Published: December 04, 2008 10:51 pm      

Edmond on list for Amtrak study

EDMOND — Edmond is one step closer to being included in a proposed 606-mile passenger rail route from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City to Kansas City.

The Kansas Department of Transportation and Amtrak have agreed on the scope of an Amtrak expansion feasibility study, officials said Thursday. Intermediate Oklahoma cities identified for the study are: Ponca City, Perry, Guthrie, Edmond, Oklahoma City, Norman, Purcell, Pauls Valley, Davis and Ardmore.

Amtrak officials said being in the study is not a commitment by the city or the states for the cities to host a station.

Edmond Mayor Dan O’Neil said having Kansas on board in this fashion is a key development. Seven Kansas cities will be part of the study. One city from Texas — Gainesville — will be included.

“That’s great news,” O’Neil said. “It’s a great Christmas present for our community.”

O’Neil said since he became mayor in April 2007 he has been working on bringing rail service to Edmond. O’Neil said he would be discussing the development with the City Council, and the city would be represented during the study process.

If Edmond is included in expanded service, O’Neil said largely because the city already owns land where a train depot would be located — along the tracks downtown — potential costs would be surprisingly low. O’Neil said the city also has been pursuing federal grants for a train station.

If Edmond is included, service could be a reality “very quick,” O’Neil said.

Amtrak’s Mark Magliari said the announcement shows the great success of the Heartland Flyer and the pre-existing support found in Oklahoma. Magliari said there is generally good support for rail here.

Brenda Perry, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, said that is verified by recent statistics. Heartland Flyer ridership is up significantly, 18 percent for the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, Perry said.

The Heartland Flyer runs from Okahoma City to Fort Worth. Oklahoma City, Norman, Purcell, Pauls Valley, Ardmore and Gainesville, all Heartland Flyer stops, are included in the study.

The Southwest Chief, which is part of Amtrak’s national network, stops in three of the study cities in Kansas — Lawrence, Topeka and Newton.

Officials said the Kansas Department of Transportation has budgeted $200,000 for the study. The Oklahoma and Texas transportation departments are cooperating in the study.

David Streb, ODOT’s director of engineering, said in the Heartland Flyer partnership, Oklahoma and Texas each pay 50 percent of the costs. Streb said funding issues between ODOT and potential partner Oklahoma cities would be worked out if and when inclusion becomes official.

Streb said because ODOT already has a rail division it is ready, willing and able to assist during the study process with technical expertise.

Officials said the study will identify capital requirements and operating costs needed to provide the rail service. It also will consider factors such as schedules, rail car and locomotive availability and capital needs for improvements to accommodate passenger service.

As part of the study, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway will analyze the capacity for the route because a passenger rail service would have to share the tracks with BNSF freight trains.

Magliari said preliminary work already has begun on the study, which should be completed sometime next year. If the study reveals that state-supported Amtrak service should be considered, legislatures would decide if their states should support expanded service.

Officials said the goals of the expanded service would be to offer an attractive alternative to driving, provide reliable, comfortable and convenient service, improve the mobility of travelers who cannot drive, cannot afford to drive or do not have other public transportation options and encourage good potential ridership.