How the hell are overhead lines dated? Why I do see them for trolly buses in multiple cities in China? Also High Speed Rail uses overhead lines and every high speed rail line I've used in China has been pretty new. Some just opened a few months ago even new Metro lines use overhead wires? Why is a country that's building the largest electrified rail network and largest collection of Metro's using technology you people think is dated?

It's not dated the reality is it's either this or third rail. Battery power can only lasts so long even then it's just easier to use overhead wires. What if they decide to add 8 miles to this line the future so your telling me this can 8 miles further on battery? I do think this street car line is kind of stupid but only because it doesn't go anywhere and it's basically a loop (correct if I'm wrong about the loop part).

The loop does make it a bit "stupid." What ever happened to those trolley busses that looped downtown? The streetcar seems like a theme park ride through downtown OKC not to serve the commuter. It also smells a bit like a few contractors are going to make an absolute killing.

The original purpose for them in OKC was to get the workers to the work. You see the evidence all throughout the prewar neighborhoods in the form of boulevards like Drexel, villa and Venice. I don't have an aerial from 1930 but it looks like classen drive and shartel(via mesta) were also part of the system.

While we may not necessarily need that kind of infrastructure anymore. It would at least be nice to connect some districts like plaza via classen drive, and uptown via Walker. And yes that is self serving. I would love to leave my car at home where it doesn't get dinged in the garage and suffer a 20 minute commute to go 2 miles. Or go to a thunder game by jumping on the streetcar at 23rd and Walker and riding it down to the myriad garden. But let's see some elevated lines go down Walker through HH bwahahaha!

I'm sure this has been brought up before but I'm just tossing my pennies into the 255 page wishing pool.

BRT would be a HUGE FAIL in Oklahoma City; if it is implemented first or the ONLY transit 'rapid' transit mode. Get real folks, OKC people already don't take busses, so we want rapid busses that are all empty too?

Again, remember who we are dealing with and WHAT the purpose of the streetcar truly is: it is to foster the urban experience by connecting the districts by rail while ALSO giving the OKC public a re-education that transit is OK (and not just for the poor).

I agree with BRT along NW Expressway and a few other corridors (where you could have similar/mile long between stops, dedicated ROW) but it would be ridiculous IMO to implement BRT first in OKC when it doesn't even have a commuter base already using transit. BRT is not local or even Express Bus, BRT is a hybrid between bus and Commuter Rail and the best systems have their own ROW - lending the costs to be the same or greater than rail based transit.

There's nothing wrong with having a loop downtown. As it covers a lot of territory, and if you consider leaving the Santa Fe station and going to Midtown, or living in Midtown and going to Bricktown, it makes a lot of sense. That is the primary reasoning.

And remember, the goal is to eventually have service up Classen, down to Capitol Hill and potentially out to Tinker. That's a pretty useful system and worthy of rails in the ground. But that's also a $Billion project…good luck getting a city that has NO experience with rail-tranist to vote to spend $1B for that system.

There's nothing wrong with having a loop downtown. As it covers a lot of territory, and if you consider leaving the Santa Fe station and going to Midtown, or living in Midtown and going to Bricktown, it makes a lot of sense. That is the primary reasoning.

And remember, the goal is to eventually have service up Classen, down to Capitol Hill and potentially out to Tinker. That's a pretty useful system and worthy of rails in the ground. But that's also a $Billion project…good luck getting a city that has NO experience with rail-tranist to vote to spend $1B for that system.

That $1 billion project would include the destination cities like Edmond & Norman in the event of commuter rail; they would need to pay their share. It's getting the partnering cities to buy into the system.

With strategic universities like UCO (Edmond) & OU (Norman) anything is possible. There's also U.S. Government grants; financial assistance for projects of this magnitude that could help defray some costs.

