per turnpike mile may be expended for updating reports prior to financing; and
4. “Owner” means and includes all individuals, copartnerships, associations, or corporations having any title or interest in any property, rights, easements, and interests authorized to be acquired by this article.
Added by Laws 1968, c. 415, § 1704, operative July 1, 1968. Amended by Laws 1991, c. 183, § 1, emerg. eff. May 13, 1991; Laws 1999, c. 341, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2004, c. 304, § 1, emerg. eff. May 17, 2004; Laws 2005, c. 68, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.