Railway Upgrade Recommended

O-DOT is recommending the state give Claremore $15 million for its elevated rail project.

Friday, September 26th 2008, 5:42 pm

By: News On 6

By The News On 6

CLAREMORE, OK -- O-DOT is recommending the state give Claremore $15 million for its elevated rail project. Currently, train tracks cut the city in half.

City leaders want to build a bridge for the tracks, allowing traffic to flow underneath. The elevated lines would be more than three miles long and cost as much as $50 million to install.

While some residents fear it would be unsightly, Senator Sean Burrage says there's a more pressing concern.

"It's about these men and women that risk their lives everyday being able to get across town to assist our citizens and, quite frankly, to assist one another in times of need," said Oklahoma Senator Sean Burrage.

Senator Burrage also says the project will bring new economic growth to the entire county.