Moody to manage Oklahoma DOT's rail division

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently named Craig Moody manager of its Rail Programs Division.

He will oversee efforts to manage and improve the rail system in Oklahoma, including the state's partnership with Amtrak to provide Heartland Flyer passenger-rail service, maintenance of more than 200 miles of state-owned track, and implementation of the Oklahoma Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan.

Moody has more than 25 years of experience with ODOT and most recently was the program coordination branch manager in its Planning and Research Division. Since joining the department's Roadway Design Division in 1987, he has served stints as system section manager in the Planning and Research Division and public involvement officer. He currently represents ODOT on the State Geographic Information Council.

"Moody has organized and conducted numerous public meetings to gather input and deliver information on some of ODOT's largest projects," said ODOT officials in a press release.

Two large rail projects that he'll likely oversee recently landed Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) V funding: a new intermodal transit hub at the Santa Fe Depot in Oklahoma City that won a $13.6 million grant, and improvements to 15 miles of state-owned track between Erick and Sayre that obtained a $1.6 million grant.

The hub will in part serve as a station for Amtrak's Heartland Flyer service, while the track upgrades will reopen a freight-rail line that's been out of service for a decade.