Oklahoma Department of Transportation Media & Public Relations Division 200 N.E. 21st Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Phone:405-521-6000 Fax: 405-521-2524 www.odot.org Contact: Andrew Craig Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Media Advisory
Media invited as the Heartland Flyer “toots its own horn” for its 20th Anniversary celebration Friday
Members of the media are invited to help celebrate 20 years of passenger rail service on the Amtrak Heartland Flyer during a special event Friday morning. In addition to photo and video opportunities with the train, Oklahoma resident Katie Moore, who, as an 11-year-old girl, won the contest to name the Heartland Flyer in 1999, will be in attendance and riding the train Friday.
The program will begin promptly at 7:45 a.m. with brief remarks from transportation leaders including Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz, former Transportation Secretary Neal McCaleb and officials with Amtrak, the City of Oklahoma City and the National Association of Railroad Passengers.
Reporters are encouraged to arrive at 7:30 a.m. for one-on-one interview opportunities before the event, as some speakers will be riding the train that departs promptly following the event at 8:25 a.m. Coffee and donuts will be provided.
Heartland Flyer 20th Anniversary media event Friday, June 14 7:45 a.m. Santa Fe Depot, Paul Adams Memorial Platform 100 South E.K. Gaylord Blvd. Oklahoma City
In addition to celebrating 20 years of successful passenger service between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, the event will showcase the Santa Fe Depot’s ongoing multimillion dollar renovation as part of the City of Oklahoma City’s vision for a regional multimodal transportation hub.
Train rides: Reporters interested in riding the train to Norman must contact ODOT by noon Thursday to arrange for a press pass.
Parking instructions: Due to limited parking at the Santa Fe Depot typically reserved for train customers, members of the media should consider parking at the Pinkitzel/Scissortail Gifts/Destination Oklahoma Tours/Spokies parking lot immediately to the south of the depot or the paid parking lot at Reno Ave. and E.K. Gaylord Blvd.
(Editors and News Directors: To coordinate live shots of the train for your early morning shows or arrange for a press pass to ride the train Friday, or for any other questions, contact the ODOT Media and Public Relations office at 405-521-6000.)
