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Tulsa could be close to seeing commuter rail service to the city

Posted at 9:17 PM, Oct 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-27 01:28:17-04

TULSA-- As state legislators meet in Oklahoma City to discuss the future of funding for the Heartland Flyer commuter rail service, Tulsa could be closer to seeing the service return.

The Senate Transportation committee met Wednesday in Oklahoma City to look at the costs and benefits of the Heartland Fyler.

The Heartland Flyer is an Amtrak commuter train with daily service between the state capitol and Dallas-Fort Worth.

Funding could be in jeopardy as state legislators look to close a $1.3 billion budget deficit.

What happens with that service could affect a proposed commuter train for Tulsa.

It’s been several decades since commuter rail service rolled through Tulsa. It’s also been several years since former Tulsa City Council Member Rick Wescott first began trying to get the project on track. The Tulsa commuter train service is called the Eastland Flyer. It would be owned and operated by a private company and not be funded by taxpayer dollars., according to Wescott.

“Over the last 10 years we've made a lot of progress , 10 years ago people said it'll be 50 years before it happens we've made great progress and we're really pretty close right now,” said Rick Wescott.

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