Supporters of passenger rail service connecting Oklahoma City and Tulsa say they want the service and want it soon — even if it's not high speed.
They spoke at a meeting in Tulsa hosted by the OklahomaDepartment of Transportation as part of an environmental study to determine the viability of passenger rail service connecting the state's two largest cities — be it high-speed rail or slower, traditional train service.
The Tulsa World reports that some in Tuesday night's crowd argue that the study is a formality to justify selling state-owned rail lines because high-speed rail is not feasible.
ODOT director of engineering David Streb acknowledged that ODOT doesn't really want in the rail business — but said it could be if enough potential passengers make it cost effective.