There are signs earth moving along the dead railroad tracks in Midwest City. Could this be signs of a trolly rail line to Bricktown? It has been mentioned in the past.

There are signs earth moving along the dead railroad tracks in Midwest City. Could this be signs of a trolly rail line to Bricktown? It has been mentioned in the past.

I doubt it. It would be all over the news and this site if it was.

It is in the long range plan to have such a line, from Bricktown through MWC to Tinker, as seen below; however, to the best of my knowledge this won't happen until the Regional Transit Authority gets on it's feet.

From http://www.acogok.org/commuter-corridors-regional-transit-rail-mpo/:
http://www.acogblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/southcorridor.png

Curious how the north corridor of the streetcar lpa doesn't have proposed stations on it vs the east corridor.

http://r2.masstransitmag.com/files/base/MASS/image/2018/02/16x9/640x360/nr_BROOKVILLE_Delivers_First_OKC_Liberty_Streetcar _FINAL.5a86e8ef604e8.jpg
The first vehicle will soon undergo on-site testing, along with six additional Liberty Streetcars, which will be shipped to Oklahoma City in the coming weeks and months, ahead of the new streetcar route’s planned revenue service start later in 2018.

Brookville Equipment Corporation Delivers First of Seven Liberty Streetcars to Oklahoma City: http://www.masstransitmag.com/press_release/12398136/brookville-equipment-corporation-delivers-first-of-seven-liberty-streetcars-to-oklahoma-city-for-maps-3-modern-streetcar-program

Look at 'er go!

https://www.facebook.com/OKCStreetcar/videos/2093002934274163/?hc_ref=ARQq598IxXEFdzrVRYFoIxlbmveJK4T4H-zy8CDUUt5rczsbQGBoIM-zpBHKTzNn8uo

Look at 'er go!

https://www.facebook.com/OKCStreetcar/videos/2093002934274163/?hc_ref=ARQq598IxXEFdzrVRYFoIxlbmveJK4T4H-zy8CDUUt5rczsbQGBoIM-zpBHKTzNn8uo

It's happening! So excited for OKC's future!

I didn't realize until the video link was posted that there are only 2 sets of doors for each trainset. IMO, this will be a problem when it is crowded. There should be more doors.

I didn't realize until the video link was posted that there are only 2 sets of doors for each trainset. IMO, this will be a problem when it is crowded. There should be more doors.

The on off won’t be a problem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LzHvwVqp3E

Clear Sky Streetcar Arrives in OKC

Stopped by and saw the first redbud unit doing high-speed tests with some load (cases of water bottles) earlier this afternoon. Super cool!

pics/films are much appreciated. :)

pics/films are much appreciated. :)

Still remember quite some time ago (pre-MAPS I) when a group of us converged online & decided we were going to craft our own group to address the commuter rail & streetcar issues.

https://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/w640-421d1cf85c063d10f6229ea7de056505.jpg
We had several meetings at the old downtown library ( 131 Dean A. McGee Avenue):

Remember HOT ROD the most popular name we favored:

GOCART = Greater Oklahoma City Area Rapid Transit.

Gocart!
Gocart!
Gocart!

Probably not as easy to brand something like that.

yes, Laramie, I do remember. those were great times.

It's really amazing to see how much OKC has progressed since those times and the original forums we were on. .. we had great dreams and ideas back then, so interesting to see OKC implement many of them and how the city has really grown. I'd love for the RTD to adopt our name for the regional transit but I suspect it will be something lame trying to tie in a colloquial reference for the state/region (like scissortail this or red prarie that). ..

anyway, thanks for that memory!

yes, Laramie, I do remember. those were great times.

It's really amazing to see how much OKC has progressed since those times and the original forums we were on. .. we had great dreams and ideas back then, so interesting to see OKC implement many of them and how the city has really grown. I'd love for the RTD to adopt our name for the regional transit but I suspect it will be something lame trying to tie in a colloquial reference for the state/region (like scissortail this or red prarie that). ..

anyway, thanks for that memory!

I strongly suspect that the RTA - if it gets off the ground - will adopt the Embark name. Just a guess with no insider info.

When they went from metro to embark I suspected the same, wouldn't make sense to rebrand twice.

will be funny if it's - back to METRO.

On the topic of the streetcar, if anybody wants to get some serious “My, how far we’ve come” vibes, go look East down Sheridan from the BNSF overpass. The entire thing is done along that stretch, including the raised wire above the tracks. It’d be unrecognizable as OKC if you hadn’t been here for a couple years.

