Amtrak

[Johnboy976]

Has anyone traveled the Amtrak that goes through Tulsa? Is the station nice? Does it need renovation? And when were they going to announce that Amtrak finally opened a route to Tulsa?!

[Johnboy976]

You know what.... that is a bus route that Amtrak offers to get to Kansas City. Whatever happened to bringing the train here? Has anyone at Amtrak mentioned the possibility of bringing it back to the city? I have been through towns 1/20th the size of Tulsa, and they have an Amtrak. What is wrong with this picture?

[chlfan]

Yeah, it's a bus that shuttles you to either OKC or to KC

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/News_Release_Page&cid=1093553994292&c=am2Copy&ssid=180

[pmcalk]

My understanding was there was a push to bring Amtrak to Tulsa funded by a gas tax.  When gas prices rose, the idea died.

I wish it were revived.  I know enough people who commute to OKC at least one or two times a week, who would love the oppurtunity to take the train instead of drive.

[sportyart]

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

My understanding was there was a push to bring Amtrak to Tulsa funded by a gas tax.  When gas prices rose, the idea died.

I wish it were revived.  I know enough people who commute to OKC at least one or two times a week, who would love the oppurtunity to take the train instead of drive.

Don't even get me started on this. We were promised that Tulsa would get the rail if we all supported the initial line from Fort Worth to OKC. Now they had to ask the state to support this line with 2 million more dollars to service OKC. It burns me how often Tulsa is slapped around by the state and a majority of state funds go to OKC.

[TURobY]

quote:Originally posted by sportyart

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

My understanding was there was a push to bring Amtrak to Tulsa funded by a gas tax.  When gas prices rose, the idea died.

I wish it were revived.  I know enough people who commute to OKC at least one or two times a week, who would love the oppurtunity to take the train instead of drive.

Don't even get me started on this. We were promised that Tulsa would get the rail if we all supported the initial line from Fort Worth to OKC. Now they had to ask the state to support this line with 2 million more dollars to service OKC. It burns me how often Tulsa is slapped around by the state and a majority of state funds go to OKC.

Seriously, a city our size has done a helluva job on our own. Considering Tulsa is not that much smaller than OKC, we've supported ourselves nicely. Imagine if funding were actually poured into our town..

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Johnboy976

Has anyone traveled the Amtrak that goes through Tulsa? Is the station nice? Does it need renovation? And when were they going to announce that Amtrak finally opened a route to Tulsa?!

Amtrak doesn't go through tulsa. There is an amtrak billboard advertising the heartland flyer but the closest it comes is OKC. You have to ride  bus to OKC or KC to get on amtrak.

[Johnboy976]

Roby, you make a good point. Tulsa has done really well without state support. Oklahoma fails to give much to us... ever. No wonder a few decades ago Tulsa and Northeastern Oklahoma proposed migrating to Kansas (although not the greatest state to move to... perhap Missouri). But Sporty's right with his being frustrated, though. We get shafted all the time. We simply need the government to foot our bills for once. I would love to see Amtrak brought to Tulsa. Spend a couple million on a nice station, something that people will remember. Create it with a design that screams "Tulsa," such as art deco. Then the other couple of million to set up routes. To me this seems more than feasible. The local government either needs to make another proposal to the people of the city, or they need to start bugging the governor to get off his keister and help us out for once.

[chlfan]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by Johnboy976

Has anyone traveled the Amtrak that goes through Tulsa? Is the station nice? Does it need renovation? And when were they going to announce that Amtrak finally opened a route to Tulsa?!

Amtrak doesn't go through tulsa. There is an amtrak billboard advertising the heartland flyer but the closest it comes is OKC. You have to ride  bus to OKC or KC to get on amtrak.

Yeah, I think that's how I originally answered.

[Transport_Oklahoma]

Missouri Department of Transportation has started discussion with Amtrak about bringing service down from St. Louis to Springfield.  

http://ozarksnow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060615/NEWS01/606150369

http://www.ky3.com/news/3051856.html?autovid=Y

http://www.modot.org/newsandinfo/District0News.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=4006

http://www.modot.org/newsroom/documents/rail_pass_cur_prop_060106.pdf

This same rail line continues over good BNSF track 180 west miles to Tulsa.  This could be a way to get service to T-TOWN in the near term while support builds for high speed service to Texas via OKC.

Matt

www.oklahomarail.org

[sportyart]

I can't think of a reason why the state should not go for this service from OKC through TULSA and on into springfield. COME ON TULSA REPS, GET THIS DEAL DONE!

[okiebybirth]

quote:Originally posted by sportyart

I can't think of a reason why the state should not go for this service from OKC through TULSA and on into springfield. COME ON TULSA REPS, GET THIS DEAL DONE!

Who should we all push to try and get this going?  Surely there is a pointman we could all send emails requesting they check into this?

[Transport_Oklahoma]

We should start by getting Mayor Taylor on board.

However that is just a strategy to get the Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma state representatives and senators to support it.

The legislature ultimately decide where the state's transportation dollars get spent.  Tulsa is fortunate in that the chair of appropriations and the subcommittee chair of House transportation appropriations are both from here.

They can get it done, if they want to.  

The Heartland Flyer has been serving OKC for 7 years now as of this week.  Here is the chance for Tulsa's reps to deliver.

Here is audio from the Missouri DOT on the proposed service to Springfield.

[Transport_Oklahoma]

He wrote:  What would be the purpose besides pandering to nostalgia?

I don't recall mentioning nostalgia.

But since you brought it up, maybe you are having nostalgia for $1, make that $2 gallon gasoline.

Since you seem to want a drive-only transportation system, maybe you are having nostalgia for the motor car.  That is 115 year old technology.

Passenger rail is:

• Quality of life in the form of travel choice
• Mobility for the hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans who can't drive because of age, disability, or economic circumstance
• Greater transportation safety by accomodating market share in a mode that is significantly safer than highway travel
• Great energy security for America by preserving mobility in the face of scarce energy resources

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by pimpthistownvotepaultay

quote:Originally posted by Transport_Oklahoma

He wrote:  What would be the purpose besides pandering to nostalgia?

I don't recall mentioning nostalgia.

But since you brought it up, maybe you are having nostalgia for $1, make that $2 gallon gasoline.

Since you seem to want a drive-only transportation system, maybe you are having nostalgia for the motor car.  That is 115 year old technology.

Passenger rail is:

• Quality of life in the form of travel choice
• Mobility for the hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans who can't drive because of age, disability, or economic circumstance
• Greater transportation safety by accomodating market share in a mode that is significantly safer than highway travel
• Great energy security for America by preserving mobility in the face of scarce energy resources

Son, yer talkin' to da wrong person about car driving.  I am actually counting on $6/per gallon and a new career as a pedi-cab driver.

Hey Paul, Vinita called, they want their Santa suit back....