Transportation: Widening U.S. 412 and U.S. 81 are high on wish list, which includes high-speed rail
ENID — Making
U.S.
412 four lanes from Enid to Woodward and improving U.S. 81 north of
Enid were the biggest highway needs discussed Tuesday during a meeting
of Enid officials and the state Transportation Department.
Craig Moody,
of the Transportation Department’s planning and research division, said
the department updates its 20-year plan every five years. "It helps
steer the department where it needs to go,” he said.
Former state Rep. Curt Roggow
said a two-lane highway with wide shoulders would be sufficient for
U.S. 81 north of Enid because of the cost of building highways.
Moody said he is hearing a lot of calls for high-speed rail service.
Air quality standards for towns with populations of 10,000 and more could also affect future projects. Moody said the Environmental Protection Agency wants to increase clean air standards.
City Commissioner Daron Rudy said the problems in rural Oklahoma are caused by blowing dirt, not cars.
Among the strategies the Transportation Department listed are improving
bicycle and pedestrian routes; expanding passenger rail service;
expanding the availability of van pools, buses and park-and-ride lots;
coordinating rural, tribal and urban transit; and increasing
communications between local transportation systems, rail and airports.
There is $8 billion in federal stimulus money available for improvement
and expansion of high-speed rail service. Oklahoma has requested $2
billion, which would build the rail system and purchase two trains,
Moody said.
Posted on
Thu, November 19, 2009
by Crystal Drwenski