Latest news with #HeartlandFlyer
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Developer proposes converting half-empty OKC office towers into apartments
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A California-based developer wants to breathe new life into a half-empty northwest Oklahoma City office complex by converting it into apartments, the latest in a nationwide trend spurred by housing shortages and a lack of demand for office space post-pandemic. The Landmark Towers, located off Northwest Expressway, have struggled with occupancy since the pandemic emptied out many in-person office spaces. Craig Tucker, managing broker and partner at Oklahoma real estate firm Price Edwards, said demand for office space simply isn't what it used to be. 'The office market, unfortunately, demand is just not there right now,' Tucker said. North Texas leaders consider local funding to keep Heartland Flyer running to Oklahoma City The firm's latest data shows the average Oklahoma City-area office building is more than 25% vacant. That number was closer to 20% in 2018. 'COVID sent a lot of people home,' Tucker said. 'They quickly figured out we don't need office space.' The farther outside downtown you go, the worse the situation gets. Price Edwards found the Landmark Towers were only 18% vacant before COVID. Now, they're about 50% empty. Tucker said he wasn't surprised when first reported the plans to convert the complex into apartments. 'It makes a lot of sense,' he said. 'Office is a tough slog right now, and apartments are pretty popular, and conversions make a lot of sense.' According to planning documents on file with the City of Oklahoma City and obtained by News 4, the company behind the plans to redevelop Landmark Towers is California-based Lincoln Avenue Communities. On its website, Lincoln Avenue describes itself as a company which 'builds communities that are sustainable, resilient, and affordable for the long-term… focused on creating solutions to address America's affordable housing shortage while delivering financial, social, and environmental returns.' Their full plans for Landmark Towers include dozens, if not hundreds, of apartments, along with a community pool and park. The city's Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to review the developer's full plans at their next meeting on Thursday. The company also filed a request with the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office to have the buildings added to the National Register of Historic Places, which could open the project up to special tax incentives. Tucker said the trend of office-to-apartment conversions began around 15 years ago in Oklahoma City, but this would be one of the first examples happening outside the downtown core. 'I think it will energize that area,' Tucker said. 'You know, there's two or three restaurants right out front that will benefit from it. 100% occupied apartments [are] a lot better than the 40% occupied office building.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Texas leaders consider local funding to keep Heartland Flyer running to Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — With just months left before Texas pulls its share of funding for Amtrak's Heartland Flyer rail line, leaders on both ends of the route are scrambling to come up with a solution to keep the service say the loss of the train, which runs between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, would be a step backward at a time when the region's growth demands more transportation State Sen. Mark Mann (D-Oklahoma City) said population growth is shrinking the undeveloped space between the Oklahoma City and Dallas-Fort Worth metro areas.'Look at the Oklahoma City statistical metropolitan area and the Dallas, they get closer and closer each day,' Mann said. Heartland Flyer facing permanent suspension after Texas legislature declines funding And with that growth comes challenges, chief among them: the worsening traffic along I-35.'There's going to come a point very quickly, I think, where we need a viable rail option to move people between those two cities in a timely manner,' he said. 'At some point, we're going to have commuter rail, and instead of driving to Norman because it's going to be so congested.'But Mann also sees opportunity.'I mean, we're bringing the Olympics in,' he said. 'The World Cup is going to be in the Dallas-Fort Worth area next year.'He said losing the Heartland Flyer would undercut that momentum.'When you bring people in from other countries, they expect rail service,' Mann said. 'I think if this goes away, it sends a signal that we're not interested in rail service.'In a statement, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker echoed that concern, calling the Heartland Flyer 'key to ensuring Fort Worth's continued success as a global destination.'She pointed out Fort Worth is Amtrak's busiest station in Texas, 'generating millions in economic impact annually.'On Tuesday, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)—an alliance of more than 200 cities, counties and school districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area—confirmed they are working to 'figure out a long term funding solution' using local funds, once Texas' funding is set to expire in September.'It may come down to municipalities or counties that have to step up if we want to keep the service going,' Mann said he's also working with the Oklahoma City Chamber to explore what other states have done in similar situations.'We're currently trying to find out and ascertain has this happened in any other states? And if so, how did they handle it?' he said. 'Really, anything we want to do in the future related to rail hinges on keeping this line open.'An Amtrak spokesperson told News 4 they also want to keep the Heartland Flyer running, noting they had plans to extend the line north to Kansas, where it could connect travelers to major lines headed toward Chicago and Los Angeles.'Ending this service would sever a well-established transportation network,' Amtrak said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Popular Amtrak Line Is at Risk of Closure—What to Know