03/19/2018

Public invited to MAPS 3 Oklahoma City Streetcar open house March 30

Be among the first people to get a glimpse at transit’s future in Oklahoma City at the MAPS 3 OKC Streetcar open house on March 30.

The first 300 people get a free streetcar t-shirt at the event, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 30 at the OKC Streetcar Storage and Maintenance Facility, SW 7th Street and Hudson Avenue.

Attendees will be able to board the streetcar to get a first-hand look at what it will be like when OKC Streetcar service begins late this year. The streetcar will be stationary at the event, accessible by a temporary ADA platform. A taco truck will be on site.

“There’s been a lot of excitement from people looking forward to the streetcar, so we wanted to provide an opportunity to see a streetcar up close,” said MAPS 3 Program Manager David Todd. “You’ll be able to get a feel for what it’s like inside, sit on the seats and be among the first people in generations to be inside an Oklahoma City streetcar.”

The first three of seven modern streetcars for the streetcar system have been delivered, and testing is under way. The track lines are under construction.

The final four streetcars will be delivered one at a time about every three weeks. They’re delivered by truck from Pennsylvania, where they’re built by Brookville Equipment Corporation.

EMBARK will operate the OKC Streetcar as part of the City’s public transit system.

About the OKC Streetcar system

The streetcar will have two route options: the 2-mile B-Line serving the Bricktown loop, and the 4.8-mile D-Line serving downtown, Bricktown and other districts in the urban core. Click here for a map.

The OKC Streetcar will serve 22 stops with five streetcars, which ride on rails flush with the street. The streetcars use overhead wires for electric power on part of the route, and batteries for the rest.

Each streetcar can carry 104 passengers, and each stop will be served every 12-15 minutes.

The D-Line – the downtown mainline – will begin service at 6 a.m. Monday to Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday. Service ends at midnight Monday to Thursday, extending to 2 a.m. on Friday night (Saturday morning) and Saturday night (Sunday morning).

The B-Line – the Bricktown loop – is served 7 a.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday, and 7 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday, and will be activated for other special events.

The streetcar system is expected to be operational on Sundays when there are large special events along the route to generate trips.

The streetcar will use City streets in the same way as other vehicles, obeying traffic signals and other rules of the road. EMBARK is developing a safety campaign to educate drivers, pedestrians and cyclists how to safely interact with the streetcar once rail service begins.

Each OKC Streetcar stop is ADA-accessible for easy, level boarding with signage, real-time arrival information, covered shelters and a ticket vending machine.

The project budget is $131 million and includes the storage and maintenance facility, completed last year.

Herzog-Stacey and Witbeck is building the rail line. Consultants include ADG, Jacobs Engineering, AECOM and SOJ. EMBARK contracted Herzog Transit Services to manage OKC Streetcar’s day-to-day operations.

I asked this on Steve's chat last week and never heard anything, so I am going to post it here as well. Does anyone know why in some areas the streetcar is in the middle of the street as opposed to outside lane for stops? Is it a utilities issue? Future traffic movement issue?

Warreng- I'm no engineer but I did go to college lol. If I were to guess I would say it might have something to do with the turns. If your making left hand turns it's obvious. If your making tight right hand turns your going to need swing space. Instead of waiting until the last few feet to cut it back into the middle lane, you just start it from that point and let it run. Keeping the track straight as possible is key you don't want it to derail. So basically the street curbs already in place is more than likely the deciding reason.

I asked this on Steve's chat last week and never heard anything, so I am going to post it here as well. Does anyone know why in some areas the streetcar is in the middle of the street as opposed to outside lane for stops? Is it a utilities issue? Future traffic movement issue?

It's both and depends on where you are referring? Where are you referring?

I am thinking more about this. We are in the far right-hand lane nearly everywhere but in the middle where we are accommodating parking along the curb. So Automobile Alley is just to the left of the parking lane. I think everywhere else we are in the far right. The OKC Boulevard is isolated in its own ROW.

In Bricktown on Sheridan it is shifted left to accomodate curbside parking. On Sheridan in front of Devon it is inexplicably in the middle, away from the curb.

In Bricktown on Sheridan it is shifted left to accomodate curbside parking. On Sheridan in front of Devon it is inexplicably in the middle, away from the curb.

IIRC, that was to accommodate future festival staging and parking for food trucks for events.

