Light rail layout

[RabidRed]

I just got back from Vancouver and had a chance to see their new "light rail" system. They have two tracks beside each other for trains going in the opposite directions. The trains are run by computers thus no drivers. Much like you would see at DFW airport, except these are running across the metro area. They charge $5 per day Canadian (close to the same here). Monthly passes are much less. I didn't study the stops or connections but the trains look good like something out of the future. The tracks are built up overhead for the most part. Something I can envision going down the center median of the Broadway Extension.

Someone in an early thread suggested that people going to the airport might be able to check their bags at the train station like in Edmond and not have to deal with them again until they land at their destination. I love that idea!

[betts]

Someone in an early thread suggested that people going to the airport might be able to check their bags at the train station like in Edmond and not have to deal with them again until they land at their destination. I love that idea!

It sounds like a great idea, and that would make taking light rail to the airport much more feasible, but the only place I've seen that is in London. There was an American Airlines check in desk at Victoria Station, and it was a direct train to Gatwick. They stopped doing it after 9/11 when security became so much tighter. It was so convenient, but I'm not sure that will ever happen again.

Even if it were possible, you wouldn't be able to get on at any stop and do that. There would have to be only one central airlines desk for check in. I, for instance, wouldn't drive to Edmond if there were a baggage check-in there, nor would I probably drive downtown to take a train that let me check in directly.

[jbrown84]

Yeah the Gatwick Express train is a private operation. It's not part of the public London Underground system.

[downtown20]

They should build an underground Terminal beneath the new Avenue which will replace the old Crosstown once it comes down. They could build it relatively cheaply by building the new Avenue directly over the terminal. That way railway could go underground in the downtown area to make room for other transit at grade. Electric streetcars above the underground terminal could circulate people throughout the downtown area. If our government is willing to spend billions a year on highways, we should demand they spend more of that money on more transportation options like rail of all sorts. Most people will find they'd much prefer a train ride to work over a crowded highway any day.

[CuatrodeMayo]

At the very least, build a tunnel the length of the Boulevard so that rail can be installed at a later date.

[Kerry]

I think the problem is that all of us have different ideas on what kind of rail system is being considered. People use the term lightrail as a generic name for any type of rail system, while in reality it is a very specific type of rail system. There are a variety of laws that surround each type and the system can’t co-mingle. They can all use the same transit hubs but they can’t use the same tracks.

Is lightrail right for OKC? Probably not. I think most of OKC would be better served by street cars that run in existing road right-of-way. Initially access will probably be restricted to inside I-240/I-44/I-35 with future lightrail/heavyrail connection to Norman, Edmond, and other suburbs. I think the advantage for a street trolley system is to replace the frequent short in-town drives and not the long highway commuters. For those living in central OKC they can ride to work, dinner, shopping, and doctor offices. For those living further out, well, they probably won’t get service for a while, if ever.

[sjlevine]

From the OG&E building, one could use the Underground (I believe that is what they are calling what was once the Conncourse). It could be extended to the new transportation center, which I agree should be south of the current Santa Fe Station.

I favor commuter rail between Norman, Oklahoma City and Edmond and eventually to El Reno and Shawnee. Nashville did their system on the cheap, buying used locomotives from Amtrak and commuter cars from the Chicago RTA. I believe that, when commuter rail cars purchased with federal monies are retired, if they are sold, it must be for a nominal price. The Music City Star commuter line in Nashville recently picked up some used railcars from another metropolitan transit agency for $1.00 apiece.

sjl

[SouthsideSooner]

For an affordable, practical beginning of fixed rail downtown, I like Blair Humphreys green line concept...

imagiNATIVEamerica » Bricktown Parking: Killing Two Birds with One Streetcar

[Luke]

I'm tellin' ya...

Monorail is good because it goes anywhere there is already infrastructure. It would be a unique and iconic mode of transportation without any negative stigmas. In fact, it's link to Disney is a really positive stigma. Plus, it's a symbol of the future. And it would be a unique mode of transportation to lead the Renaissance City into the future.

[Midtowner]

How would the city pay for this?

Are you willing to pay significantly higher city taxes? What form do you think would be the most fair?

[Luke]

Well, if I'm gonna be taxed out the wazoo anyways for some future form of public transportation, I'm thinking we should go all out.

[JWil]

For an affordable, practical beginning of fixed rail downtown, I like Blair Humphreys green line concept...

imagiNATIVEamerica » Bricktown Parking: Killing Two Birds with One Streetcar

That's great and all... but Sheridan is a disaster directly north of the Cox Center.

[LordGerald]

We can plan great things all we want, but 'tis true, we're going to have to find a way to pay for it.

I foresee that Maps 3 (coming December 2009) will have a streetcar, fixed guideway project relegated to downtown, also known as a circulator.

But, for transit to grow beyond downtown, it's going to require a dedicated funding source. We have one for the Zoo, but we don't have one for transit. It's going to have to be on a county by county basis. Oklahoma City can't do it alone. The city boundaries span four different counties. Other metro areas have had to do this. Denver had to reach out to seven counties, 116 communities. There are 7 counties in the OKC MSA. We are going to need cooperation from the state legislature and a vote of the people to get this done.

There are few "new starts" dollars available from the federal level. Federal money is available only to finance wars on foreign soil. Gasoline usage is down, which further cuts into our Highway Trust Fund. The USA has the lowest gas tax in the free world, yet our system for financing our highway and transit infrastructure is still based on the gallon purchased. We need to change our system to a user fee that rewards efficient vehicles and taxes people who drive a lot and drive heavy vehicles. Politics aside, my point is that we are going to have to finance this ourselves, because there is no federal funding available to make this work.

That aside, I can assure you that MAPS 3 has a streetcar component, and if people support it and ride it, it could lead to bigger and better things.

[Luke]

How bout a creative way to fund a project like this? What if the big businesses would sponsor some station stops? The Devon Downtown Station. The Chesapeake Station in Nichols Hills. Surely, Edmond businesses would sponsor a stop. I think automatic stops would be at the malls around town. The airport. Norman. I would imagine a wagon wheel style spoke and loop would be a good idea spoking from downtown outward and then looping around the city.

Again, with monorail, you're not limited to where you can go because it goes over current roads. It may be an interesting option to explore.