A Fort Worth, Texas, to Oklahoma City train service known as the 'Heartland Flyer' may soon end due to funding cuts. The Amtrak-operated service may end no later than Oct. 1, unless a funding disruption is may soon be the final call for a popular Southern train route. Amtrak's Heartland Flyer train line, which operates daily between Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City may soon face closure. Behind the decision to end the train route is a looming $7 million budget shortfall in funding. The Texas Department of Transportation requested the $7.05 million from the state's legislative budget, but the request was not approved, according to Amtrak. The funding helps maintain the operations of the route, along with funds from Oklahoma and ticket sales. The train departs Oklahoma City at 8:25 a.m. and arrives in Fort Worth at 12:27 p.m. The four-hour, two-minute train ride is just one hour longer than if a traveler were to drive the same route. The train makes stops in Norman, Oklahoma; Gainesville, Texas; and several other towns. 'With service that supports Texas' continued economic growth and the region's connectivity, sustaining the Heartland Flyer is essential to maintaining momentum and ensuring long term mobility in the region," Amtrak President Roger Harris said in a statement. Amtrak also points out that the service may be critical in 2026, when Dallas and Fort Worth host portions of the World Cup. The rail service says that the Heartland Flyer will provide access into the metropolitan area from surrounding communities and alleviate congestion.'I used to work in downtown Fort Worth and we got so many customers coming in for day trips on the Flyer," one person shared in the Amtrak thread on Reddit about the service. 'Big economic hit for downtown hotels and restaurants."The Amtrak-operated service has several coach cars and amenities onboard include a cafe that serves a variety of hot breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack items. Passengers are also able to make reservations for small dogs or cats to join them on the train. Travelers who have tickets on the service should check with Amtrak for any updates and monitor Amtrak's travel advisories for the latest news on the than 80,000 people purchased tickets on the Heartland Flyer in 2024, and the service also connects the region to destinations from Chicago and Los Angeles. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
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Travel + Leisure
10-06-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This Popular Amtrak Line Is on the Brink of Closure—What to Know
It may soon be the final call for a popular Southern train route. Amtrak's Heartland Flyer train line, which operates daily between Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City may soon face closure. Behind the decision to end the train route is a looming $7 million budget shortfall in funding. The Texas Department of Transportation requested the $7.05 million from the state's legislative budget, but the request was not approved, according to Amtrak. The funding helps maintain the operations of the route, along with funds from Oklahoma and ticket sales. The train departs Oklahoma City at 8:25 a.m. and arrives in Fort Worth at 12:27 p.m. The four-hour, two-minute train ride is just one hour longer than if a traveler were to drive the same route. The train makes stops in Norman, Oklahoma; Gainesville, Texas; and several other towns. 'With service that supports Texas' continued economic growth and the region's connectivity, sustaining the Heartland Flyer is essential to maintaining momentum and ensuring long term mobility in the region," Amtrak President Roger Harris said in a statement. Amtrak also points out that the service may be critical in 2026, when Dallas and Fort Worth host portions of the World Cup. The rail service says that the Heartland Flyer will provide access into the metropolitan area from surrounding communities and alleviate congestion. 'I used to work in downtown Fort Worth and we got so many customers coming in for day trips on the Flyer," one person shared in the Amtrak thread on Reddit about the service. 'Big economic hit for downtown hotels and restaurants." The Amtrak-operated service has several coach cars and amenities onboard include a cafe that serves a variety of hot breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack items. Passengers are also able to make reservations for small dogs or cats to join them on the train. Travelers who have tickets on the service should check with Amtrak for any updates and monitor Amtrak's travel advisories for the latest news on the service. More than 80,000 people purchased tickets on the Heartland Flyer in 2024, and the service also connects the region to destinations from Chicago and Los Angeles.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Heartland Flyer facing permanent suspension after Texas legislature declines funding
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Heartland Flyer, Oklahoma's only Amtrak train route, is facing permanent suspension after Texas lawmakers declined to fund its share of the route's budget. Since June 14, 1999, the Heartland Flyer has provided daily routes between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas. The Heartland Flyer is a jointly funded partnership between ODOT and TXDOT, using each state's tax dollars. Passenger train between OKC, Fort Worth could soon see its last ride The Heartland Flyer was recently being considered for expansion to Kansas. Amtrak, which operates the route, says funding decisions for state-sponsored services are determined locally. Peter LeCody, president of Texas Rail Advocates, says losing the train would hurt both Texas and Oklahoma. 'If it should go away because of budget constraints in Texas, we're going to be putting probably more than 50,000 vehicles back on Interstate 35, and that's not a good deal,' said LeCody. According to Derek Sparks, Director of Government Relations for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the train is needed now more than ever. 'We are literally in an incredible moment for marketing our community, and it is correct to say that the timing is very unfortunate that we would be losing something that many people who come here may enjoy in their own community, and it sends the wrong signal,' said Sparks. The Texas Department of Transportation requested $7M to uphold their end of the deal, but the funds were not approved in Texas's budget cycle. It could also have an economic impact on both states. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has implied he's not picking up the slack. 'We'll see what we have to do on this side,' Stitt said. 'We're not going to pick up their end of that. And so we're not sure exactly what's going to happen with that.' The Texas Department of Transportation says it has no contractual obligations to Oklahoma. However, Amtrak did say they're seeking possible solutions, but so far, no specifics. Democratic Senator Mark Mann has supported the Heartland Flyer for years, issuing a statement about Texas's decision to no longer fund the rail service. While it was disheartening to learn that the Texas legislature failed to fund their portion of the Heartland Flyer, I am not feeling defeated. There are still other options that can and need to be explored in order to secure the funding necessary to continue service. I am currently working with the Oklahoma City Chamber to identify a coalition of interested stakeholders to explore how we can secure funding and continue the Heartland Flyer train service. Sen. Mark Mann The budget for the train service runs out sometime before October 1, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
