Council passes rail resolution

By Carol Cole-Frowe

Norman councilmembers unanimously passed a resolution in support of preserving the state's chance for an intermodal rail system and preservation of the Union Station rail yard at their regular Tuesday evening meeting.

The resolution requests Gov. Brad Henry to appoint a special commission to consider future rail transit options in the Oklahoma City area, future uses of Union Station and its rail yard and alternative routes for the Interstate-40 Crosstown Expressway.

It states that the rail yard "lies at the center of the state's unique network linking the state's major towns, Tinker Air Force Base and Will Rogers World Airport and is the last grand urban passenger rail yard in the west that remains virtually unused with all of its original space and much of its essential infrastructure intact, including numerous tracks connecting every corner of the state."

Ward 7 councilmember Doug Cubberley said with current fuel prices and increased regulation of ozone levels, the atmosphere has changed in favor of alternative transportation.

Marion Hutchison, communications director of OnTrac, a group trying to preserve the rail yard, told councilmembers the Union Station rail yard is a "big economic driver."

"We really can't afford to be left behind," Hutchison said. "This really is an irreplaceable state asset."

He said nobody is arguing that the I-40 Crosstown Expressway needs to be relocated.

"I don't think anyone will argue with that," Hutchison said.

But the Crosstown's current relocation site would eliminate most of the rail yard.

Hutchison said the proposed relocation could move about 300 feet south without drastically affecting its right-of-way acquisition, which is one of the major expenses involved in relocating the interstate.

"Essentially what we looked at was what was the simplest alternative," he said.

He said the right-of-way in the area already has been cleared.

"This is not a proposal that is in any way negative to the current (ODOT) proposal," Hutchison said. "But this allows us to save the current infrastructure."

He acknowledges that the revamping of the engineering for the project would cost money.

"We feel like it would be worth it in the long run," Hutchison said, noting that other cities have spent up to $500 million to establish a rail yard.

Ward 2 councilmember Tom Kovach said one advantage to ODOT would be that if they were to slightly move the Crosstown to save the rail yard, it would nullify a ruling by the Federal Surface Transportation Board blocking the vacating of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail lines. The ruling came as a result of a lawsuit by Ed Kessler, a longtime rail proponent and an advocate for Union Station rail yard.

Hutchison said central New Mexico's rail system had more than 1 million riders in two years, with a similar or less density compared to Oklahoma City.

Tuesday evening's vote was a far cry from the previous attempt about four years ago, when the measure failed on a 4-4 vote. That time, ODOT officials sat in the front row of council chambers and fought city officials and proponents on the vote.

Kovach said the fight is far from over to save the rail yard. He recommended supporters write legislators and other state leaders.

"We need a public and political commitment," Hutchison said.

Carol Cole-Frowe 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com