December 5, 2025 - TRA Newswire -

Our neighbors to the north are looking for public input as the State of Oklahoma prepares to update it's State Rail Plan, just as Texas and other surrounding states have done in the past. 

If you're not an Oklahoma citizen but you travel on the Texas-Oklahoma DOT-partnered Heartland Flyer, or if you are a shipper in Texas that utilizes rail service that goes through the Sooner State, you can add your thoughts to the rail plan.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation update to its State Rail Plan addresses existing and future passenger and freight rail services in Oklahoma and reflects the latest rail project priorities. It helps position Oklahoma stakeholders for federal funding.

Texas Rail Advocates urges you to take part in a December 9th Zoom meeting or submit your comments online. 

Are there enhancements that need to addressed on the freight rail system? Do we need to push for a second daily round-trip on the Fort Worth to Oklahoma City Heartland Flyer? Should there be closer cooperation between Texas and Oklahoma on both freight and passenger rail issues with a bi-state advisory committee?

Last updated in 2021, the State Rail Plan enables ODOT to take inventory and review usage of all rail lines;  analyze rail service goals and rail’s contribution; catalog and assess potential infrastructure projects; examine financing challenges for projects and services and review rail safety improvement projects.

The materials presented during the meeting, as well as an online survey, will be available following the meeting on ODOT’s Rail Plan website: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/programs-and-projects/programs/multimodal/office-of-mobility-and-public-transit/passenger-rail/oklahoma-state-rail-plan.html.

Survey responses are also due by 5 p.m., Jan. 31. Public feedback will help shape the 2026 Rail Plan. 

Another public meeting will be held after the draft Rail Plan is released.