Tulsa-Oklahoma City, working together we can make a change.

[Laramie]

2016 Estimates:


Tulsa - Population: Metropolitan area - 1,000,000; Central City - 402,000


Oklahoma City - Population: Metropolitan area - 1,350,00, Central City - 630,000

Time to set aside the rivalry and work together for the betterment of both communities.

We have two mid size airports, Tulsa International & OKC Will Rogers World; about time we start to push for international flights from one of these cities (Mexico, overseas) instead of travel to Dallas (DFW) for international flights and Kansas City for non stop flights to other U.S. destinations.

Tulsa has an inland port (Port of Catoosa) which could be better utilized for barge shipments.
Oklahoma City has an airport which could be expanded for cargo.

Commuter & Light Rail transit could be established between both of Oklahoma's two largest cities. There are more positive areas about both cities which could be discussed in this thread. Just imagine a high speed bullet train (150 mph) used to lessen the travel between both cities in less than 45 minutes.

What are your contributory thoughts?

[bchris02]

High speed rail between the two cities would be nice, but only if it starts in downtown OKC and ends in downtown Tulsa. Doing something like Edmond to Sapulpa would not be realistic or beneficial. This would work great once OKC has its streetcar and if Tulsa gets a streetcar. The key will be to be able to quickly travel to the other city and not need a car once you get there.

[Pete]

The competition -- apart from the inherent pettiness -- is a good thing.

As each city raises the bar, the other responds in kind. Look at MAPS and how that moved Tulsa to do something similar.

Elliot Nelson started in Tulsa and then brought almost all his concepts to OKC. Several OKC restaurant and bars have expanded into Tulsa or soon will.

I've always said the best thing for each city is for the other to achieve greatness

[bchris02]

I've always said the best thing for each city is for the other to achieve greatness

In my opinion, this can only happen though if the cities will learn from each other instead of dismissing what the other has to offer. From my experience, people at both ends of the turnpike tend to do this. Tulsa can learn from what OKC has done in Bricktown/Deep Deuce and its streetcar as they push towards filling in their parking crater downtown. They can learn from P180 in terms of fixing their downtown infrastructure. OKC can learn from Tulsa when it comes to developing its peripheral urban neighborhoods as well as street beautification and placemaking.

[zookeeper]

Heck, why mess with light rail between cities when we have Elon Musk's Hyperloop? By my calculations, a Hyperloop between Oklahoma City and Tulsa would be a 6 1/2 minute trip. This is the future of inter-city travel. When you hear Musk tell the story it really makes so much sense and the cost of the technology would drop incredibly fast.
http://www.spacex.com/hyperloop
http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/30/10...etition-awards
http://www.digitaltrends.com/Everything You Need To Know about the Hyperloop
Hyperloop Tech.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperloop

[dwellsokc]

"Working together" is the key... Tulsa can't even work with itself. Their political infighting prevents any meaningful development. OKC's success is due in part to our political unity.

[Laramie]

"Working together" is the key... Tulsa can't even work with itself. Their political infighting prevents any meaningful development. OKC's success is due in part to our political unity.

Does that sounds familiar?

Oklahoma City was about in the same position as Tulsa before we bought into the MAPS project plan. Our city maintained the 'status quo' while most of our talented young professionals moved to cities like Dallas & Houston for what they perceived as better jobs and a better quality of life.

Tulsa 2010: ( MSA - 937,478) has just eclipsed 1 million people in its metro area; similar to what OKC was in 1990: (MSA - 958,839). Many cities reach growing pains; much like the transition of young adults.

Tulsa & Oklahoma City could serve the growing Port of Catoosa which moves much of its barge to New Orleans; the ever expanding Oklahoma City Will Rogers World airport where both cities could be served by International Flights.

Tulsa Port of Catoosa tonnage shows uptick for month of February - Tulsa World: Transportation

The Tulsa Port of Catoosa, near Tulsa, Oklahoma, is located at the head of navigation for the system. The waterway travels 445 miles along the Verdigris River, the Arkansas River, the Arkansas Post Canal and the White River before joining the Mississippi at Montgomery Point. New Orleans is 600 miles south.

Navigation System - Tulsa Port of Catoosa

"Not only are we going to be able to attract additional new air carriers and hopefully have our existing ones expand, but also bring international carriers to Oklahoma City," Carney said.

Expansion at Will Rogers World Airport could lead to more international flights | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KOKH

It would be easier for Will Rogers to serve Oklahoma than having passengers drive from Tulsa or Oklahoma City to DFW.

Oklahoma City is on the verge; let's invest more money into Will Rogers World Airport. It could make the area more attractive to the commercial business & industry--better serve companies like GE Global Research and the expanding corporate giants in OKC & Tulsa.