Local Oklahoma Main Street Program members, along with city halls and chambers of commerce, have been active in helping cities to capitalize on passenger rail service. The Oklahoma Main Street Program is a statewide downtown revitalization program. That pleases Ardmore Mayor Sheryl Ellis.
People come here to shop.
It brings the community together. Tim Gatz, enhancement project coordinator for Amtrak, said making the train depots the focal point of communities was a goal of expanding Amtrak service. For that to happen, though, the depots needed money for renovations. Norman was already using its depot as a community center, Gatz said, although it was in disrepair. Ardmore plans to use its depot as a community center, too.