Alls I'm saying is plaza and uptown would be 2 extra miles of track and have a huge impact on accessibility to people who actually live in OKC to commute and play vs "hey I'll drive my car to bricktown from shawnee then take the novelty streetcar over to that weenies & beer place I heard so much about." Uber has also changed the playing field of tourist transit.

This has been posted many, many times. Still yet, will have to be posted again and again.

The streetcar system is designed to be the nexus of a much larger pubic transit network. The "loop" may not make sense unless you look at it from a circulation/destination standpoint. The first phase of this system is designed to be able to transport people to and from the Santa Fe Station to the Central Business District, key destinations, and businesses.

It is designed and modeled to be self-sustaining as a stand alone system but become ever increasingly successful as additional legs of public transit are added over the long term. This is all based of extensive studies of circulation.

It is also important to note that the couplet design is not proposed to extend beyond the downtown area in significant ways in future phases to the Plaza, Capitol Hill, and much of the Health Sciences Center.

I get the skepticism. It is welcome. But these plans were not designed in a vacuum. They have been modified to take into account our changing and evolving city. A city that will be harder to recognize as It rapidly continues to grow and the core densifies even more.

Alls I'm saying is plaza and uptown would be 2 extra miles of track and have a huge impact on accessibility to people who actually live in OKC to commute and play vs "hey I'll drive my car to bricktown from shawnee then take the novelty streetcar over to that weenies & beer place I heard so much about." Uber has also changed the playing field of tourist transit.

Novelty Streetcar? Good description...

Had hopes that the streetcar would eventually lead to commuter rail.

The novelty streetcar will be much better than the rubber wheel vintage trolleys. Nice window dressing for a city of our size; thought we were on the verge of something big that would expand into the area of commuter rail.

Good description, Uptowner!

the Streetcar WILL lead to Commuter Rail; but understand that they are different modes of transit with Streetcar having a lightrail vehicle largely in the streets with frequent stops while Commuter Rail uses long diesel or electric trains in existing freight rail (and new pax only rail) with infrequent stops (usually destination or major transfer points).

BOTH systems are being implemented - it is just the Streetcar is part of Maps 3 while the Commuter Rail will be a Regional Transit District (already approved by ACOG and the mayors of the communitites to be serviced initially). Also, the metro bus system will be enhanced and expanded which will TIE into the Streetcar and Commuter Rail, providing a comprehensive transit network that Urban described. Streetcar itself will be expanded to serve more of the central Oklahoma City, Commuter Rail will serve the suburbs to downtown (hence the name, 'commuter' rail) - the idea being commute into downtown and then ride the streetcar (and/or bus) to get around.

All of this is coming, it is just that Streetcar is first because it is a MAPS 3 component.

People keep responding to my comment with "commuter rail". I'm talking about an extension of the streetcar to include plaza and uptown as it has been redrawn to include midtown. The access points would provide great opportunity for people to commute from plaza or paseo, yes. BUT it would be good for business and commerce to spread that theme park ride $$ into entertainment districts that already suffer GREATLY from lack of parking.

Forgive me if this has already been covered, but I have a few questions about the streetcar (answers to these may not exist yet)

• Will there be signal priority along the route?
• Will it be fully shared ROW or will there be dedicated ROW?
• Will boarding and stops be at the curb or center of street (or mixed)?
• Will there be off-board payment kiosks and proof of payment systems implemented?
• Will there be the option for driverless streetcars along the route?

These are just general questions without an underlying agenda. I'm trying to think of options that exist elsewhere for rail-based transit that can help reduce operating costs and improve overall efficiency to hopefully continue to decrease headways along the route.

Also, has there been any realistic discussion about parking minimum exemptions along the route?

Good description, Uptowner!

Disagree. I work and live DT and I'll use it all the time; and even more so when it extends to OUHSC. It's going to be a nice amenity for tourists, but it'll be fantastic for residents and workers. Just my $.02. Not that I mind walking or riding my bike everywhere, but I'm really looking forward to being able to use the streetcar -- especially on those cold/hot/windy/rainy days.

