Streetcar

[jedicurt]

I predict no matter what happens half the people are gonna be pissed the other half happy

i was going to say 60-40 happy to un-happy, but you and i are on a similar page

[Rover]

Yeah, it's prevalent in large urban cities. So what's your point?

My point is sometimes in these discussions we gloss over the more uncomfortable aspects of creating dense urban environments and portray them artificially. Yes, public transportation is needed, but it isn’t the experience some on here think, most who haven’t really spent time and used the services. Use the subway in NYC and metro in LA and see the other side.

[turnpup]

Urban Pioneer, thank you so much for all the updates and information you've given us through the years of development of our streetcar system. It's made it even more exciting having the benefit of your inside knowledge. I get to learn things from you, then tell them to my 11 year old daughter, who's absolutely ecstatic about the opening. It's been a blast for her (and me too) watching it progress over time. Now that the shelters are in place, we walk down to the stop nearest us and pretend to be waiting for a train. She actually wants to spend her birthday in late-December riding it with us and some of her friends.

[Plutonic Panda]

My point is sometimes in these discussions we gloss over the more uncomfortable aspects of creating dense urban environments and portray them artificially. Yes, public transportation is needed, but it isn’t the experience some on here think, most who haven’t really spent time and used the services. Use the subway in NYC and metro in LA and see the other side.

Well, that’s my point as well. I misunderstood you then. I’m not trying to put down the homeless at all, as I have a couple friends who are homeless currently, and it kills me. I take food to the homeless all the time in Hollywood to try and ‘do my part.’

My point seems to be getting lost with a few posters here getting offended—or so it appears—for some reason, as me or other posters present possible issues and ask questions.

I have a very hard time believing the situation in Portland as I have heard differently. I haven’t been there, so I have no further comment on Portland. Dan is right that it isn’t much of an issue on DART. I wouldn’t know about NYC, I know about LA, San Fran, Honolulu, and Las Vegas. All major cities, all have problems with it, and riders there are aware of the problem and recognize it as a problem.

Just because it happens there doesn’t mean it needs to be acceptable or that we should give up because it’s inevitable. Not having fares for transit is not the right direction for mass transit.

Absolutely people should be kicked off for smelling too bad. I’ve perosnally witnessed it happen on Metro buses before. You don’t people getting kicked off the subways for it too much for obvious reasons. But it is a sanitary issue and for anyone who is willing to hypocritically make statements like “stay in your Mercedes” or “I’d rather sit next to them instead of those who are pointing out problems,” please do sit next to them! Come to LA and knock yourself out!

[hoya]

I lived in Portland which has a much more serious homeless and vagrant problem. While you’ll see them on the Max and Streetcar they are certainly not rolling homeless shelters. The few that cause a scene are usually reported by the operator and a transit officer will board a train a few minutes later a couple stops down the line and keep them moving along. The ones that don’t cause a scene are usually very well behaved or at least make an attempt to be invisible.

I think we are fretting over nothing. Sorry if some of you all have to share a train with someone with no money and holes in their shoes. Just drive your Mercedes instead; I probably don’t want to sit next to you.

Why would I want to drive my Mercedes when I can just take my personal hot air balloon?

It's absolutely something that the city needs to be aware of, and needs to have a plan in place to deal with any issues that may arise. Now I think they'll probably be prepared, I've been very impressed with how the streetcar committee has handled everything so far. But telling people "hey you just need to get used to this" is a dumb idea when you're going to turn around and ask those same people for more money so you can extend the system further. Nobody wants a travelling homeless shelter to stop in their neighborhood.

[BG918]

My concern about a free streetcar ride is vagrants will remain there all day; it will kill the ridership. Regardless, we need to make sure patrons are using the streetcar for a day ride shelter; especially in times of inclement weather.

I have heard KC has had problems with the homeless for this very reason. I have only riden their streetcar once and didn’t notice it but it was also nice weather. Definitely a potential caveat with free service.

