Oklahoma Commuter Rail

https://www.kosu.org/local-news/2024-05 ... city-arena

How could commuter rail fit in with new downtown Oklahoma City arena?

A large commuter rail that could carry sports fans from Norman and Edmond may come to downtown Oklahoma City.

On May 21, the Oklahoma City Council approved development plans for a new basketball arena. The $900 million Thunder basketball arena plans include a downtown commuter rail station.

The city plans to reserve 60,000 square feet of land accessible from E.K. Gaylord Boulevard and as close to the Santa Fe Train Station as reasonably possible for the transit system.

According to Jason Febrache, Oklahoma City Parking and Transit director, the rail is approximately a 38-mile corridor. The railway would extend north of downtown Edmond and south to Norman.
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Oh, gad. Someone actually thinks they’ll need light rail from OU to downtown OKC? Has anyone asked BNSF if they want to play? Once upon a time, 50+ years ago, the Santa Fe was good for 79MPH for the Texas Chief. Anyone have a clue what it’s good for today?

On game days to Norman or maybe when the Thunder play, I could see it.

But the other 300+ days a year, not so much.

I-35 sucks, but I don't think it's quite bad enough for people to give up their cars.

Edmonds to Norman via City trains have been proposed before, and usually struck down because there was no adjacent transit center near the tracks. This plan reserves a locale for a transit center. that's one roadblock eliminated. But they still have to build it. Nothing in this plan builds it. That would require another plan.

Oh I clearly get that. I'm just running with the headline.

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