Ahhh...makes sense!

can anyone (urban pioneer :)) please take some updated pics/film of the streets with the rails and catenary installed (and u/c)?

very much appreciated by us, expats, who can't come see the changes.

https://twitter.com/OKCStreetcar/status/979538141743910913

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZgEvQVVAAAe7l9.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZgEvQVU8AI57H6.jpg

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

Tons of pictures from the Open House event earlier today.

https://twitter.com/jilldelozier/status/979752505759412224

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZjHtMjX0AA4Xnl.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZjHtMDW4AMRgNI.jpg

https://twitter.com/OKCStreetcar/status/979818713657565184

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

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZkDwVOV4AEoBk2.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZkDxc3VMAEsirk.jpg

https://twitter.com/DowntownOKC/status/979763602277261316

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZjRva7UQAE_xdN.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZjRvaUUMAEZLn8.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZjRva-VMAA0BWq.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZjRvaaV4AAEjPs.jpg

There was a pretty hefty number of people there. Couldn't say how many, other than the 300 t-shirts being long gone when I got there at about 11:30.

The mayor said around 500 people attended. I think that's very good turnout for a weekday event. Seems like people are getting more excited about it.

Has the green streetcar arrived yet?

Someone may have already mentioned this, but is it possible to get an app where you could buy tickets, see the route, and see when the next streetcar is arriving at your stop? That would be pretty cool.

Someone may have already mentioned this, but is it possible to get an app where you could buy tickets, see the route, and see when the next streetcar is arriving at your stop? That would be pretty cool.

Definitely needed. I only use the GoPass app to travel on the A-Train/DART/TRE in DFW. It makes it so easy.

The mayor said around 500 people attended. I think that's very good turnout for a weekday event. Seems like people are getting more excited about it.

I'm not sure which count is more accurate, but the Oklahoman reported 700. The photos were amazing. I'm genuinely impressed to see that kind of interest from people in the middle of a work day.

Also, it is just super exciting to see the catenary wires in Bricktown and the track going in the ground in Automobile Alley. It is going to be such a major transformation for this city, aesthetically and functionally. It just makes it look like such a bigger city.

The wife and I had a great time touring the streetcars, checking out the maintenance facility and UP station. It's definitely been a long time getting here but it's almost a reality.
I would guess at 600 for the turnout.

can anyone (urban pioneer :)) please take some updated pics/film of the streets with the rails and catenary installed (and u/c)?

very much appreciated by us, expats, who can't come see the changes.

Sheridan and Mickey Mantle
14548
14549

^^^^^^
Directly in front of my office. I'm expecting to use the streetcar a ton.

Had a buddy in town last week. He lives in Denver, but lived in OKC for a little over a year while training at FAA. He was really impressed how far downtown has come since he lived here 5 years ago. First comment he made about the streetcar was the nasty overhead lines. I told him I totally agreed it really brings down the overall aesthetics of the area, but it's what we have to deal with now. He had also never been to the Memorial so I made sure he went and had to the whole tour and got a history lesson.

The streetcar tour day was really awesome. I hope they will have more so others can come check it out. Preferably on a weekend.

The interiors of the cars are impressive. Very modern and efficient. I am excited and impressed to see how many others were excited about this.

Had a buddy in town last week. He lives in Denver, but lived in OKC for a little over a year while training at FAA. He was really impressed how far downtown has come since he lived here 5 years ago. First comment he made about the streetcar was the nasty overhead lines. I told him I totally agreed it really brings down the overall aesthetics of the area, but it's what we have to deal with now. He had also never been to the Memorial so I made sure he went and had to the whole tour and got a history lesson.
How is it more jarring than the OCS in downtown Denver? It's pretty much identical. Man, I am MUCH more troubled by telephone poles/wires. I don't think the OCS adds that much visual clutter; and actually feels like it communicates a city vibe we didn't have before. OCS is standard all over the country and in fact all over the world.

Had a buddy in town last week. He lives in Denver, but lived in OKC for a little over a year while training at FAA. He was really impressed how far downtown has come since he lived here 5 years ago. First comment he made about the streetcar was the nasty overhead lines. I told him I totally agreed it really brings down the overall aesthetics of the area, but it's what we have to deal with now. He had also never been to the Memorial so I made sure he went and had to the whole tour and got a history lesson.


Does he know that downtown Denver also uses the overhead lines... lol

How is it more jarring than the OCS in downtown Denver? It's pretty much identical. Man, I am MUCH more troubled by telephone poles/wires. I don't think the OCS adds that much visual clutter; and actually feels like it communicates a city vibe we didn't have before. OCS is standard all over the country and in fact all over the world.