Also, has there been any realistic discussion about parking minimum exemptions along the route?

All of downtown is already exempt from minimums, which is good. I'd like to see parking maximums eventually.

Forgive me if this has already been covered, but I have a few questions about the streetcar (answers to these may not exist yet)

• Will there be signal priority along the route? Yes

• Will it be fully shared ROW or will there be dedicated ROW? ​Mostly mixed with a few exceptions. The new OKC Boulevard for example, may have a dedicated ROW specifically for streetcar. Some stops are isolated as well.

• Will boarding and stops be at the curb or center of street (or mixed)? Mixed

• Will there be off-board payment kiosks and proof of payment systems implemented? Stop locations are proposed to have ticket machines. Existing parking payment kiosks are being considered. Electronic, via phone, payment considered. No onboard ticketing is proposed. Streetcar payment will probably be a honor system with rare enforcement. A 'free trial period' or 'payment free zones' are being considered.

• Will there be the option for driverless streetcars along the route? Driverless streetcar technology has been discussed and there is broad consensus that such technology may be more easily applied to streetcar systems as there are fewer variables than with automobiles. It is entirely possible that such an option will be available in the 'near future'. Right now, conventional streetcar specs do not provide such an option within our budget. Also, it will require NTSB support and approval.


These are great questions. My answers in bold.

These are just general questions without an underlying agenda. I'm trying to think of options that exist elsewhere for rail-based transit that can help reduce operating costs and improve overall efficiency to hopefully continue to decrease headways along the route.

This discussion starts at 18:14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MH3OhpwsYM

Safe to say that it covers nearly all of your issues regarding Operations & Maintenance Costs, signal prioritization, and such. Also safe to say that there is broad concern by me, our committee, and some key members of cancel and mitigate these risks. Hopefully sound policy will prevail through this democratic process and we will end up with a truly efficient streetcar system that we can be proud of.

Thank you Urban for answering my questions and providing more information. I'm encouraged to learn how the committee is working to make this a valuable and resilient system.

Disagree. I work and live DT and I'll use it all the time; and even more so when it extends to OUHSC. It's going to be a nice amenity for tourists, but it'll be fantastic for residents and workers. Just my $.02. Not that I mind walking or riding my bike everywhere, but I'm really looking forward to being able to use the streetcar -- especially on those cold/hot/windy/rainy days.

Most avid bike riders I know wouldn't be to thrilled about any of these modes of transportation; so I understand your premise.

NewsOK just posted a video of the streetcar route on their website:
Take a tour of the OKC streetcar route | News OK (http://newsok.com/video-take-a-tour-of-the-okc-streetcar-route/article/5491192)

Also, it made me wonder, will anything have to be done with the roundabout on 10th? Or will the streetcar be able to navigate that?

NewsOK just posted a video of the streetcar route on their website:
Take a tour of the OKC streetcar route | News OK (http://newsok.com/video-take-a-tour-of-the-okc-streetcar-route/article/5491192)

Also, it made me wonder, will anything have to be done with the roundabout on 10th? Or will the streetcar be able to navigate that?

It's amazing how much needs to be done with Hudson and conversely pleasantly surprising how well developed Harvey is.

Really hope whatever goes on that EMSA lot in Midtown is a homerun. such an important lot for Midtown and with the Street Car driving past 3 sides of it, it needs to be special.

We can haz $30M development?

I think those empty lots between Hudson, Harvey, 10th & 11th will be developed fully within the next 5 years. They're PRIME for residential.