[dankrutka]

Urban Pioneer, thank you so much for all the updates and information you've given us through the years of development of our streetcar system. It's made it even more exciting having the benefit of your inside knowledge. I get to learn things from you, then tell them to my 11 year old daughter, who's absolutely ecstatic about the opening. It's been a blast for her (and me too) watching it progress over time. Now that the shelters are in place, we walk down to the stop nearest us and pretend to be waiting for a train. She actually wants to spend her birthday in late-December riding it with us and some of her friends.

Love this post.

[catch22]

Why would I want to drive my Mercedes when I can just take my personal hot air balloon?

It's absolutely something that the city needs to be aware of, and needs to have a plan in place to deal with any issues that may arise. Now I think they'll probably be prepared, I've been very impressed with how the streetcar committee has handled everything so far. But telling people "hey you just need to get used to this" is a dumb idea when you're going to turn around and ask those same people for more money so you can extend the system further. Nobody wants a travelling homeless shelter to stop in their neighborhood.

My point is it’s NOT a rolling homeless shelter. The homeless actually prefer to be out of sight and out of mind; although there are exceptions. The few exceptions usually don’t cause a fuss or any safety issue. The ones who do cause a scene are promptly removed. It absolutely is something Oklahomans will need to get used to. As Rover pointed out, transit riders come in all flavors.

[Laramie]

Had to step back and take a deep breath. OKC's 6.9 miles of streetcar rail (4.9 DT & Midtown; 2.0 Bricktown) is a sizeable rollout.

OKC has gotten out early on educating drivers about the streetcar's path & right-of-way. Confident a code of conduct will be adopted.

Remember the rubber tire vintage-like street trolleys we rolled out following MAPS as a substitute for the streetcar. Just recall some of the issues that killed it. It wasn't just an issue with the homeless or vagrants; there were also school age children riding who were loud and vulgar, similar concerns with the city buses. Approached a group of five one time and introduced myself and got their attention; they piped down while I was on board.

We know this is the driver's responsibility; we don't want a distracted driver, especially after seeing all the gadgets and potential concerns the drivers will have on their plates.

We have $4.5 million each invested in 7 streetcars and millions in rail. Just want to see a successful rollout; we're all excited with anticipation. So much anticipation posters are mapping out expansion plans. Cities like Portland, Seattle & Kansas City streetcar plans could serve as an established blueprint.

Wasn't my intention to create a panic or controversy over the streetcar. Just want a successful rollout because this will be a catalyst for streetcar expansion & potential future commuter rail.

Want to again thank Urban Pioneer for his update.

[turnpup]

Love this post.

Thanks, Dan!

[Pete]

[Urban Pioneer]

Thanks for the kind words folks. I've worked on this for eleven years. Most of us have tried to be respectful and consider everyone's opinions and concerns as best as we can.

Probably the assertion by some politicians that this is a system built only for rich people annoys me more than any other blanket statement. However, a man actually had the audacity to start yelling at my wife on the sidewalk last week. He was actually asserting that we looked "too middle-class" to actually represent the people who will actually ride the system. We were shooting an EMBARK video on how easy it is to roll baby strollers on board due to the level boarding.

What I can tell you is that I have been contacted by nearly every imaginable type of person in nearly every socio-economic class asking questions about how to ride and when to ride. People are excited.

[hoya]

Thanks for the kind words folks. I've worked on this for eleven years. Most of us have tried to be respectful and consider everyone's opinions and concerns as best as we can.

Probably the assertion by some politicians that this is a system built only for rich people annoys me more than any other blanket statement. However, a man actually had the audacity to start yelling at my wife on the sidewalk last week. He was actually asserting that we looked "too middle-class" to actually represent the people who will actually ride the system. We were shooting an EMBARK video on how easy it is to roll baby strollers on board due to the level boarding.

What I can tell you is that I have been contacted by nearly every imaginable type of person in nearly every socio-economic class asking questions about how to ride and when to ride. People are excited.

I'd like to think I had something to do with the success of the streetcar.

