Tulsa's exciting rail possibilities

[jacobi]

Jacobi asserted that no Tulsan would ever want to visit OKC.  It's that type of arrogance and "looking down our nose" towards OKC that has created the animosity between the cities.  Frankly, OKC has a nice number of attractions that would make for a great long weekend.  That's just the type of trip that would lead a Tulsan to utilize rail service.

In my more reasonable moments, I recognize that we need to compete as a region.  That said, I feel miserable any time I am there.  I always feel like im in the middle of nowhere.  I'd rather spend a weekend in Guthrie than OKC.

[Red Arrow]

Why couldn't you build a massive retail center there? 

Weather induced remodeling may give pause to some.

[ZYX]

In my more reasonable moments, I recognize that we need to compete as a region.  That said, I feel miserable any time I am there.  I always feel like im in the middle of nowhere.  I'd rather spend a weekend in Guthrie than OKC.

Really?

[jacobi]

Really?

Really.  I hate basketball, endless suburbs, and bricktown.

[ZYX]

Really.  I hate basketball, endless suburbs, and bricktown.

I like basketball, not a fan of endless suburbs, and Bricktown is cheesy meh. However, if you think that's all OKC has to offer, you really need to look harder. It really is a nice little city.

[Conan71]

I like basketball, not a fan of endless suburbs, and Bricktown is cheesy meh. However, if you think that's all OKC has to offer, you really need to look harder. It really is a nice little city.

There's also some lovely landfills er man-made mountains within eye-sight of any four story building in downtown OKC.

As someone who lived part time in OKC for the last 2 1/2 years I envy them for the Oklahoma River, Nonnas, their version of China Town and the Paseo, Tucker's Hamburgers, and not much else that we don't have here.  There's so much wasted space in their version of sprawl it's sickening. Take a trip east out NW23rd St. or NW10th to Air Depot and you'll get what I mean.  Their downtown and Bricktown simply don't feel as comfortable and organic to me as Brady, Blue Dome and BOK districts.  

Not really sure why that is, considering Bricktown feels like a compound with a river on one end, expressways or viaducts on the other boundary lines, really no different than our downtown, but it feels less local for some odd reason.

We certainly don't have to feel like we need to compete with OKC, but sure doesn't hurt to make them envy us whenever we can.

[Hoss]

There's also some lovely landfills er man-made mountains within eye-sight of any four story building in downtown OKC.

As someone who lived part time in OKC for the last 2 1/2 years I envy them for the Oklahoma River, Nonnas, their version of China Town and the Paseo, Tucker's Hamburgers, and not much else that we don't have here.  There's so much wasted space in their version of sprawl it's sickening. Take a trip east out NW23rd St. or NW10th to Air Depot and you'll get what I mean.  Their downtown and Bricktown simply don't feel as comfortable and organic to me as Brady, Blue Dome and BOK districts.  

Not really sure why that is, considering Bricktown feels like a compound with a river on one end, expressways or viaducts on the other boundary lines, really no different than our downtown, but it feels less local for some odd reason.

We certainly don't have to feel like we need to compete with OKC, but sure doesn't hurt to make them envy us whenever we can.

Neat thing is that in the last couple of weeks since baseball season has started has given me a new reason to explore the different areas of downtown.  That area right around the ballpark just screams 'infill'.  It's a great area with super history and, at least on ball game nights, has an awesome vibe to it.  I'd even go so far as to rate it better than around the BOK simply because you have things around the ballpark within a shorter distance.  I think the railroad tracks create a great urban boundary and I would love to see more businesses go in along Elgin and Greenwood.

[jacobi]

Neat thing is that in the last couple of weeks since baseball season has started has given me a new reason to explore the different areas of downtown.  That area right around the ballpark just screams 'infill'.  It's a great area with super history and, at least on ball game nights, has an awesome vibe to it.  I'd even go so far as to rate it better than around the BOK simply because you have things around the ballpark within a shorter distance.  I think the railroad tracks create a great urban boundary and I would love to see more businesses go in along Elgin and Greenwood.

Well now that the greearch project seems like it's not going to happen, it's maybe a more mixed use friendly structure could be proposed instead.  I just really want the TDA lot on the northwest corner of archer and elgin to go away.

Also, I tried to start a thread about this but no one had any info.  On the city website it said that part of the long term plans involved turning greenwood and elgin into underpasses at the BNSF lines.  I wish I knew if this was actually going to happen and when.

[AquaMan]

There's also some lovely landfills er man-made mountains within eye-sight of any four story building in downtown OKC.

As someone who lived part time in OKC for the last 2 1/2 years I envy them for the Oklahoma River, Nonnas, their version of China Town and the Paseo, Tucker's Hamburgers, and not much else that we don't have here.  There's so much wasted space in their version of sprawl it's sickening. Take a trip east out NW23rd St. or NW10th to Air Depot and you'll get what I mean.  Their downtown and Bricktown simply don't feel as comfortable and organic to me as Brady, Blue Dome and BOK districts.  

Not really sure why that is, considering Bricktown feels like a compound with a river on one end, expressways or viaducts on the other boundary lines, really no different than our downtown, but it feels less local for some odd reason.

We certainly don't have to feel like we need to compete with OKC, but sure doesn't hurt to make them envy us whenever we can.

Dang. Tucker's. Best cheeseburger and fries I ever smeared on my face.

OKC is not Tulsa. We keep comparing them to us and find them lacking but they chose their path, we're choosing ours. Bricktown isn't our thing, but I assure you people visiting from Wetumka are impressed and are spending money there. I think many people think our plans are superior but they have different ingredients to work with. People should understand that belittling them is pointless. We want them to come here on a train to visit our superior charm and sophistication, spend their OKC money and take our Tulsa ideas back with them.

[nathanm]

On the city website it said that part of the long term plans involved turning greenwood and elgin into underpasses at the BNSF lines.

"Yay." 

[Townsend]

Move to Sell Rail Line Could Hurt Effort to Return Passenger Trains to Eastern Oklahoma

http://kwgs.com/post/move-sell-rail-line-could-hurt-effort-return-passenger-trains-eastern-oklahoma

A move contemplated by the State Department of Transportation could kill efforts to return passenger rail to eastern Oklahoma. Rick Westcott, Chair of Tulsa's Rail Advisory Committee, calls ODOT's proposed sale of the Sooner Sub line from Sapulpa to Oklahoma City 'almost the worst news possible'.

The state owns the 97 mile long line, but a freight hauling company is interested in buying it and Westcott believes that would greatly diminish chances of returning passenger rail service to Tulsa.

He urges Oklahomans interested in bringing back passenger trains to contact their representatives and ask them to oppose the rail line sale.

[sgrizzle]

Tell them to sell the line, and then cut the heartland flyer subsidy. Either that or keep the line and get the train to run where it's supposed to. All or nothing.

[carltonplace]

I have notified my state congress person

[swake]

Move to Sell Rail Line Could Hurt Effort to Return Passenger Trains to Eastern Oklahoma

http://kwgs.com/post/move-sell-rail-line-could-hurt-effort-return-passenger-trains-eastern-oklahoma

ODOT/The state never had the slightest intention to extend rail service to Tulsa. This proves it.

[Red Arrow]

ODOT/The state never had the slightest intention to extend rail service to Tulsa. This proves it.

You may be right but it is unlikely that that right of way would have been turned into a high-speed passenger line.