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 WiFi. 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 and monthly passes are available for $32. 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 the transportation options. With Greater Oklahoma City’s population forecasted to grow by almost 500,000 people in the next 20 years, the group acknowledges that passenger rail will be a critical component of that growth. A number of Greater Oklahoma City communities have financially committed to forming a regional transit authority, including Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Moore, Midwest City and Del City. Using a commuter corridor study, the RTA task force is proposing three transit routes to areas experiencing significant growth: Edmond to Downtown Oklahoma City, Downtown Oklahoma City to Norman, and Oklahoma City to Midwest City.
The OKC Streetcar makes it easy to get around downtown, taking riders to places such as Scissortail Park and the Bricktown district.
Oklahoma City Welcome Guide | ABetterLifeOKC.com 11
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