OKLAHOMA — The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is updating its statewide rail plan, which is a federally required document that helps guide the future of rail transportation across the state.
ODOT officials said the plan focuses on more than trains. According to the agency, it’s designed to address safety, commerce and long-term transportation needs in Oklahoma.
Officials are encouraging Oklahomans to provide feedback on issues they experience involving railroads, including blocked crossings, safety concerns and access needs for businesses.
“It’s an opportunity for the public to come say where they’re having issues with railroads,” Schwennesen explained. “Maybe they’re having some blocked or occupied crossings or maybe they feel they have an unsafe crossing.”
According to ODOT, the rail plan allows the state to:
- Review and inventory rail lines across Oklahoma
- Analyze rail service goals and economic impacts
- Assess potential infrastructure projects
- Examine financing for future rail improvements
- Review rail safety projects
ODOT officials also said rail crossing safety remains a priority.
The agency said many crashes happen at crossings with active warning signals when drivers attempt to go around lowered gates.
“Something that we do to try to prevent this is we’ll put medians there, so there’s a positive barrier to hinder people from going around the gates.”
ODOT said Oklahoma currently has about 3,200 miles of rail line, roughly half of what existed before federal rail deregulation decades ago.
The updated rail plan is expected to be submitted to the federal government by the end of June.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation will be holding a virtual public information meeting about the rail plan on June 3 at 2:00 p.m.
To register for that meeting or to learn more about the Oklahoma State Rail Plan, click here.
