Commuter railway service envisioned, with community’s support

The day when Shawnee residents travel to Oklahoma City by commuter railway could be closer than people think. But a railway interest group will face hurdles, starting with preserving Union Station rail yard in Oklahoma City.
Marion Hutchinson with Oklahomans for New Transportation Alternatives Coalition (ONTRAC) said his group believes it is not too late to save future alternative transportation methods, including commuter rail. He said the change will require support from central Oklahoma communities.
Hutchinson said Shawnee leaders can get involved by contacting state legislators, and the city commission can pass a resolution and send it to the governor.
Shawnee Mayor Chuck Mills said at Monday night’s commission meeting that as the economy continues to grow, Shawnee will need a transportation service to take residents to Oklahoma City.
He said Shawnee will look at adopting a resolution during the Sept. 2 meeting.
Hutchinson said preserving Oklahoma City’s Union Station rail yard during Crosstown Expressway development is the first step in providing the commuter service.
“To have a functioning system, you need a center hub,” Hutchinson said, adding that Union Station would serve as that hub for the proposed intermodal and multimodal system (two of  more modes of transportation).
Hutchinson said the Crosstown Expressway is scheduled to be realigned with a route along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway and through Union Station. The route will eliminate most available rail space and existing rail infrastructure, he said.
“Union Station and the rail yard will be lost as a critical foundation and future hub for an intermodal transportation system,” he said.
Hutchinson said intermodal systems could include conventional rail and bus/trolley or conventional rail, light rail and bus/trolley. 
He said the problem is the plan to leave one active track and pave over the remaining rail yard. He said there are several connections that link Oklahoma City to the airport, military bases, the state Capitol and surrounding communities.
“Everything flows through Union Station,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson said it’s not a choice between Crosstown Expressway or Union Station, but there are alternative routes that could save both. He said the expressway could be relocated without destroying the rail yard.
The expressway section that interferes with Union Station could be moved south about 400 feet, Hutchinson said.
“Literally we could keep the rail station and crosstown,” he said. “This is the possibility.”
Hutchinson said Oklahoma needs to consider providing this type of transportation service because of rising energy costs. He said there are successful systems in surrounding states, including Texas and Arizona.
“Every place that has started a system hasn’t failed,” Hutchinson said, adding the biggest economic impact occurs where the hub is located.
Hutchinson said Dallas’ property tax revenue was at $78,002,000, but with the development of a commuter rail system, the city’s tax revenue is projected at $127,095,000.