Oklahoma City panel to consider acquiring sixth streetcar | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-panel-to-consider-acquiring-sixth-streetcar/article/5494663)

Just got this email not too long ago

"Good afternoon Residents of the Centennial,

My name is (name redacted) and I will be the main point of contact for the streetcar construction that is part of the MAPS 3 Streetcar project. The exciting news is that the streetcar will be running west on Reno in front of your building. Just like any project, there will be construction associated with it, but this will be taking place across the street from you all on the north side of Reno. Construction will be done a couple of blocks at a time, and each section should take between 4 to 6 weeks. The construction will only be in the one lane along the curb, and the rest of Reno will remain open. The nearest stops to your location are at the Bricktown Ballpark plaza, and in front of the parking lot that is in front of Zio’s.

Overall construction should start late fall of this year, and if everything goes smoothly, the streetcar will be operating by fall of 2018. We don’t know where along the route the construction will be starting, but when we do know, I will be contacting (name redacted), who will then get in touch with you all so you know it’s coming.

There will be 5 cars operating on the route, and I’ve attached the conceptual image of the car so you can see what they will look like. The time in between cars is estimated to be 10 to 12 minutes, but 7 to 8 minutes for the pink loop that goes into Bricktown. This is because one car will be dedicated to the east/west loop."

Good god it's actually happening.

Awesome email!

fwiw, we observed the absolute failures in communication and lack of pro-activeness with Project 180. The subcommittee, EMBARK, and the MAPS 3 office are committed to ensuring that the mistakes made with P180 communication and construction efficiency will not be repeated.

Communication will transition officially to the OKC Streetcar brand once the construction is completed and the Blue and Red Lines are up and running.

Where will the first leg of construction for this route begin? Since there is such a draw to the entertainment district, it's my hope that they start in the business district and work counter-clockwise. UP?

Bricktown Loop will be first and they will do two blocks at a time. I don't think a decision regarding where precisely construction will start has been made.

Bricktown Loop will be first and they will do two blocks at a time. I don't think a decision regarding where precisely construction will start has been made.

Shortly after that, I'm guessing the maintenance facility? Just wondering where they plan on storing the cars when not in use.

Maintenance facility is first. She meant the Bricktown loop is the first part of the actual service to be built.

Maintenance facility bids tomorrow for General Contractors so as Urbanized said that will be first. It is going into the lot South of S.W. 7th Street and West of S. Hudson Avenue and expand out from there.

...and will obviously tie in on the SW corner of the Bricktown Loop.

Video on NewsOK about the tentative running schedule of the streetcar is here (http://newsok.com/maps-3-street-car-routes-service-times-and-cost/multimedia/video/5032655730001).

Monday through Thursday 6:00 AM - Midnight
Friday through Saturday 6:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Potential Periodic Service on Sunday

Fares (for streetcar and bus) will likely be free during an introductory period to promote usage.

I like it. I would like a push for 3am on Fri/Sat, but I guess I can live with it.

Also like I have mentioned in the past, I think it being free at the start will be massive in the growth of ridership.

The current plan of having no Sunday service (or limited) is highly disappointing. I know there are less people downtown than on weekdays and I'm sure there are reasons for this, but what about for errands? Tourists? Events? Do other cities have no Sunday public transit?

The current plan of having no Sunday service (or limited) is highly disappointing. I know there are less people downtown than on weekdays and I'm sure there are reasons for this, but what about for errands? Tourists? Events? Do other cities have no Sunday public transit?

The article says Washington DC has no Sunday service. And other cities were limited.

Yeah I don't get that no Sunday service. Maybe don't start it until 11am or something, but think of all the Sunday night Dodgers and Thunder games, and Bricktown still has activity. I get that most conventions or events like that are not going on Sundays though.

I would think limited service on Sunday with three cars instead of six would be better. It would increase times from stop to stop, but the demand would also be much lower. I am curious if they would run service on weekends when there are significant events going on, like the marathon or a noon thunder game. Deadcenter?

10am-6pm 15 minute headways would be effective for Sunday. Would only require one shift. So maybe a maximum of a handful of workers. You have to keep 15 minute or less headways at a minimum. Using transit in other cities, anything over 15 minutes wastes so much time for the user that it is infuriating to use.

