The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is finalizing an update to its 2026 State Rail Plan, covering passenger and freight services across the state's 3,200 miles of active rail lines.
Officials are seeking public input on safety, commerce, and long-term infrastructure needs.
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The updated plan allows the state to inventory rail lines, analyze economic impacts, assess future projects, and examine financing options.
According to ODOT, the framework positions local stakeholders to qualify for federal funding. It updates a previous plan last finalized in 2021.
Rail crossing safety remains a critical priority. Many collisions occur at crossings with active warning signals when motorists bypass lowered gates.
Jared Schwennesen, ODOT's Head of Multimodal and Planning, emphasized the importance of public collaboration and federal alignment.
The state intends to submit the finalized draft to the federal government by the end of June.
"The federal government requires us to submit a rail plan to ensure that we're aligned to move forward and see what the state is planning for rail and ensure we have communication and collaboration with the public and all of our rail partners in the state of Oklahoma," Schwennesen said.
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The agency is encouraging residents to report issues such as blocked crossings, safety hazards, and local business access needs.
"It's an opportunity for the public to come say where they're having issues with railroads," Schwennesen explained.
ODOT uses physical barriers to stop drivers from navigating around closed railroad infrastructure, reducing accidents at designated intersections.
"Something that we do to try to prevent this is we'll put medians there, so there's a positive barrier to hinder people from going around the gates," Schwennesen said.
State data reveals the current rail network is roughly half the size of the system that existed prior to federal rail deregulation decades ago.
ODOT will host a virtual public information meeting on June 3 at 2:00 p. m.
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Online comments and materials will remain accessible on the agency's website through June 15.
