(The Associated Press circulated the following article by Tim Talley on April 11.)
OKLAHOMA CITY — With money for Oklahoma’s Amtrak service scheduled to run out this fall, rail passengers and municipal leaders called on state lawmakers Monday to fund rail service and extend the state’s Heartland Flyer into Kansas.
Holding signs that read “Flyer 4 The Future” and “$3 a gallon? I’ll take Amtrak,” about 100 people rallied outside the state Capitol and urged the Legislature to expand Amtrak’s passenger rail service, begun in 1999 following a 20-year absence in Oklahoma.
About 300,000 people have ridden the Heartland Flyer between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas, since the service began and ridership along the 418-mile route was up 20 percent last year, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said.
“Let’s fund the Heartland Flyer into Kansas,” Cornett said as rail passengers cheered and applauded.
Federal funding for the service runs out in September. The service costs $3.9 million a year to operate – the same cost as building one-quarter mile of interstate highway, Cornett said.
“Public transportation is expensive by its very nature and it has to be subsidized,” Cornett said.
Depots along the Heartland Flyer’s route, including those in Norman, Purcell, Pauls Valley and Ardmore, have been revitalized since the service was launched and the Heartland Flyer has brought an estimated $29 million in economic development to the communities.
“Oklahoma has always had a relationship with the railroad,” said Richard Stawicki, a member of Norman’s city council.
Supporters want to extend the Heartland Flyer service north of Oklahoma City to an Amtrak junction in Newton, Kan., where it would connect to other trains to Chicago, Kansas City and the West Coast. Proposed new stops in Oklahoma include Edmond, Guthrie and Perry.
“It’s a very good boost for northeastern Oklahoma. I know it would help our downtown square,” said Perry Mayor Estell Emde.
“We’ve always supported the Heartland Flyer. What’s good for one of us is good for all of us,” said Guthrie Mayor Jon Gumerson.
“I think the train would be a great asset going into Kansas,” said rail passenger Bennie Walker of Oklahoma City, who held a sign that read “74,000 passengers in Edmond.”
“Kids love it. They like riding on trains more than they like riding in cars,” Walker said.
Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, said that with gasoline prices soaring, it makes sense to provide Oklahomans with transportation alternatives.
“This is a chance to open up opportunities,” Corn said. “Let’s build Oklahoma and we can do it with rail service.”
Corn has authored legislation to provide $1.34 billion for road and bridge maintenance and the Heartland Flyer over the next 15 years. Gov. Brad Henry has proposed setting aside $105 million in extra revenue next year for roads and bridges and to keep the Heartland Flyer on track.