Downtown train station to get a facelift

Last week the Oklahoma City council voted for one of Oklahoma City’s oldest functional buildings to be renovated by next year.

The Santa Fe train station in downtown was built in 1932 and is Oklahoma City’s only Amtrak station. The station was last remodeled in 1999 when then owner Jim Brewer renovated and reopened it for Amtrak service, almost 20 years after it had closed.

“The renovations will not only re-energize the entire building, but it will also provide a wide scope of increasing transportation,” Scott Parker, TAP architect and project lead, said. “It will energize in terms of people, retail money and overall just by being a nice addition to the street-scaping.”

In addition to revamping the old building, the city council also approved additional spaces inside the station for retail shops, offices, a food court and a lounge for waiting passengers.

The old train station, located near Bricktown, currently has one train line that running through it. The Heartland Flyer leaves at 8:30 a.m. every day and returns at 9:30 p.m. In between those times, the station typically remains empty and closed to the public.

“The updates on the train station could possibly increase external tourism,” Parker said. “However, it is primarily to provide heavier interaction for residents and to create a hub of city interaction.”

The council approved a $28 million budget for the project with half of the budget coming from a federal grant.

“The remodel is primarily focused on the younger generation,” senior design major Andrea Dennis said. “I think it will first help a younger generation understand some of the history behind the station, but mainly I think it will just provide a better transportation system for our generation.”

The plans for the new train station include a pedestrian tunnel to be built under the tracks to connect the Santa Fe station with the west side of Bricktown.

“In the future we hope to have light rails connecting in Edmond, Norman and downtown Oklahoma City,” Parker said.

Future plans also include a regional transit hub for streetcars, Amtrak and commuters under the Metropolitan Area Projects 3, which is a 10-year construction project designed to improve quality of life in Oklahoma City.

“This renovation helps Oklahoma City by encouraging the residents to take a train instead of a car, which in the end would be cheaper,” junior management major Toye Alao said. “It will also bring more revenue to the stores and shops that are already located near the station.”

Plans for the remodel also include a water wall and pool on the canal side of the tracks, as well as preserving the Devon Centennial Fountain, Mural and playground to south of the station.

“A lot of people will get a good use out of this new train station and transportation system,” Dennis said. “I hear people complain all the time about how long their commute is for work … or just walking around downtown. The trains will be a huge upgrade to Oklahoma City.”

Along with the new renovations, city officials are in conversation with Greyhound about restoring the intercity bus service to downtown with a stop at the renovated Santa Fe station.

“This is a big win for Oklahoma City,” Alao said. “The revenue and tourism will sky rocket after all of the construction is finished. People have been hearing a lot about Oklahoma City lately, and now they will have a chance and a way to come see it for themselves.”

According to TAP Architecture, construction will begin this year and be completed by fall of 2016.

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