Streetcar

[Plutonic Panda]

That is so bizarre... hmmmm. Maybe those people just tend to find me

[Laramie]

The Oklahoma City streetcar will be okay for now. The streetcars are not by any means overloaded; we're offering enough free rides to increase ridership.

Let's not forget, Kansas City's streetcar is in a city were there is plenty of above ground retail; whereas OKC is attempting to development more retail and restaurants above ground. We also have twice as much streetcar rail in place than Kansas City.

Metropolitan Statistical Area Population 2019 Estimates:

Kansas City 2,157,990
Oklahoma City 1,408,950

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...tistical_areas

[Plutonic Panda]

Kansas City is gearing up to expand their streetcar system. I don’t remember the scope of the project.

[Laramie]

Kansas City is gearing up to expand their streetcar system. I don’t remember the scope of the project.

Kansas City will double the size of its rail by 2021 with their main street extension. It will be equivalent to the size of OKC's current rail miles.

[Edmond Hausfrau]

Is the OKC streetcar free until April 30th?

[shawnw]

I don't know if it's officially free but on buses right now, with rear door entry for driver protection, fares aren't being checked right now. It's stated that everyone is expected to have fares, but no one is looking at them. Maybe something similar going on with streetcar, too...

[HOT ROD]

so much for KC's model fo rthe streetcar, with them begging the federal government for operating funds. I seriously doubt there's going to be ANY expansion any time soon let alone the continuation of free fares in their system after the coronavirus subsides.

Realty will show if KCs model was a good idea or not, so far it's been heavily subsidized and honestly isn't really that big of ridership considering that it is subsidized. I bet OKC would be higher than theirs if OKC subsidized ours.

[LakeEffect]

so much for KC's model fo rthe streetcar, with them begging the federal government for operating funds. I seriously doubt there's going to be ANY expansion any time soon let alone the continuation of free fares in their system after the coronavirus subsides.

Realty will show if KCs model was a good idea or not, so far it's been heavily subsidized and honestly isn't really that big of ridership considering that it is subsidized. I bet OKC would be higher than theirs if OKC subsidized ours.

? KCMO funds their streetcar through sales tax on a specific land area, which has suffered quite a bit. Their model isn't failing at this point. Every transit system is in a tough spot right now, free of charge or not. Too early to make any comments.

[Midtowner]

so much for KC's model fo rthe streetcar, with them begging the federal government for operating funds. I seriously doubt there's going to be ANY expansion any time soon let alone the continuation of free fares in their system after the coronavirus subsides.

Realty will show if KCs model was a good idea or not, so far it's been heavily subsidized and honestly isn't really that big of ridership considering that it is subsidized. I bet OKC would be higher than theirs if OKC subsidized ours.

Every form of transit involves public subsidy. What do you think paid for the roads you drive on? The OKC system wasn't really built with the first goal of driving foot traffic around the city. It exists to drive development at the Core.

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^ that is exactly why our streetcar is a stupid investment. It was built as a real estate development tool. It doesn’t serve the function of efficiently moving people and that is why 99.9 percent of people will still choose the car or even walk.

[Laramie]

? KCMO funds their streetcar through sales tax on a specific land area, which has suffered quite a bit. Their model isn't failing at this point. Every transit system is in a tough spot right now, free of charge or not. Too early to make any comments.

Correct, it's much to early to make that call. When the Convention Center Complex is open and the surrounding street infrastructure is upgraded; we'll have a better handle on how to integrate the streetcar with the core.

Current construction projects in the core is an obstacle to seeing the potential of the streetcar in this area.

[Midtowner]

^^^ that is exactly why our streetcar is a stupid investment. It was built as a real estate development tool. It doesn’t serve the function of efficiently moving people and that is why 99.9 percent of people will still choose the car or even walk.

If it ups the ad valorem and sales tax revenue enough to cover costs, is it stupid then?

[LakeEffect]

If it ups the ad valorem and sales tax revenue enough to cover costs, is it stupid then?

[Plutonic Panda]

The streetcar route is finally showing on Apple Maps

[Plutonic Panda]

If it ups the ad valorem and sales tax revenue enough to cover costs, is it stupid then?

Yes because that money could have been used for a real transit line which also would have increased prosperity and economic output. It’s been proven time and time again.

There is logically no reason to build as streetcar to spur development other than a personal desire to see this thing built which is an obsolete design and extremely slow.

[Midtowner]

Yes because that money could have been used for a real transit line which also would have increased prosperity and economic output. It’s been proven time and time again.

There is logically no reason to build as streetcar to spur development other than a personal desire to see this thing built which is an obsolete design and extremely slow.

Bus stops don't enhance property value. They also don't spur development. It's cool though, it's a big city and we can do many different types of transit. Walking and chewing gum isn't an issue.

[Anonymous.]

Why does the streetcar run in the left lane on Sheridan in front of Devon? Just curious.

[krisb]

Bus stops don't enhance property value. They also don't spur development. It's cool though, it's a big city and we can do many different types of transit. Walking and chewing gum isn't an issue.

Reliable, frequent transit enhances property values. A rail in the ground does not make transit service permanent, just look at the original streetcar rails. Transit is about geometry and physics more than aesthetics.

[RodH]

Why does the streetcar run in the left lane on Sheridan in front of Devon? Just curious.

I seem to remember something being said about allowing room for food truck parking when there is an event in the park.

[kukblue1]

I haven't seen street car numbers in a while. How it is doing with Covid? Any numbers in Kansas City to compare how we are doing to theirs?

[Pete]

From a COTPA agenda just posted today:

Ridership for the OKC Streetcar Is continuing an increase over the previous month. June 2020 ridership (9,928) is a 80% decrease from May 2019 ridership (48,108).

[Pete]

Ridership is now so incredibly low, COTPA is no longer making charts to show ridership and how it compares to previous months and year-over-year.

I would be interested to know the increase in subsidy the city is now having to cover.

[runOKC]

^ They need to just make it free. Remove all barriers to entry, especially if the revenue is going to be no more than a rounding error.

[Pete]

^ They need to just make it free. Remove all barriers to entry, especially if the revenue is going to be no more than a rounding error.

Right, at least for the foreseeable future.

[Pete]

^ They need to just make it free. Remove all barriers to entry, especially if the revenue is going to be no more than a rounding error.

Right, at least for the foreseeable future.