Senators Mann, Coleman, and Greater Oklahoma City Chamber applaud funding fix to keep Heartland Flyer rolling another year

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, and the Greater OKC Chamber are celebrating a vote by the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Regional Transportation Council on Thursday to provide $3.5 million in regional toll revenue funds to continue service of the Heartland Flyer for one year. Oklahoma’s only passenger rail service was slated to end by October 1, 2025, after the Texas Legislature failed to provide funding. 

“Ending the Heartland Flyer would have been a tremendous loss for both states, especially as we’re on the verge of expanding that service in Oklahoma to Kansas and beyond. That’s why I’ve continued to work with advocates in Texas in both the private sector and in government to find a way to keep the Heartland Flyer running,” Mann said. “This vote will keep this important transportation service going.”

Oklahoma had been without passenger service for 20 years when a cooperative agreement between the two states enabled the creation of the Heartland Flyer, supporting tourism and business opportunities with 82,000 riders last year alone. Mann and Coleman were Senate co-authors of a resolution during the 2025 session calling on Texas to continue funding the train.

“I’m pleased the North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Transportation Council found a solution to keep the Heartland Flyer running between Fort Worth and Oklahoma,” Coleman said. “Tourism is Oklahoma’s third-largest industry and a major economic driver for communities across the state. This Amtrak route gives Oklahomans more flexibility when planning their travel and offers Texans a convenient way to see what they’ve been missing just across the border.”

Derek Sparks, director of government relations for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, also praised Thursday’s funding vote.

“The Greater OKC Chamber applauds the actions taken today by North Texas communities to advance a positive funding solution that would allow passenger rail service between Oklahoma City and Ft. Worth to remain operational beyond September,” Sparks said. “We appreciate Senator Mann’s leadership and partnership with the business community on efforts to protect this important transportation asset utilized by Oklahomans from Downtown OKC to the Red River.” 

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Mark Mann at 405-590-4471 or Mark.Mann@oksenate.gov