Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Transportation

Near the geographic center of the nation, Oklahoma City is an integral point on the U.S. Interstate Network. Most highways throughout the city are 6-8 lanes and have a level of congestion lower than most comparably sized cities. Interstate 35, Interstate 40, and Interstate 44 bisect the city, Interstate 240 connects I-40 to I-44 in South OKC, the Lake Hefner Parkway (OK-74) runs through Northwest Oklahoma City, Kilpatrick Turnpike makes a loop around North and West Oklahoma City, Airport Rd. (actually a freeway section of S.W. 44th Street) runs through Southwest Oklahoma City and leads to Will Rogers World Airport, Broadway Extension/U.S. 77 connects Central Oklahoma City to Edmond, and Interstate 235 spurs from I-44 in North Central OKC into downtown Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City was a major stop on Route 66 and was prominently mentioned in Bobby Troup's 1946 jazz classic, "(Get Your Kicks) on Route 66," later made famous by Nat King Cole.

Related Topics:
Interstate 35 - Interstate 40 - Interstate 44 - Interstate 240 - OK-74 - Kilpatrick Turnpike - Broadway Extension/U.S. 77 - Interstate 235 - Route 66 - Bobby Troup's - Nat King Cole

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Oklahoma City is served by two primary airports, Will Rogers World Airport and the much smaller Wiley Post Airport (incidentally, the two honorees died in the same plane crash in Alaska). Will Rogers World Airport is currently undergoing a major reconstruction period. Tinker Air Force Base, in East OKC, is the largerst military air depot in the nation, a major maintenance and deployment facility for the Navy and Air Force, and the second largest military institution in the state (after Ft. Sill in Lawton).

Related Topics:
Will Rogers World Airport - Wiley Post Airport - Alaska - Tinker Air Force Base - Navy - Air Force - Lawton

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Amtrak has an Art Deco train station downtown, with daily service to Fort Worth via the Heartland Flyer. Greyhound and several other intercity bus companies serve Oklahoma City at Union Bus Station, Downtown.

Related Topics:
Amtrak - Fort Worth - Heartland Flyer

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METRO Transit is the public transit company. They recently opened a new bus terminal downtown at NW 5th Street and Hudson Avenue.

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There were plans in the early 1990s to build a light rail system for the city as part of the MAPS urban redevelopment program, but the project stalled repeatedly on issues of funding. (Ernest Istook, the city's congressman and chairman of the congressional transportation committee, played a major role in killing federal funding for the project). There is still a good chance that a light rail trolley system may be built, but the relocation of I-40 south of downtown OKC will destroy an existing rail yard that is an essential part of the plan.

Related Topics:
Light rail - Ernest Istook - Transportation committee

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