By Wanda Jo Stapleton, Oklahoma City Published: 2/10/2010 4:33 AM, Tulsa World
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has contradicted itself about rail transportation.
First, it destroyed Oklahoma City's Union Station rail yard. This removed railroad tracks leading from downtown to the Will Rogers World Airport and tracks joining Tulsa with Lawton.
Strange that ODOT, for the Interstate 40 realignment, chose this route through a strategically located rail yard purchased as a future hub for a commuter rail transit system.
While bulldozing this rail yard, ODOT conducted dog-and-pony shows about its application for high-speed passenger rail between Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
ODOT applied for $2 billion, 25 percent of stimulus funds available nationwide, to purchase new railroad tracks and right-of-way paralleling Interstate 44. Never mind that the state already owns existing rail and right of way between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Finally, ODOT ignored the annual operation costs of about $20 million.
ODOT submitted a pie-in-the-sky application with the intent of getting a rejection letter. Success!
The rejection notice came recently.
Why submit an untenable application without hope of funding? ODOT needed cover for the destruction of the Union Station rail yard and hoped the application would establish "proof" of interest in rail transportation.
The next application by ODOT'S director should be to request that Department of Transportation's name be changed to the Department of Highways.
Posted on February 20 at 2:02 p.m.Suggest removal
ODOT or ODON'T
By Wanda Jo Stapleton, Oklahoma City
Published: 2/10/2010 4:33 AM, Tulsa World
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has contradicted itself about rail transportation.
First, it destroyed Oklahoma City's Union Station rail yard. This removed railroad tracks leading from downtown to the Will Rogers World Airport and tracks joining Tulsa with Lawton.
Strange that ODOT, for the Interstate 40 realignment, chose this route through a strategically located rail yard purchased as a future hub for a commuter rail transit system.
While bulldozing this rail yard, ODOT conducted dog-and-pony shows about its application for high-speed passenger rail between Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
ODOT applied for $2 billion, 25 percent of stimulus funds available nationwide, to purchase new railroad tracks and right-of-way paralleling Interstate 44. Never mind that the state already owns existing rail and right of way between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Finally, ODOT ignored the annual operation costs of about $20 million.
ODOT submitted a pie-in-the-sky application with the intent of getting a rejection letter. Success!
The rejection notice came recently.
Why submit an untenable application without hope of funding? ODOT needed cover for the destruction of the Union Station rail yard and hoped the application would establish "proof" of interest in rail transportation.
The next application by ODOT'S director should be to request that Department of Transportation's name be changed to the Department of Highways.
This letter was published exclusively online.
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