Streetcar

[Urban Pioneer]

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.

[Montreal]

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.

[Laramie]

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.

[gman11695]

NewsOK just posted a video of the streetcar route on their website:
Take a tour of the OKC streetcar route | News OK

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?

[gman11695]

NewsOK just posted a video of the streetcar route on their website:
Take a tour of the OKC streetcar route | News OK

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?

[Teo9969]

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?

[OKCisOK4me]

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

[Plutonic Panda]

Oklahoma City panel to consider acquiring sixth streetcar | News OK

[Richard at Remax]

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."

[David]

Good god it's actually happening.

[OKCisOK4me]

Awesome email!

[Urban Pioneer]

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.

[OKCisOK4me]

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?

[betts]

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.

[OKCisOK4me]

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.

[Urbanized]

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

[Robert_M]

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.

[OKCisOK4me]

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

[ShadowStrings]

Video on NewsOK about the tentative running schedule of the streetcar is here.

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.

[Anonymous.]

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.

[LocoAko]

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?

[Bellaboo]

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.

[bradh]

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.

[warreng88]

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?

[catch22]

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.