PUBLIC TRANSIT EMBARK, operated by the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA), is the primary provider of public transit in Oklahoma City. EMBARK offers fixed-route bus services, paratransit, ferry river transit, and a downtown bike share program. Buses run every 30-60 minutes on a hub-and-spoke system from the downtown transit center at NW Fifth Street and N Harvey Avenue. Recent upgrades have increased service frequency, added stops, and extended hours, while technological improvements like a mobile trip planner, real- time bus updates, and on-board Wi-Fi enhance the rider experience. In 2016, EMBARK was named North America's Outstanding Public Transit System by the American Public Transportation Association. Additionally, in 2018, the city launched a 6.8-mile streetcar route connecting downtown Oklahoma City and Bricktown, with rides priced at $1, or $3 for a 24-hour pass. For more details, visit okcstreetcar.com. As Oklahoma City’s population is expected to grow by nearly 500,000 people in the next 20 years, expanding transportation options is a priority. The Greater Oklahoma City region, including Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Norman, has formed a regional transit authority (RTA) to develop a transit system that includes commuter rail service. The plan identifies four regional corridors linking key areas such as educational institutions, commercial centers, and entertainment hubs. Another major component of the RTA plan is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). In 2018, Oklahoma City received a $14.4 million federal grant to build the RAPID BRT line, a 9.5- mile route connecting downtown, midtown, and northwest Oklahoma City with 30 stops along Northwest Expressway and Classen Blvd. PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO EXTEND THE SERVICE NORTH TO WICHITA, KANSAS, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE CONNECTIONS TO CHICAGO AND LOS ANGELES VIA AMTRAK’S SOUTHWEST CHIEF LINE.
AMTRAK SERVICE Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer offers daily service on a 418-mile round trip between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas, with connections to Dallas and San Antonio. The train departs and arrives at the Santa Fe Station Intermodal Hub, with an additional stop in Norman, Pauls Valley, Ardmore and Gainsville. Plans are in place to extend the service north to Wichita, Kansas, which would provide connections to Chicago and Los Angeles via Amtrak’s Southwest Chief line.
8 Oklahoma City Official Welcome Guide 2024
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