We now have the keys! Join OKC Streetcar as we celebrate the newly obtained historic Santa Fe train station by the City of OKC via your MAPS 3 tax dollars!

This is the first tangible element to the MAPS 3 transit project serving as the current interface for Amtrak rail service to Fort Worth and future interface of the MAPS 3 OKC Oklahoma City Streetcar, regional commuter rail, potential connectivity to Tulsa, and local/regional bus service.

Drawings, renderings, and other information about the Santa Fe Station master plan, the OKC streetcar, and the planned regional transit system, will be on display. Our city recently one a matching grant from the Federal Transit Administration making the Santa Fe project a nearly $30 million 1st step into a regional comprehensive system.

Mayor Cornett and others involved regional transit efforts will be on hand for a short program and to answer your questions 1 on 1.

Sponsored by the City of OKC, Embark, ACOG, ODOT, OKC Streetcar, and OnTrac.

Join OKC Streetcar and RSVP here!- https://www.facebook.com/events/194784170731087/

I wish I was in town for this.

I like to think of the open house as a way of taking a mental "before" picture and to celebrate a paradigm shift in how OKC is viewing non-automobile based transit. Being able to see a new MAPS 3 project begin is another piece of the puzzle as well.

Here is a video of the interior beautiful art deco ceiling of the station- A preview of OKC's Santa Fe Station - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNHICNy5R30)

It's too bad the brewers invested in this property when no one else wanted it and now it's being pretty much stolen from them.........

They were paid more than they paid for it.

It's too bad the brewers invested in this property when no one else wanted it and now it's being pretty much stolen from them.........

That's what eminent domain is, and it has happened to a lot more people than the Brewers...

It's too bad the brewers invested in this property when no one else wanted it and now it's being pretty much stolen from them.........

They're making millions in the sale and they never really utilized the property or improved it beyond basic renovations. I'll take 1,000% return on an investment any day. It's hard to call that "stolen".

Join OKC Streetcar and RSVP here!- https://www.facebook.com/events/194784170731087/

It's unfortunate that this is going to be on a Wednesday afternoon. It certainly limits those who could attend. (ME)

We will have other events in the evening as well in the near future. Maybe a weekend event as well.

Oklahoma City to host open house for historic Santa Fe Station; Feb. 19

The public is invited to get a glimpse of the historic Santa Fe Station and learn about its future as a regional transportation center during an open house from 1 – 3 p.m. on February 19. The station is located at 100 South E.K. Gaylord in downtown Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Executive Director Mike Patterson, State Representative Richard Morrissette and Elizabeth Waner Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) Board of Directors chair will discuss their collaborative efforts to transform the station into a centerpiece for regional travel at 1:30 p.m.

“Santa Fe Station is architecturally and historically significant,” Mayor Mick Cornett said. “The original Santa Fe Station pre-dated statehood and this grand Art Deco building was constructed in 1934. It’s been a transportation hub for generations and we are excited that its future – with the MAPS 3 Modern Streetcar, ongoing Amtrak service and future transit options – appears to be as grand as its past.”

Attendees can watch an animated 3-D video of the MAPS 3 Modern Streetcar route and visit with representatives from ODOT, ACOG and Oklahoma City about Santa Fe Station’s role in regional transportation.

Oklahoma City took ownership of the 80-year-old station on January 31, 2014 and is negotiating with TAP Architecture to develop plans to restore the 20,600-square-foot Art Deco building.

The station and the adjacent street are slated to undergo $28.4 million in renovations, with work expected to begin in 2015. Station improvements will include:

· Restoration and renovation of the station
· Improvements to the boarding platforms, ticketing and baggage area
· Streetscape enhancements on E.K. Gaylord from Reno to Main
· Pedestrian access to Bricktown

Funding for the renovation will come from the following sources:

· MAPS 3 - $9.75 million
· Project 180 - $1.58 million
· TIGER Grant - $13.59 million
· ODOT funds - $1.5 million
· ACOG funds - $2 million

Santa Fe Station is home to AMTRAK’s Heartland Flyer, which provides daily service between Oklahoma City and Ft. Worth.

The station was built for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1934. The building is located in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City, 100 South E.K. Gaylord. The station’s architecture and interior epitomize the Art Deco era with carved and painted geometric designs, period chandeliers and aluminum canopies, door and window frames.


PLEASE RSVP HERE- https://www.facebook.com/events/194784170731087

SO THAT WE MAY GET AN ACCURATE ESTIMATE FOR REFRESHMENT PREP

In spite of the fact that this was held at a time which prevented most people from going. LOL

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/3935309?embargo=1


About 200 people packed downtown’s Santa Fe Station Wednesday as city and state civic leaders joined with transit officials in celebrating its acquisition by Oklahoma City and pending conversion into a regional transit center.

Mayor Mick Cornett called the day “historic,” adding, “this needs to be a transit hub going forward into 21st century.”


Thanks to a $13.5 million federal grant announced last year, the city is set to pursue a full conversion of the station into a hub that will also serve an urban streetcar line set to open in 2017 and potentially a regional transit system being discussed by officials in Edmond, Oklahoma City, Norman and Midwest City.

“It’s going to be great to have company here at the station,” said Marc Magliari, Amtrak spokesman. “Every place we have the opportunity to exchange passengers with others, whether it’s with local transit, car rentals, streetcars, or rapid bus transit, everyone benefits. Getting people to where they need to be going is great. Getting them to their home or within a couple of miles of going home is even greater.”

It was a nice event and very well attended. An individual or small group of individuals tried to take to focus off the progress OKC is making toward reestablishing public transit, but they were ignored.

The speeches didn't have any surprises or new information but it was good to have the City, ACOG, ODOT, and the legislature represented. There is still a very long way to go, but there is a group of people committed to modernizing OKC's transportation options. The next few years will see dramatic steps toward providing more options for people to move around the city of Central OK.

I was glad Eluzabeth Waner talked about ACOG and what there have been doing, especially in the last 5 years. I think their work on getting regional transit established doesn't get nearly enough publicity.

Oklahoma City celebrates ownership of Santa Fe Depot | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/oklahoma-city-celebrates-ownership-of-santa-fe-depot/article/3935309)
(Mobile link)

It was a nice event and very well attended. An individual or small group of individuals tried to take to focus off the progress OKC is making toward reestablishing public transit, but they were ignored.


How do you mean?

The idiot in the chicken suit.

The idiot in the chicken suit.

Oh, yeah. The lovely Shadid campaign taking a piece out of the West Wing election handbook.

In spite of the fact that this was held at a time which prevented most people from going. LOL

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/3935309?embargo=1

It is never a good time for somebody. In spite of that, it was standing room only. We had three times the number of RSVP's.

It is never a good time for somebody. In spite of that, it was standing room only. We had three times the number of RSVP's.

True, but when you have an event on a weekday afternoon you automatically know you are eliminating most people who have a regular job.

There will be more events at different times. We will have to. But again, if attendance was suppressed, I'm glad because we would have been forced to turn people away. I'll send some pictures to Pete.

Another event at night or on a Saturday is quite possible in the future.