renovation and expansion, which includes seven new gates, new streamlined security, a public observation gallery, increased shopping and dining, and space for future international screening/air service.
The RTA has identified four regional corridors in the plan that would quickly and efficiently transport people to various “regional activity centers,” including educational institutions, commercial centers and entertainment areas. The north/south corridor will connect Edmond to the north and Norman to the south; the east corridor connects downtown OKC to Tinker Air Force Base; the airport corridor will connect downtown OKC to Will Rogers World Airport; and the west corridor would connect downtown OKC to the west towards Yukon. The four approved routes would all meet at the Santa Fe Station Intermodal Hub, which will serve as a connection for the Oklahoma City Streetcar and Oklahoma City’s passenger rail service through Amtrak. Another key component of the RTA’s approved plan is bus rapid transit (BRT). In 2018, Oklahoma City was awarded a $14.4 million federal grant to build a BRT line between downtown and northwest Oklahoma City. The line, which has been named RAPID, will run 9.5 miles each way with 30 stops between the city’s northwest side, midtown and downtown via Northwest Expressway and Classen Blvd., stopping at Meridian Avenue. The city is providing about $13 million in matching funds. Construction should be completed in late 2023.
PUBLIC TRANSIT The primary provider of public transit in Oklahoma City is EMBARK, which is operated by the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA). EMBARK provides fixed-route and paratransit services in Oklahoma City, including ferry river transit and downtown bike share service. Buses operate every 30 to 60 minutes in a hub- and-spoke system from the downtown transit center, located at NW Fifth Street and N Harvey Avenue. EMBARK has made significant upgrades to its system in recent years, including increased frequency, additional stops and later service. EMBARK’s technology improvements include a mobile trip planner, SMS real-time bus arrival info and on-board Wi-Fi. Because of their commitment to providing the best public transit to residents, EMBARK was named North America’s Outstanding Public Transit System by the American Public Transportation Association in 2016, the highest recognition in the United States. In 2018, Oklahoma City started offering transportation via streetcar in downtown. The 6.8- mile route is two loops, one that travels north and south in downtown and another loop through Bricktown. The Bricktown loop operates on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. One streetcar ride costs $1, or $3 for a 24-hour day pass. Monthly passes are available for $32, and an annual pass is $384. For more information about the streetcar, including a route map and stops, visit okcstreetcar.com. The streetcar is just one way the city’s leaders have been looking to expand transportation options. With Greater Oklahoma City’s population forecasted to grow by almost 500,000 people in the next 20 years, cities in the region acknowledge that commuter rail can be a critical component of a future transportation system. Several Greater Oklahoma City communities – Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Midwest City, Moore and Del City – originally formed a regional transit authority that studied and subsequently approved a transit system plan to include four regional corridors that will connect Oklahoma City with its partner cities with commuter rail service.
AMTRAK SERVICE Amtrak’s service via the Heartland Flyer runs a daily 418- mile round trip between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas. From there, connections can be made to Dallas and San Antonio. The train arrives and leaves from the Santa Fe Station Intermodal Hub and also includes a stop in Norman. There are plans to expand this service north to Wichita, Kansas, which would allow service to Chicago and Los Angeles through Amtrak’s Southwest Chief line.
8 Oklahoma City Official Welcome Guide 2022
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