City in quest for passenger rail

EDMOND January 14, 2009 12:47 am

— Edmond is one of the more active participants among cities pursuing inclusion along a potential 606-mile corridor that would connect to the national rail system, City Council members heard Monday.
The city is mulling the possibility of building a rail depot in the downtown area on city-owned land south of Second Street, east of the railroad tracks.
During the workshop, council members discussed using a potential downtown depot as a hub for rail, bus and trolley service. They said passenger rail could draw tourists or commuters to downtown businesses and spur economic and housing development.
Edmond is part of an Amtrak expansion feasibility study sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation in cooperation with the Oklahoma and Texas departments of transportation.
Previously, officials announced that 13 cities in Kansas and four in Oklahoma expressed interest in being in the study for the portion between Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
Cities in Kansas included in the study are Lawrence, Topeka, Emporia, Strong City, Newton, Wichita and Winfield-Arkansas City.
Oklahoma cities included are Ponca City, Perry, Guthrie, Edmond, Oklahoma City, Norman, Purcell, Pauls Valley, Davis and Ardmore.
Gainesville is the lone Texas city included.
Evan Stair, vice president of the NorthernFlyer Alliance, said potential scenarios include a night-time round-trip between Newton, Kan., and Oklahoma City, a night-time round trip between Kansas City and Fort Worth, a daytime round-trip between Kansas City and Fort Worth and a daytime round-trip between Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
Stair said with a population nearing 80,000, Edmond would be one of the larger cities with a stop. Edmond, which has held several workshops related to the study, is “on top of things,” he said.
“I don’t see a problem with Edmond having a stop, but that’s my opinion,” Stair said.
Stair said he envisions an 8 a.m. departure from Kansas City and a 8 a.m. departure from Fort Worth. Stair said the trains would arrive in the opposite city at about 10 p.m., a schedule that would be good for Edmond.
Mayor Dan O’Neil said Edmond wants at least a depot with a platform for arrivals and departures. Size of the platform would depend on whether or not bus or trolley routes include the potential downtown depot.
Stair said Norman spent about $250,000 and received matching federal funds to upgrade the existing platform at its depot.
Stair said the study report, which probably will be completed later this year, will be available to the public. States would have to pay their shares of the operating costs that exceed ticket revenues and the costs of buying trains and improving tracks, sidings and crossings.
If eventually the state Legislature decides to support expanded passenger rail service, city leaders likely would seek federal matching funds, Stair said.
Bob Kemper, legislative director for the Northern Flyer Alliance, said Oklahoma’s transportation department is seeking about $28 million from any economic stimulus plan passed by Congress.
During his presentation, Stair described rail-related legislation passed by Congress.
President George W. Bush has signed the $13 billion Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act, passed by the House in September. The bill provides $1.9 billion — $380 million per year — for grants to states to pay for capital costs of facilities and equipment needed to provide new or improved passenger rail. The federal share of the grant is up to 80 percent.
In September, the Federal Railroad Administration announced it had awarded 15 grants distributing $30 million in 50-50 matching grant funds made available in 2008 legislation.
Wayne Page, City Council member for Ward 1, said with high gas prices likely in the future and all of the talk about transportation, expanding passenger rail service is a timely topic.
Other issues discussed during the workshop included the possibility of building a second railroad track to run alongside Edmond’s existing track, which is owned by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. A second track would improve passenger service and reduce vehicle congestion.
Progress toward regional transit dialogue also was discussed during the workshop. Being included in the Amtrak study is not a guarantee to get a rail stop, officials have said.
Fourteen states support Amtrak trains that supplement the national network, according to information provided by the City Council. State and regional agencies pay most of the cost, reimbursing Amtrak for direct expenses.

Photos

Photo Provided | ODOT/Dean Schirf The city of Edmond is active in its pursuit of a stop on the proposed route of the Northern Flyer, a possible extension of Amtrak's Heartland Flyer, above, north into Kansas.