Apr. 24—High-capacity commuter rail lines converging in downtown Oklahoma City and including service to Will Rogers World Airport have taken a step toward being realized.
Endorsement by the Regional Transportation Authority board on Wednesday of the RTA's Transit System Plan was one of two major developments this week.
The Legislature passed and sent to the governor a measure to limit liability for transit system partners such as railroads that contract to allow commuter trains to operate on their tracks.
The regional corridors outlined in the Transit Plan are intended to build on and interface with existing bus systems in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norm and Midwest City, and planned Bus Rapid Transit lines running northwest, northeast and south from downtown.
The Oklahoma City Streetcar circulating through downtown is designed to deliver inbound commuters to their final destination and connect outbound riders with regional transit options.
The four corridors identified in the plan and OK'd for further study and eventual implementation are:
—The North-South Corridor connecting Edmond, Oklahoma City, Moore and Norman.
—The East Corridor from Tinker Air Force Base through Midwest City and Del City to downtown.
—The West Corridor from the Yukon area to downtown and serving fast-growing suburban neighborhoods in western Oklahoma County and Canadian County.
—The Airport Corridor from Will Rogers World Airport to downtown.
The intention is for high-capacity heavy- and light-rail services to converge at the renovated Santa Fe Station in the central business district that serves as a hub for bus and streetcar routes.
Goals are to improve mobility and connectivity, equity and accessibility, economic and workforce development, and produce a sustainable transit system designed to serve the region for decades.
The Transit Plan is to be forwarded to the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) for inclusion in its Encompass 2045 plan.
Senate Bill 967 was passed by the House this week and sent to the governor for his signature. It includes railroads such as BNSF that could contract to allow RTA trains on its tracks in liability protections.
Staff writer William Crum covers OKC government. Email [email protected]. Twitter:@williamcrum. For civic news and more, subscribe at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
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