The future of mass transit in Tulsa

[Transport_Oklahoma]

Just found this 55 page report:

http://www.incog.org/transportation/documents/RailTransitStrategicPlanFinal.pdf

Rail Transit Strategic Plan

The Report of the Transportation Strategies Ad Hoc Committee
of the INCOG Transportation Policy Committee
October 2008

[sgrizzle]

All these requests are for known/shelved projects. The commuter rail plan in Tulsa isn't far enough along to make a formal request.

[Transport_Oklahoma]

I wasn't necessarily suggesting a Tulsa commuter rail plan was ready for a January stimulus.

Still it is frustrating that routine road repairs seem to be making up the biggest share of state priorities.

There are countless 1930s WPA projects around Oklahoma that are serving people today.

The new layers of asphalt will just have to be redone a decade from now.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Transport_Oklahoma

I wasn't necessarily suggesting a Tulsa commuter rail plan was ready for a January stimulus.

Still it is frustrating that routine road repairs seem to be making up the biggest share of state priorities.

There are countless 1930s WPA projects around Oklahoma that are serving people today.

The new layers of asphalt will just have to be redone a decade from now.

There is a decent likelihood that rail will be prepared for a future similar package that is expected in the coming few years.

Not every WPA project was done the first round.

[Transport_Oklahoma]

Albuquerque-Santa Fe commuter rail starts Wednesday (12-17)

Albuquerque Metro pop:  799,260
Tulsa Metro pop:  841,238
OKC Metro pop:  1,157,842

[Red Arrow]

quote:Originally posted by Transport_Oklahoma

Albuquerque-Santa Fe commuter rail starts Wednesday (12-17)

Albuquerque Metro pop:  799,260
Tulsa Metro pop:  841,238
OKC Metro pop:  1,157,842

The Rail  Runner has proven to be very popular. Popular enough to extend it to Santa Fe.  My sister rides it to work from the park-&_ride at Los Lunas (south of ABQ).  She cites all the normal reasons for using the train.  Less wear and tear on the car, less gasoline, less putting up with idiots on I-25 (think BA Expy).

[Transport_Oklahoma]

Full trains in Albuquerque.

[Transport_Oklahoma]

Next system opens:  Phoenix Metro!

The 20 mile starter light rail line attracted 150,000 over the weekend.

San Antonio, Texas is now the largest city in the nation with bus-only transit.

More.

[TeeDub]

1.4 billion later...     Holy cow.

[Red Arrow]

quote:Originally posted by TeeDub


1.4 billion later...     Holy cow.

That's only 70% of the 2 Billion road package that was proposed last summer for Tulsa.

[OurTulsa]

quote:Originally posted by TeeDub


1.4 billion later...     Holy cow.

1.4b for a 20 mile starter line serving 28 stations expected to carry up to 26,000 riders a day.  

So lets say it more like 70m/mile.  The ridership is what's initially expected however as with most light rail lines it will probably be higher and grow annually.  I wonder how much of the tab was picked up by the feds and the state?  The line is a reinvestment in a predominantly existing urban area where infrastructure exists.  It's a mode that supports urban reinvestment and revitalization as well as compact development at outlying nodes all together establishing a framework for urban living that doesn't require automobility (better for the environment and other commuters continuing to utilize the highway system --- and, oh yeah, it enables some to invest in a lifestyle that uses less oil reducing our reliance on the foriegn stuff)  Sounds like a good investment to me!

I can't remember, how much are we spending on a few miles of expansion of I-44...that will only allow people to get through our city faster (for a while)?

I would gladly support a well designed and situated 20 mile light rail line including 28 development opportunities that connect to downtown...and remember the feds and state would pick up some of that tab...that would redirect investment in our City.

[Red Arrow]

quote:Originally posted by OurTulsa
It's a mode .... that doesn't require automobility (better for the environment and other commuters continuing to utilize the highway system ---

An excellent point worth repeating to those who say they won't be able to ride the rails, what does it do for them.

For those too dense to see the point: If a bunch of other people ride public transit, it will leave the roads and parking lots more open for you.  Around the USA, people are flocking to rail transit in a manner not seen by bus transit.  

See my usual source: www.lightrailnow.org

[Transport_Oklahoma]

New York Times editorial urging the Obama administration to balance federal transportation priorities.

[Ben Wehr]

I just don't see a need for Rail Way mass transit in the Tulsa metro area. If you're traveling to BA, Bixby, jenks, Sand Springs, Owasso it would be a 15 to 20 min drive. Now, what I think would be beneficial is if there were a quick and efficiant way to get people from down town Tulsa to Bartlesville, Olkmulgee, McCalaster, Muskogee, and other areas where the drive is over 30 min. But from BA to Tulsa and other close communities it's just not practical.

[Composer]

I think those lines to Bartlesville, Muskogee, and etc. will eventually be part of the plan, but we need to develop the BA to Tulsa line before Muskogee to Tulsa.  I think eventually, Broken Arrow will be a stop on the Muskogee to Tulsa line.