Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

For Immediate Release: July 16, 2003

Audio Clip

Senator Keith Leftwich

Senator Leftwich says High Speed Rail One Option in
Meeting Future Transportation Needs

Although 2025 sounds like the distant future, Senate Transportation Committee Chairman
Keith Leftwich told those attending a meeting at the State Capitol that the state needs to start work now planning ways to meet transportation demands in the coming years.

One of the options being discussed is high-speed passenger rail service between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. University of Oklahoma professor Richard Marshment presented the results of a study done on such a service, which included a high-speed rail line connecting Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

“This is just one option being considered for meeting projected transportation needs in the future. But if we don’t begin addressing these critical transportation needs now, we will be facing serious gridlock on our main roadways that will impede economic development and work productivity,” said Senator Leftwich.

According to the study, Oklahoma is expected to grow by nearly two million people over the next twenty-five years, with much of the additional population residing in the Oklahoma City to Tulsa corridor.

The study indicated a starter line for high-speed service between Oklahoma City and Tulsa would cost an estimated $900 million, with 80 percent of the funding coming from the federal government. The report indicates the 9-year construction project would employ an average of 2,059 workers and generate $485 million dollars in earnings.

The initial analysis suggests the line could attract about 1000 people each day, with even higher numbers if airport-to airport service is made available or if the service is extended to other metropolitan areas such as St. Louis, Kansas City and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The trains would be able to travel at speeds of up to 150 mph.

“Again, there are a lot of other components that would have to fall into place, including reliable and convenient mass transit once you reach your destination. But I cannot emphasize enough that if we want to remain economically competitive and meet the projected transportation needs of our state down the line, we’ve got to get state officials and the public thinking about this now,” said Senator Leftwich.

For more information, contact:
Senate Communications Division - (405) 521-5774