I agree I hate overhead power and telephone lines just as much.

Does he know that downtown Denver also uses the overhead lines... lol

He does, lol. His comment was on why in the solar and battery age were we going with dated technology. I don't personally know when Denver's streetcar was installed, but I'm guessing tech was a little different if it was more than 5 years ago.

And to follow-up some more with Urbanized, I think for me the reason the streetcar cables look so much worse is due to them being lower than your typical power line. These things are very visual when walking around and for an OCD person like myself, it drives me insane. It is what it is, but for me it makes it look very cluttered and not well planned out. In a day an age where wires are going by the wayside, this seems like a major regression to me. No telling how many years it will be, but it's a fact at some point we'll be ripping all the wires out, and replacing these streetcars with ones with solar panels and batteries.

Another note that I think of as a positive he very much liked (even with all the construction) the drive ability of downtown. He mentioned how little he goes in Denver anymore (he lived downtown Denver for 2 years) after he moved out. As a tourist there we always parked and walked, so I never noticed it, just in general how bad Denver's interstate traffic is nowadays.

He does, lol. His comment was on why in the solar and battery age were we going with dated technology. I don't personally know when Denver's streetcar was installed, but I'm guessing tech was a little different if it was more than 5 years ago.

And to follow-up some more with Urbanized, I think for me the reason the streetcar cables look so much worse is due to them being lower than your typical power line. These things are very visual when walking around and for an OCD person like myself, it drives me insane. It is what it is, but for me it makes it look very cluttered and not well planned out. In a day an age where wires are going by the wayside, this seems like a major regression to me. No telling how many years it will be, but it's a fact at some point we'll be ripping all the wires out, and replacing these streetcars with ones with solar panels and batteries.

Another note that I think of as a positive he very much liked (even with all the construction) the drive ability of downtown. He mentioned how little he goes in Denver anymore (he lived downtown Denver for 2 years) after he moved out. As a tourist there we always parked and walked, so I never noticed it, just in general how bad Denver's interstate traffic is nowadays.

Ironic that somebody who wants to orient our downtown to be more car-friendly is pointing out a supposed rejection of progress.

He does, lol. His comment was on why in the solar and battery age were we going with dated technology. I don't personally know when Denver's streetcar was installed, but I'm guessing tech was a little different if it was more than 5 years ago.

And to follow-up some more with Urbanized, I think for me the reason the streetcar cables look so much worse is due to them being lower than your typical power line. These things are very visual when walking around and for an OCD person like myself, it drives me insane. It is what it is, but for me it makes it look very cluttered and not well planned out. In a day an age where wires are going by the wayside, this seems like a major regression to me. No telling how many years it will be, but it's a fact at some point we'll be ripping all the wires out, and replacing these streetcars with ones with solar panels and batteries.

Another note that I think of as a positive he very much liked (even with all the construction) the drive ability of downtown. He mentioned how little he goes in Denver anymore (he lived downtown Denver for 2 years) after he moved out. As a tourist there we always parked and walked, so I never noticed it, just in general how bad Denver's interstate traffic is nowadays.
Yeah, I think that technology seems closer than it is. Definitely the case with solar, which would likely never be enough to power the trains without fairly substantial real estate devoted to solar array. Even then you would still need OCS unless you were able to store enough in an overnight charge to run for an entire day.

Regarding off-wire, that technology is probably still a few years away in the U.S.. https://www.npr.org/2015/10/22/450583840/in-d-c-and-china-two-approaches-to-a-streetcar-unconstrained-by-wires

Brookville (our supplier) has the most advanced American-built version of off-wire, and it is a hybrid version, like our own. Possible that ours can be upgraded to fully off-wire in the future by upgrading battery technology (that isn't quite there yet) and also by adding supercapacitors or induction charging at each station, which Brookville is introducing and which already exists in China. I'm glad that we didn't wait before introducing it, and I'm glad that we didn't sacrifice route distance for more battery capacity right now, because it will be far cheaper when it is time to replace our current battery systems.

Yeah, I think that technology seems closer than it is. Definitely the case with solar, which would likely never be enough to power the trains without fairly substantial real estate devoted to solar array. Even then you would still need OCS unless you were able to store enough in an overnight charge to run for an entire day.

