Looks like the Santa Fe Station and restrooms will finally be open when travelers enter OKC on Amtrak from Fort Worth. Finally, OKC won't be the worst stop on the line, but travelers will get to see the beuty of the Sante Fe Train Station.

Only one problem...without state help, Amtrak won't continue, as federal funding runs out this year.

Part of me says we need to fund Amtrak to provide another transportation alternative for visitors to our city. But another part of me says it's a waste of taxpeyer money, as it isn't self-supporting, and it isn't serving that great a percentage of travelers.

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"City Council approves train security funds
by Brian Brus
The Journal Record
2/16/2005

The Oklahoma City Council approved funding to provide regular security for the city's Amtrak train depot Tuesday even as Mayor Mick Cornett noted the Heartland Flyer is expected to lose its federal funding later this year.
The Santa Fe Depot east of the Cox Convention Center will be open to the public at a cost of about $1,080 per month. The Bricktown Association and the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitor's Bureau will each contribute $300 per month, with the balance to be picked up by the Oklahoma City Public Property Authority. The council approved the plan with a unanimous vote.

Under the amendment to the professional services agreement with the authority, the depot's bathroom also will be kept open to the public during times of rail service, solving a problem that has been brought to council members several times. Security will be provided a minimum of two hours nightly.

Amtrak's Heartland Flyer route between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth is approaching its sixth anniversary this summer. The passenger rail service returned to Oklahoma after a 20-year absence, and since then it has served nearly 300,000 passengers, a state Transportation Department spokeswoman said. In fiscal year 2004, the Flyer had approximately 53,500 passengers.

The southbound Flyer leaves the city daily at 8:25 a.m. and arrives in Fort Worth at 12:39 p.m. The northbound train leaves Fort Worth at 5:25 p.m. and arrives back in Oklahoma City at 9:39 p.m. The train stops at Norman, Purcell, Pauls Valley, Davis and Ardmore on its way to Texas.

But the service does not pay for itself. Since 1999, the state Department of Transportation has contracted with Amtrak to operate the Flyer with the support of federal funds. That funding ends in September, after which time it will be up to state and regional governments to subsidize budget shortfalls.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta this week reiterated the Bush administration's plan to turn over development of the nation's passenger rail system to the states this year. President Bush's plan is to provide a one-to-one federal funds match against state dollars for investments in stations, trains and other passenger-rail infrastructure. Amtrak would only operate trains, leaving ownership of assets such as stations to other transportation agencies, Mineta said.

Mineta said Amtrak has drained nearly $30 billion in federal funds since it was established as a for-profit entity in 1970.

"It's on our legislative list of things we hope the state Legislature appropriates," Cornett said in council. "But we will not know until later if and when a vote is taken. We would urge citizens who care about Amtrak to let their state legislator know.

"The funding that's necessary is about $3.5 (million) to $4 million," Cornett said. "It's a lot of money to Oklahoma City … but when you compare transportation dollars it is less than the cost of building one mile of Interstate highway."