Streetcar

[dcsooner]

Our intention is to have real-time locations displayed via a live system map on the pylons as well as through an app. There is a bot of a scramble to calibrate the real-time system as the computer simulations have varied from the real tests that are underway right now. The simulated revenue service tests are giving us much better information than the gentlemen had to work with before we entered that phase. As we continue simulated revenue service through the next week and half the system is getting calibrated even further.

Thanks to Fleet Tracking, super gesture

[David]

Our intention is to have real-time locations displayed via a live system map on the pylons as well as through an app. There is a bot of a scramble to calibrate the real-time system as the computer simulations have varied from the real tests that are underway right now. The simulated revenue service tests are giving us much better information than the gentlemen had to work with before we entered that phase. As we continue simulated revenue service through the next week and half the system is getting calibrated even further.

What a fantastic use of the available technology.

[Anonymous.]

That is fantastic news. I remember requesting this years back when the system was being developed. I hope it is successful and we can have even better displays and interactive screens at every stop. This could be huge for displaying GPS of streetcars, weather, events, advertisements to places along the route such as restaurants etc. You could even go as far as making the display double sided and have ways people could play simple games such as tic-tac-toe or pong. Anything to activate people and keep the streetcar stops from just being a place where people are sitting/standing in silence.

[shadfar]

That is fantastic news. I remember requesting this years back when the system was being developed. I hope it is successful and we can have even better displays and interactive screens at every stop. This could be huge for displaying GPS of streetcars, weather, events, advertisements to places along the route such as restaurants etc. You could even go as far as making the display double sided and have ways people could play simple games such as tic-tac-toe or pong. Anything to activate people and keep the streetcar stops from just being a place where people are sitting/standing in silence.

those are great ideas! never even thought about that! hopefully someone is listening out there!!!

[Urban Pioneer]

I enjoyed reading back to through the original 2009 thread that helped launch public awareness about the original 2009 initiative. Many of you who are still posting were posting back then. Consider this a broad invitation to anyone who volunteered or supported the streetcar campaign to attend a private function Friday night the 14th. Just private message or contact me via Facebook if you would like to come by and say hi and have a drink, and celebrate the launch of OKC Streetcar and forthcoming initiatives.- Jeff

[OKCbyTRANSFER]

I had my first streetcar sighting this week (!) I had to drive few blocks afterwards to get another look up close, pretty neat, especially having followed progress and living downtown with the construction.

[TeeDub2]

So will this be through a specific app? I didn't see anything mentioned in the article.

Looks like the app is Token Transit and you can start buying passes now. But don't buy yet!! The first three weeks are free, correct?
My friend just did.

[shawnw]

Yes, Token Transit is the app. I was a beta user for bus passes. Works great.

[schrist]

Well so far I have been very disappointed in the communication and organization of the streetcar management. I did win one of the 'golden tickets' and the ride for Saturday was cancelled due to weather, although I didn't receive an email regarding that until 5:50 Friday night and the weather was fine. As of 3:30 today still no communication. I reached out again, thru Facebook as the only contact I could find, and they say they will send an email with info tonight. The street car opens Friday so clearly there is no early ride. It seems unethical to hold a contest where you must shop and buy something for a chance to win, then win and there is no prize and no communication. Very disappointed in something that I was so excited about.

[Timshel]

Um. Weren't the candy bars free?

From the streetcar website: "EMBARK will direct the general public to pick up a free OKC Streetcar chocolate bar in any of its Love the Loops Partner locations starting on Small Business Saturday, November 24." Fair enough re: poor communication (though it seems like the Streetcar folks stated when information would be provided), but I thought this was more of a free promotion (I got candy bars at Lights on Broadway for free without a purchase) than a for-purchase contest. Seems a little harsh to call people unethical for a free promotion who were dealt a bad hand with weather and are probably a lot more focused on the streetcar's actual opening (where rides will be free for everyone anyway).

[hoya]

Well so far I have been very disappointed in the communication and organization of the streetcar management. I did win one of the 'golden tickets' and the ride for Saturday was cancelled due to weather, although I didn't receive an email regarding that until 5:50 Friday night and the weather was fine. As of 3:30 today still no communication. I reached out again, thru Facebook as the only contact I could find, and they say they will send an email with info tonight. The street car opens Friday so clearly there is no early ride. It seems unethical to hold a contest where you must shop and buy something for a chance to win, then win and there is no prize and no communication. Very disappointed in something that I was so excited about.

Sounds like you should be mad at the weathermen who were predicting a terrible winter storm.

[OKCbyTRANSFER]

On December 5, They had a post on Facebook announcing the cancellation due to the weather

[LocoAko]

Kind of a random issue, but I saw on Twitter them advertising a Google-based map of the system on their website. I kept googling "OKC streetcar" and couldn't find it and thought I was going crazy. Turns out www.okcstreetcar.com doesn't come up at all in the first page of Google results, it's only the okc.gov page and the EMBARK pages about the project. I have no idea how to fix that, but I'd hope they're able to make it appear in the search results...