Regarding off-wire, that technology is probably still a few years away in the U.S.. https://www.npr.org/2015/10/22/450583840/in-d-c-and-china-two-approaches-to-a-streetcar-unconstrained-by-wires

Brookville (our supplier) has the most advanced American-built version of off-wire, and it is a hybrid version, like our own. Possible that ours can be upgraded to fully off-wire in the future by upgrading battery technology (that isn't quite there yet) and also by adding supercapacitors or induction charging at each station, which Brookville is introducing and which already exists in China. I'm glad that we didn't wait before introducing it, and I'm glad that we didn't sacrifice route distance for more battery capacity right now, because it will be far cheaper when it is time to replace our current battery systems.

Is part of ours already going to be off wire? I felt like I saw something about that before, but maybe that was just for future.

Ironic that somebody who wants to orient our downtown to be more car-friendly is pointing out a supposed rejection of progress.

Who is somebody in this comment?

And why because someone likes cars is that a rejection of progress?

Cars are a staple of the American culture. You are crazy if you think they are going away.

Is part of ours already going to be off wire? I felt like I saw something about that before, but maybe that was just for future.

My understanding is that parts where the car is going under a bridge will be wireless, but we'd definitely want UP or someone chiming in on that.

Is part of ours already going to be off wire? I felt like I saw something about that before, but maybe that was just for future.


My understanding is that parts where the car is going under a bridge will be wireless, but we'd definitely want UP or someone chiming in on that.

Our system will be off wire from just north of the memorial (heading south) on Robinson all the way to Sheridan just east of the tracks. And from Reno (heading west) just east of the tracks until almost 4th and Hudson

Question for those on the streetcar committee (this may have been answered somewhere in the thread, but I'm not going back through 300 pages of material to find it):

As far as the route goes, how does future expansion factor into this? In other words, was consideration given to the idea that in 10 years or so, we might decide to add a line going to the OU Medical Center? Or the state capitol? Or Capitol Hill? 23rd street?

I've been looking at Google Maps, trying to figure out where a new line would go that would fit into these areas, but I'm just curious as to what the committee's thoughts were on the subject. Is there some easy expansion that I am not seeing? Because right now it looks like any kind of new route would require a significant reworking of at least part of the current system.

How hard would it be to add a switch at any location at a later point?

Our system will be off wire from just north of the memorial (heading south) on Robinson all the way to Sheridan just east of the tracks. And from Reno (heading west) just east of the tracks until almost 4th and Hudson

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/93JnzilZ88zTPPC4KHUhtlzkMlKGVqWRqzcJmz5iMEZdneiODe 7pB_RGQhvA83smaSz_1QqEhxgn_A=w1600-h779-rw

I added the purple (signifying wireless) to this existing map so I could visualize. That sure seems like a lot!

I'm as much of a critic of overhead wires in downtown cores as anyone but I LOVE the overhead wires that correspond to transit. We have them here in Seattle in the form of bus trolleys and streetcar (the light rail is underground in downtown SEA, but is powered by OCS as well), and I think that without the utility lines and poles - the transit OCS actually add to the city and its vibe.

And it appears as if OKC will be similar to Seattle (in no OCS in the CBD) and OKC's aren't really cluttered either from the pics I've seen. Utility wires are often unorganized, tacky, sag, and along with the multiple poles just add clutter. To me, the key is to get rid of the utility poles and wires downtown, I don't mind the transit OCS and actually prefer it along the rails...

Our system will be off wire from just north of the memorial (heading south) on Robinson all the way to Sheridan just east of the tracks. And from Reno (heading west) just east of the tracks until almost 4th and Hudson

Thank you, that’s actually more than I thought. So that’s a positive.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/93JnzilZ88zTPPC4KHUhtlzkMlKGVqWRqzcJmz5iMEZdneiODe 7pB_RGQhvA83smaSz_1QqEhxgn_A=w1600-h779-rw

I added the purple (signifying wireless) to this existing map so I could visualize. That sure seems like a lot!

I’m not seeing the map, and I’d be interested in it. Thanks.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/93JnzilZ88zTPPC4KHUhtlzkMlKGVqWRqzcJmz5iMEZdneiODe 7pB_RGQhvA83smaSz_1QqEhxgn_A=w1600-h779-rw

I added the purple (signifying wireless) to this existing map so I could visualize. That sure seems like a lot!

Link to map? If there is an image, it's not showing for me. Thanks Shawn.

Is part of ours already going to be off wire? I felt like I saw something about that before, but maybe that was just for future.

Yes, off-wire in areas around MBG and Devon Tower and in much of CBD for aesthetic purposes, back on wire on the Bricktown portion and also on wire throughout Midtown and Automobile Alley portions of run.