ODOT Seeks Public Comments On Proposed OKC-Tulsa Railway

News On 6 and NEWS 9

UNDATED -- The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has set up several ways for the public to comment on the high-speed passenger rail that would connect Oklahoma City and Tulsa along the Interstate 44 corridor. The public comment period runs through October 19.

The proposed route would begin at the Santa Fe Station in Oklahoma City and connect north then east to the Union Pacific Harter Yard near Lincoln Blvd. and Reno Ave., then along the abandoned Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad right-of-way north to the terminus of the I-44/Turner Turnpike at I-35, which is about 12 miles.

The rail line would then proceed to parallel I-44 on the north, on new alignment about 75 miles. Near Sapulpa, the rail line would cross I-44 on new alignment, tie to existing state-owned rail line and then connect to the existing BNSF track for the remaining 19-mile route into Tulsa's Union Station.

If Oklahoma is selected for high-speed rail funding, more detailed environmental review, design and public involvement will be undertaken.

Comments will be accepted through October 19 by writing to:

Environmental Programs Division Engineer
ODOT
200 N.E. 21^st St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
HSIPREnvironment@odot.org

The environmental assessment document is available for viewing on ODOT's Website at http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/a2009/091002/index.htm

The environmental assessment can also be viewed at several public libraries:

Tulsa Central Library
400 Civic Center
Tulsa

Sapulpa Public Library
27 W. Dewey Ave.
Sapulpa

Stroud Library
301 W. 7^th St.
Stroud

Chandler Public Library
1021 Manvel Ave.
Chandler

Edmond Metropolitan Library
10 S. Boulevard St.
Edmond

Oklahoma City Downtown Library
300 Park Ave.
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Department of Transportation
200 N.E. 21^st St.
Oklahoma City

Norman Public Library
Pioneer Library System
225 N. Webster Ave.
Norman

Purcell City Library
919 N. 9^th Ave. #2
Purcell

Pauls Valley City Library
210 N. Willow St.
Pauls Valley

Ardmore Public Library
320 E. St. N.W.
Ardmore