Yeah I don't get that no Sunday service. Maybe don't start it until 11am or something, but think of all the Sunday night Dodgers and Thunder games, and Bricktown still has activity. I get that most conventions or events like that are not going on Sundays though.

There were 10-11 Sunday Thunder games last year.... that alone should be incentive to have it run on a limited basis at least.

The article says "Preliminary plans are to devote about 5 percent of 'service hours' to special events which could include Thunder basketball of Sunday evenings".

The official streetcar branding designs, linked by https://twitter.com/DowntownOKC/status/758398896397627392

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoZbKQ0UEAA2QUE.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoZbKQ1UsAA5R_L.jpg

Wow. I like it... a lot.

And the route map, this time from https://twitter.com/benfelder_okc/status/758401260072542209

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoZh6rgVIAANdXQ.jpg

The branding and graphics look great. I am excited! Now we just need so get some sort of transit back to the airport.

A few additional photos from https://www.facebook.com/cityofokc/posts/10153609914717312:

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13730999_10153609907257312_7898608332012585459_o.j pg

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13723898_10153609907802312_2256403962811332174_o.j pg

The intermodal hub construction timeline, from the official twitter: https://twitter.com/OKCStreetcar/status/758410727451299840

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoZqco8VIAIgV8b.jpg

Clean. Minimal. Modern.

Perfect branding.

A conceptual rendering, also from the official Twitter:

(Sidenote: I believe the emphasis of this rendering is on the stop itself)

https://twitter.com/OKCStreetcar

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoZzwQ2UEAAosax.jpg:large

Streetcar operators embark on bid process

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record July 27, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – The city’s downtown streetcar funded under the MAPS 3 sales tax has attracted the attention of some of the country’s largest mass transit operators.

Tuesday’s MAPS 3 subcommittee meeting on the contract-bidding process drew representatives from five companies: Transdev Inc. in Illinois, RATP Dev America in New York, Herzog Transit Services Inc. in Florida, AECOM in Florida, and First Transit in Ohio.

“The (Oklahoma City) system is certainly large enough, comparable in size to the tracks you’d find in Cincinnati or Detroit,” said Rick Gustafson, executive vice president at Portland, Oregon-based Shiels Obletz Johnsen Inc., the company that was hired to consult with City Hall on the selection process.

“You’re talking about 25,000-30,000 hours of operation per year. Detroit’s is about 24,000 and Tucson is about 32,000. So they’re all of similar size in operating hours. Oklahoma City is definitely large enough. It will garner quite a bit of interest,” he said.

The $131 million streetcar will be operated through Embark, the city’s mass transit agency. It is one of the larger projects approved in 2009 by voters in a $777 million temporary, 1-percent tax issue. The system was envisioned as the next step in a more vibrant mass transit system, focusing first on moving downtown workers during the day and tourists into the night, with plans for expansion.

Each of the six cars will have a standing capacity of 100 people. The contract to manufacture the cars was awarded this year to Brookville Equipment Corp. of Pennsylvania.

Embark will be responsible for providing the streetcar service, but an early evaluation suggested a turnkey private contractor, a relationship common in many other cities. According to the scope of services document provided to interested parties, two routes will be operated: The Bricktown-Midtown line will run at a 10-minute frequency during the daytime peak and 14-minute frequency during early mornings, evenings and Saturdays, with no Sunday operation for a total annual service of 19,396 hours over 4.86 miles. The hours for the second route through Bricktown will total 3,900 per year, with 1,200 service hours planned for special service and events, for a total of 2.04 miles.

A total of 23 streetcar stops will be spaced every 700-1,200 feet along the route.

Gustafson did not speak directly to the strength of any of the companies in attendance at the pre-bid meeting, but said they are among the most reputable in the industry. Transdev, for example, manages more than 200 transportation contracts for cities, transit authorities and airports in North America, including the new streetcar system in Cincinnati.

