Possible Commuter Rail, Transit Hub Part of New Thunder Arena Plans

The plans for the new Oklahoma City Thunder Arena include a commuter rail downtown. The rail is part of the plans that were approved by the City Council on Tuesday.

A 2023 study by Walk Score found the current home of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Paycom Center, is the third worst walkable arena in the NBA. City leaders hope to change that with the construction of a new arena.

“It could be transformational,” Oklahoma City Parking and Transit Director Jason Ferbrache said.

When doors open on a new downtown Thunder arena as early as 2029, fans could be taking a train from Edmond or Norman straight to the nearly billion dollar arena.

City leaders agreed on setting aside approximately 60,000 square feet on E.K. Gaylord, as close to the Santa Fe Train Station as reasonably possible.

“I think it’s a huge opportunity to serve what could possibly be on some days this city’s largest trip generator when you have a game or event, but also part of our downtown fabric each and every day serving residents,” Ferbrache said.

The transit hub would connect commuters with the Santa Fe Train Station just across the street from the site of the new arena.

“When you think about the future of commuter rail, some conceptual design work is moving ahead, but it really is going to come down to a vote to approve some dedicated funding,” Ferbrache said.

The location would also service the city’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system of premium buses connecting downtown with northwest Oklahoma City.

“There’s just a lot of synergy there. When you think about the trip generating potential of an arena and everything that surrounds the arena and then the different modes of public transit that would all kind of come together right there at that one location,” Ferbrache said.

The election to decide if Norman, Edmond and Oklahoma City voters want to provide dedicated tax dollars for an intercity rail service is expected in early 2025.