[Bullbear]

Kind of a random issue, but I saw on Twitter them advertising a Google-based map of the system on their website. I kept googling "OKC streetcar" and couldn't find it and thought I was going crazy. Turns out www.okcstreetcar.com doesn't come up at all in the first page of Google results, it's only the okc.gov page and the EMBARK pages about the project. I have no idea how to fix that, but I'd hope they're able to make it appear in the search results...

Could they be referencing that if you are in the area and are navigating by Google maps and choose public transportation option it will direct you to street car stop? I could be totally off .. but was curious if that is updated on Google maps for that purpose.

[Pryor Tiger]

Kind of a random issue, but I saw on Twitter them advertising a Google-based map of the system on their website. I kept googling "OKC streetcar" and couldn't find it and thought I was going crazy. Turns out www.okcstreetcar.com doesn't come up at all in the first page of Google results, it's only the okc.gov page and the EMBARK pages about the project. I have no idea how to fix that, but I'd hope they're able to make it appear in the search results...

They didn't get that site up early enough for SEO to kick in, but I think it will quickly find its way to the top of search once the system is online!

[LocoAko]

Could they be referencing that if you are in the area and are navigating by Google maps and choose public transportation option it will direct you to street car stop? I could be totally off .. but was curious if that is updated on Google maps for that purpose.

They were referring to the map on www.okcstreetcar.com (and click on System Map) -- but I certainly hope it finds its way into the public transit option on Google Maps. I have to imagine it would.

They didn't get that site up early enough for SEO to kick in, but I think it will quickly find its way to the top of search once the system is online!

Interesting, thanks! Like I said, I don't know much about this sort of thing but would obviously deem it important to be easily searchable.

[catch22]

I was reading the FAQ on that site and it says all passengers must disembark at the “End of Loop” stops at the Park and Dewey. So if I board the train at the Arena stop, I must get off the train one stop down and boars again. I assume you will be charged for two trips? That’s kind of asinine. The whole point of a loop is that there is no “end of the line”. It’s a circle.

[LocoAko]

I was reading the FAQ on that site and it says all passengers must disembark at the “End of Loop” stops at the Park and Dewey. So if I board the train at the Arena stop, I must get off the train one stop down and boars again. I assume you will be charged for two trips? That’s kind of asinine. The whole point of a loop is that there is no “end of the line”. It’s a circle.

That does seem ridiculous. Hopefully that isn't the case...

[dankrutka]

I can't speak for OKC's streetcar and busses, but here in DFW you can use Google Maps to see where the A-Train, DART, and busses all are up the second. I can literally watch on Google Maps as my bus rolls up once I click on times for that bus. It's really pretty incredible.

[shawnw]

Regarding "end of the line"... It's so they can kick people off if they need to (or make them show valid passes again). There's speculation on my part here obvs, but based on some observation as well. Most of the current bus routes are loops and 94% of the time nobody says anything when you get to the outbound/inbound demarcation point. But every now and then the bus driver goes through and tells everybody to re-swipe their passes. Feels like he's saying to certain people "I see you. I know you've been riding this loop all day."

[catch22]

Wouldn’t that be better served by the operator calling a transit officer to meet the train and kick the person off instead of charging everyone a double fare? I’m sure you could make it a city ordinance that streetcar use is for an hour only, anyone on board longer than an hour must get off.

[BoulderSooner]

Well so far I have been very disappointed in the communication and organization of the streetcar management. I did win one of the 'golden tickets' and the ride for Saturday was cancelled due to weather, although I didn't receive an email regarding that until 5:50 Friday night and the weather was fine. As of 3:30 today still no communication. I reached out again, thru Facebook as the only contact I could find, and they say they will send an email with info tonight. The street car opens Friday so clearly there is no early ride. It seems unethical to hold a contest where you must shop and buy something for a chance to win, then win and there is no prize and no communication. Very disappointed in something that I was so excited about.

Everyone with a golden ticket is going to get free street car pass that is good until the end of June (so 6 months ). You should have received your email today (if you followed the directions on the golden ticket and regestered by dec 5th)

[turnpup]

OK, this one seemed obvious to me but maybe I'm missing something. We were in our car behind the streetcar as it stopped at the loading platform in front of OCU Law School. That stretch of Robinson is single-lane and the middle is striped with solid yellow no-passing lines. Not one, but two, people who came up behind me aggressively swerved around both our car and the streetcar.

I'm thinking if you're behind the streetcar in a scenario like that, you're supposed to wait. Was I mistaken? I looked on their website but couldn't find anything about that scenario.

[FighttheGoodFight]

OK, this one seemed obvious to me but maybe I'm missing something. We were in our car behind the streetcar as it stopped at the loading platform in front of OCU Law School. That stretch of Robinson is single-lane and the middle is striped with solid yellow no-passing lines. Not one, but two, people who came up behind me aggressively swerved around both our car and the streetcar.

I'm thinking if you're behind the streetcar in a scenario like that, you're supposed to wait. Was I mistaken? I looked on their website but couldn't find anything about that scenario.

Ya you are supposed to wait for sure.

[turnpup]

Ya you are supposed to wait for sure.

Thanks. It's going to be interesting to see how people adapt to sharing the road. Hopefully there won't be any major catastrophes.