Elevated Railroad Tracks In Claremore?

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) -- City officials here have met with Sen. Jim Inhofe's staff to discuss securing federal funding for elevated railroad tracks.<br/><br/>"What we're doing right now is mapping

Friday, November 17th 2006, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) -- City officials here have met with Sen. Jim Inhofe's staff to discuss securing federal funding for elevated railroad tracks.

"What we're doing right now is mapping out our battle strategy," City Manager Troy Powell said of the estimated $45 million project. "We feel good about the direction we're going. Now, it's getting some real numbers put down and getting some real commitments and trying to roll from there."

Powell and other city leaders are seeking to elevate the tracks after the death of a several people, including a woman and her two children, in train-related accidents over the past year.

The city hopes to secure 80 percent of the funding through state, federal and county dollars as well as money from railroad programs. The other amount would come from capital improvement funds within the city.

The project would take two to three years, Powell said.

"It's truly the only way to take this community to the next level," Powell said.