Herzog won the contract to operate Kansas City’s first streetcar this year. And RATP Dev is a state-owned French company, Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens, that recently entered the U.S. market with its first tram system in Tucson, Arizona.

Company officials could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

Embark officials on Wednesday revealed the system’s logo and color design scheme well ahead of the streetcar’s expected launch in 2018. The official name for the system will be the Oklahoma City Streetcar, abbreviated as OKC Streetcar. Each car will be painted one of three palettes: Bermuda green, sky blue and redbud.

http://newsok.com/streetcar-track-construction-nears-in-downtown-oklahoma-city/article/5515462

"We are right on budget," consultant Mark Dorn told a MAPS 3 advisory subcommittee this week.

Installation of the rails is expected to begin in November and take nearly two years.

The Bricktown loop will give the system flexibility for frequent service between Bricktown and the convention center district, including the arena.

Sounds as though the city is on top of its game plan. Oklahoma City will be a better place come 2020.

What's encouraging, I've talked with two friends (haven't seen or heard from in 25 years) who have recently returned to OKC. The Hemingway and Jamestown condos will be their new residents; both are excited about what they have seen. One has moved here from San Antonio; the other from Flint, Michigan.

I have it on good authority that the Hemingway is a nice complex to live in. Kind of oddly isolated from its surroundings, though, with the curves of the interstate on one side and the drainage canal on the other.

Streetcar rails on track for November

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record September 2, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – City officials are already trying to figure out how to avoid disrupting businesses and workers downtown when rail is being laid for a new streetcar over the next two years.

City Council recently agreed to start accepting bids on the construction of the line, one of the largest projects in the MAPS 3 sales tax issue. Building the 4.6-mile main line and 2.3-mile extension to loop through Bricktown is expected to cost about $57.2 million. The streetcar vehicles and maintenance garage brings the total to $131 million.

City Hall wants to start laying the rail by November and finish within two years, MAPS 3 project manager David Todd said. That’s a major impact for a district that has already had to deal with the pains of Project 180, a massive streetscaping project that has been delayed repeatedly because of utility lines and other unexpected problems.

To arrange the least intrusive schedule for downtown traffic, City Hall hired design and program management firm ADG Inc. Todd said the company’s research turned up about 100 sports and special events in the area that will need to be worked around.

“That doesn’t mean the streetcar installation is going to avoid all those points,” Todd said. “It’s just that we’ve identified a conflict.”

Todd said ADG program administrator Kristen Wilson will serve at the primary point of contact for everyone on the route, property owners as well as tenants. Wilson could not be reached for comment Friday.

“We’re also going to try to stay away from retailers and other concerns that might be sensitive to traffic around Christmas and times like that,” Todd said.

The streetcar’s main line will pass through the Central Business District with stops at St. Anthony Hospital, Automobile Alley, the new MAPS 3 convention center and central park, and Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Consultant Mark Dorn recently told the MAPS 3 advisory subcommittee that the project is still on budget. Construction bids will be due Oct. 11. Contractors will be selected Nov. 8.

The vehicles that will run the line are being manufactured by Brookville Equipment Corp. in Pennsylvania; City Council awarded that contract in March. City Hall is now looking for a streetcar system operator. Full service is expected to begin in early 2018.

Can't wait to see the rails in the ground!

Saw a little blurb in the paper this weekend that the streetcar rails will begin delivery this coming Wednesday. Shipped from Houston.

Saw a little blurb in the paper this weekend that the streetcar rails will begin delivery this coming Wednesday. Shipped from Houston.

Saaaaaa-weeeeet!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKWAUg1gAM0/


Rail has arrived! Today we received our first of many deliveries of rail. Each piece/section of rail is approximately 2000 lbs and roughly 22 pieces on each truck! #ForwardTogether #okc

Has a picture, but I can't quite figure out how to embed it from Instagram.

This makes me so happy.