Amtrak passengers traveling on the Heartland Flyer will have a more welcoming experience at the Norman and Pauls Valley stations following about $8 million in improvements, including $5 million spent on the Pauls Valley station’s platform.
Representatives of Pauls Valley and Amtrak celebrated completion of the new platform with a ribbon cutting Friday, as the Heartland Flyer made its morning stop in Pauls Valley carrying passengers to Ft. Worth, Texas, for the OU-Texas game.
Pauls Valley’s station, opened in 2002 with funding assistance from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation through the Federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, is built to match the original depot in style and incorporates a climate- controlled waiting area and restrooms.
With the recent investment in platform improvements by Amtrak, the station now features a 290-foot-long concrete boarding platform with an embedded brick paver surface. Sloped accessible walkways and safety barriers, have been installed, along with energy efficient LED light fixtures that provide full coverage lighting at the platform, detectable warning systems, and new signage.
“We appreciate the work Amtrak has done to improve the station here in Pauls Valley and the investment they have made in our community. These improvements help create a welcoming place for residents and visitors and support our efforts to bring more people into our downtown,” Pauls Valley City Manager Joe Livingston said. “We see Amtrak as an important economic driver for Pauls Valley, connecting travelers to our local businesses, attractions, and events. We value this partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to grow ridership and create more opportunities for our community.”
According to Amtrak, 22 stations were brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in the 12 months ending Sept. 30 and another 58 stations are targeted for completion in the next year.
Amtrak has invested more than $1 billion since 2011 in accessibility upgrades and improvement projects at 169 stations across the national network. The ADA Stations Program is advancing 116 station designs and 85 station construction projects as part of Amtrak’s ongoing commitment to providing accessibility by working toward 100% completion by 2029.
These Amtrak projects receive specific Congressional funding directed by the Federal Railroad Administration. The Amtrak Heartland Flyer (Trains 821 & 822) stop in Pauls Valley twice daily on the route between Ft. Worth and Oklahoma City and are sponsored by the Oklahoma and Texas state transportation departments.