I mean, I didn't have anything to do with it. But I like to think I did.

[Pete]

Thanks for the kind words folks. I've worked on this for eleven years. Most of us have tried to be respectful and consider everyone's opinions and concerns as best as we can.

Probably the assertion by some politicians that this is a system built only for rich people annoys me more than any other blanket statement. However, a man actually had the audacity to start yelling at my wife on the sidewalk last week. He was actually asserting that we looked "too middle-class" to actually represent the people who will actually ride the system. We were shooting an EMBARK video on how easy it is to roll baby strollers on board due to the level boarding.

What I can tell you is that I have been contacted by nearly every imaginable type of person in nearly every socio-economic class asking questions about how to ride and when to ride. People are excited.

I have a pretty good idea of how much you have put into this, all as an unpaid volunteer.

Really appreciate your efforts and it looks like the end product is going to be excellent.

[OUman]

I've seen the streetcars in action a couple of times now, they look real nice. This past Sunday, I was on my way to a meetup just west of downtown and while waiting to turn left on to Sheridan from Robinson, I noticed one of them (in the purple livery - had the "We're testing this streetcar" stickers on the window) waiting to cross Robinson. Then I noticed the new flashing street car light on the signal pole ahead, after which the streetcar started moving. Looks like they have this planned very well.

[Laramie]

[Richard at Remax]

Does anyone know if there will be an App associated with this so you can track them real time?

[Laramie]

Thanks for the kind words folks. I've worked on this for eleven years. Most of us have tried to be respectful and consider everyone's opinions and concerns as best as we can.

Probably the assertion by some politicians that this is a system built only for rich people annoys me more than any other blanket statement. However, a man actually had the audacity to start yelling at my wife on the sidewalk last week. He was actually asserting that we looked "too middle-class" to actually represent the people who will actually ride the system. We were shooting an EMBARK video on how easy it is to roll baby strollers on board due to the level boarding.

What I can tell you is that I have been contacted by nearly every imaginable type of person in nearly every socio-economic class asking questions about how to ride and when to ride. People are excited.

Just a sample reflection of today's divide. There isn't anything you can say or tell people who have made up (imaginary or real) in their minds that something like the streetcar will only benefit a certain class of people. 'This too shall pass...'

We will all enjoy the benefits of the OKC streetcar; the rollout seems to be on the right track (pun intended), hope we continue to clear the benchmarks to a successful rollout, operation and future plans for expansion.

[dankrutka]

Does anyone know if there will be an App associated with this so you can track them real time?

That would be awesome, but there's nothing like that for Dallas' DART system. I can't imagine OKC will have it.

[shawnw]

Embark recommends either moovit or transitapp, which usually work great for the buses (and I've used them for rail in other cities), they're not going to come up with something themselves. They provide their real-time data to those apps.

[OkiePoke]

I wonder if this will be synced with google maps.

[baralheia]

I wonder if this will be synced with google maps.

Considering that Embark currently supplies data to Google Maps, I would not be surprised if the streetcar info is too.

[dankrutka]

Considering that Embark currently supplies data to Google Maps, I would not be surprised if the streetcar info is too.

Well, that would be amazing. The GoPass app I use for the DART/A-Train/TRE system in DFW doesn't have any actual information on the cars, delays, or arrivals much less use GPS. I got up at 6am to take the metro to Love Field airport one morning and after the train not showing up for an hour I had to run home, jump in my car, and speed to the airport. The only update was that the A-Train was 20 minutes late and after 40 minutes past that deadline without another update I gave up.

[David]

https://twitter.com/WILLIAMCRUM/stat...15329891151873

Seventh Oklahoma City streetcar being delivered this afternoon, completing the $31.5 million order for “Liberty” model modern streetcars from Brookville Equipment Corp. of western Pennsylvania. #OKC #OKCStreetcar

[Plutonic Panda]

Dan, I know you’re a very intelligent and fact based guy, however, I promise you that “shipping” the homeless to other cities is a real thing.