Hoping for a faster track
ODOT says they’re applying for about $2 billion to build out Oklahoma’s section of the South Central Corridor, part of the Obama administration’s high-speed rail proposal.
The plan calls for upgrading the Oklahoma City-to-Fort Worth Heartland Flyer to 90-mph capability, at least as far as the Red River, and adding a 110-mph line between Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
I’m not sure this is fast enough: at 110 mph, you’ll save about 15 minutes compared to the 75-mph (at least) Turner Turnpike, which doesn’t strike me as a major improvement. Still, Tulsa’s completely off the passenger-rail grid, and a line to Oklahoma City is far more plausible than a line to Joplin or Fayetteville or Kansas City, at least for the moment.
Besides, traveling by Turner is at best uninteresting, and at worst downright scary, so there’s at least some incentive to take the train. (Me, I downgrade: I take Route 66.)
Assuming everything goes according to plan, which is a lot to assume, this thing could be running by 2016.
(Hat tip: Tom Elmore.)
Lynn »
12 July 2009 · 2:55 pm
It all sounds good to me but I’m not holding my breath. 2016 sounds rather optimistic.