Stillwater Central Railroad

PROJECT PURPOSE

The project enhances public safety, improves efficiency and fluidity of a short line railroad, reduces carbon emissions and allows for growth in carload volumes. The Stillwater Central Railroad (SLWC) is a Class III short line railroad that serves shippers and receivers throughout central Oklahoma. To date, the SLWC hauled over 40,000 carloads this year, the equivalent of 160,000 trucks. While our railroad was impacted by COVID with team members out throughout the last 20 months, we kept moving freight and keeping the Oklahoma economy moving as an essential business, including serving Fort Sill. Across the country, short lines leverage public grant dollars where available to make transformational upgrades like those proposed in this project. These upgrades would be unattainable without federal or state support. Our project tackles rail/highway at-grade crossing surface improvements, as well as sightline improvements for motorists ? both greatly enhance public safety. The project also proposes much needed bridge upgrades to maintain our 286k lb railcar rating and brings much needed capacity with the addition of a meet/pass rail siding on the Sooner Subdivision connecting Oklahoma City to just outside of Tulsa. The project also entails a system-wide tie replacement of 116,000 crossties and related ballast upgrades.

EVIDENCE

None

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The SLWC operates through the state?s largest population centers but also connects one of the least populated counties to the national freight network. As an essential business, the SLWC kept operations running during the toughest months of the pandemic, risking health and welfare, to continue bringing critical equipment and supplies to Fort Sill. We hauled crude and other energy resources that kept the economy chugging along even if at a snail?s pace. We gave our customers extra switches, even on weekends, for just-in-time commodities caused by the supply chain shortages. Partnering with stakeholder communities, we did joint cleanup projects along the railroad right-of-way and adjacent properties as they faced manpower issues and lacked funding. We hauled aggregate and construction materials that go into road building projects across Oklahoma. Post-project, our customers get a more fluid, efficient railroad and the public gets improved crossing surfaces and sightlines for motorists.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The SLWC will measure performance through metrics such as increased carload volumes, fuel efficiency gains, reduced slow orders, improved safety statistics at targeted at-grade crossings and reduction in complaints about targeted at-grade crossing surfaces. The railroad keeps comprehensive data on crossing incidents, track-caused slow orders (where the train is required to slow down), fuel usage, and carload volumes. We can provide before/after comparisons as required.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma