Streetcar

[Laramie]

Really cool that OKC is going to start out with 6.8 miles.

Driven Broadway a number of times; it's difficult to picture the streetcar in that area being that it's such a narrow street. Are that going to eliminate the angled curve parking?

[Ross MacLochness]

Really cool that OKC is going to start out with 6.8 miles.

Driven Broadway a number of times; it's difficult to picture the streetcar in that area being that it's such a narrow street. Are that going to eliminate the angled curve parking?

Broadway is a very wide street. Unfortunately, rather than narrowing the street and adding protected bike lanes or other amenities such as trees, the angled parking will revert to parallel on the east side to accommodate a second northbound lane that will contain the streetcar but will also be open to auto traffic.

[Plutonic Panda]

Broadway is a very wide street. Unfortunately, rather than narrowing the street and adding protected bike lanes or other amenities such as trees, the angled parking will revert to parallel on the east side to accommodate a second northbound lane that will contain the streetcar but will also be open to auto traffic.

Broadway is not wide at all. It isn't that narrow, but it is certainly not that wide of a street as far as wide streets go.

[Ross MacLochness]

Broadway is not wide at all. It isn't that narrow, but it is certainly not that wide of a street as far as wide streets go.

it's decently wide for a street but not super wide as far as roads go.

[Plutonic Panda]

it's decently wide for a street but not super wide as far as roads go.

Yeah, I was referring though to some of the wide boulevards in Paris, some of the streets in Manhattan and LA. Compared to the rest of the streets in DTOKC, I'd say it's much wider.

[warreng88]

OKC preparing ordinances for start of streetcar system

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record April 7, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY – City officials are already laying the groundwork for streetcar ordinances and business development along the downtown route before it starts running at the end of 2018.

Embark spokesman Michael Scroggins said the Oklahoma City transit authority is working with several other departments and agencies such as public works and development services to work out new permitting standards and the legal department on drafting new ordinance language.

Embark is the business unit of the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority.

City Hall is even looking at how a streetcar line will affect planning for special events such as 5K runs and arts festivals, he said. Traffic rights of way and parking are at the top of the list.

“What happens if they park on the tracks? We’re going to need some sort of tow-and-fine procedure in place,” he said.

“We want as much of this settled as possible before it starts up.”

The streetcar is one of several major projects under the $777 million MAPS 3 sales tax, which includes a new convention center and central park along the streetcar route. City Hall has been seeking feedback from residents and business operators in the area over the last couple of years to determine the greatest benefit with the least disruption.

Scroggins said disruption ordinances must include establishing a safety zone or envelope around the streetcar lines.

Rules elsewhere in the country suggest a minimum distance of 10 feet: Work planned within that range anywhere in the system requires that each person involved must go through a special certification program first.

The ADG architectural firm, which is running the installation of the streetcar, is following a map of its own in plotting out traffic detours and minimizing business impacts, company spokeswoman Kristen Torkelson said.

“The contractor has been really good about making the smallest footprint possible for construction,” Torkelson said. “And if there’s no work at the time, they move all the traffic controls off the street and reopen lanes as soon as possible to keep things moving. Feedback has been very positive so far.”

The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City is also involved, determining the best feedback measures to identify development near the streetcar route, according to a spokeswoman for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.

Scroggins and other city leaders said they expect the $132 million project will influence how business plans grow, which will require policy adjustments in how downtown builds out.

[bombermwc]

I noticed the lines in Bricktown when i was there for a Dodgers game this weekend. Something that's going to bug me is that the lines are in car traffic lines. What the heck is the benefit of riding the train if the train has to wait for the cars that are stopped at the street light? Seems kind of silly if the lines are put in the same route as cars.....at least to me.

[Bellaboo]

I noticed the lines in Bricktown when i was there for a Dodgers game this weekend. Something that's going to bug me is that the lines are in car traffic lines. What the heck is the benefit of riding the train if the train has to wait for the cars that are stopped at the street light? Seems kind of silly if the lines are put in the same route as cars.....at least to me.

Ever been to 'Frisco ?

[shawnw]

The streetcars will have traffic signal prioritization. You will WANT to be at a light with a streetcar because they'll turn green faster.

[Anonymous.]

I noticed the lines in Bricktown when i was there for a Dodgers game this weekend. Something that's going to bug me is that the lines are in car traffic lines. What the heck is the benefit of riding the train if the train has to wait for the cars that are stopped at the street light? Seems kind of silly if the lines are put in the same route as cars.....at least to me.

This has to be sarcasm.... You actually thought this was a dedicated track system?!

[turnpup]

Somebody refresh my memory...did we wind up going with wired or non-wired (or whatever you call it) streetcars?

[catch22]

Somebody refresh my memory...did we wind up going with wired or non-wired (or whatever you call it) streetcars?

I believe most of the system will run on wired technology, with the option to go wireless on certain portions of the track.

[shawnw]

We'll be at least partially wired. At the BID board meeting the streetcar communication coordinator described the process that will be happening along the route (independently of the track construction and utility work) to dig holes in the ground and pour concrete for the foundations of the overhead wire poles.

[Ross MacLochness]

Bricktown and much of AA and Midtown is on wire but the CBD is not. Having off wire technology makes it easy to go under the BNSF bridges!

[turnpup]

Thanks for the answers! I remember the initial discussion but didn't recall the final decision.

[Bits_Of_Real_Panther]

Fare Study - Public Meeting
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2017 12:00 pm | Special Meeting

FARE STUDY SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT
Public hearings are being held to receive input concerning EMBARK’s existing fare structure, fare products and fare policy for EMBARK Bus, ADA Paratransit, Oklahoma City Streetcar, Off-Street Parking, Spokies Bike Share and Oklahoma River Cruises.

PUBLIC HEARINGS
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at noon.
Cotter Ranch Tower, 100 N Broadway #3113,
Community Room (3rd floor)

Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 5:30 pm.
Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave.,
Classroom A (4th floor)

[Dafonso7]

I have not heard from set up for a new commuter train and light rails?

[David]

From https://twitter.com/WILLIAMCRUM/stat...57257030889472

Oklahoma City's first streetcar on the assembly line in Brookville, Pa. #OKC

[Ross MacLochness]

From https://twitter.com/WILLIAMCRUM/stat...57257030889472

Woot!!

[d-usa]

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-w...tcar-once-more

Good read

[shadfar]

From https://twitter.com/WILLIAMCRUM/stat...57257030889472

i don't know why i assumed they would look more like the San Francisco trolleys. Still exciting!

[dankrutka]

How applicable are these concerns to OKC? I've certainly always thought the idea that this initial transit line had much to do with transportation was hard to defend. It's not needed for transportation. Only if this line is dramatically expanded, particularly into areas where mass transportation is needed and into dense clusters, would it serve as a real transportation option, IMHO. Thoughts?

https://www.citylab.com/transportati...etroit/526878/

[Plutonic Panda]

I'm very worried that the streetcar will experience a large crowd in the beginning as most new shiny things do and then ridership will get really bad. Then I'm response whatever agency operates it(I'm guessing Embark?) will cut service which will only further doom it. Then to make it even worse if it becomes a haven where the homeless just ride it using drugs, screaming profanity, etc. and it gets a bad reputation.

That's an extremely negative outlook, but one that could easily become a reality if the city isn't careful in how it goes about. Eventually it should see decent ridership, but I'm worried about the first few years.

[dankrutka]

Wait, I thought you loved profanity and thought OKC needs more of it. I'm confused.

I think an aggressive expansion/connection plan is needed to serve real transportation needs.

[Plutonic Panda]

lol yes I do in certain aspects I want there to be more vulgarness in the city but that's mainly just because it mirrors what I experience in major cities and I want to OKC to reflect that.

But on the other end of the spectrum, it becomes rather tiring experiencing it when using transit especially if its daily. Since I have no car and rely on transit spending sometimes hours a day on rail or bus, I've grown to hate transit personally and while I see it's benefits, I can't wait to get a car again. The reason I bring that up is because anything that negatively affects my experience takes more of a toll on me than it should. LA people have something going on that isn't normal with a lot of them. That includes me.

But quite honestly, I wish the money for the street car would have gone to a light rail system. We'd need about 800 million more to get a decent start, but I just don't like transit that runs at grade. It isn't good for vehicle traffic and is a disincentive for people to use imo because light rail that is separated by grade moves people faster.

That being said since OKC chose this option I want to see it succeed. I am just worried they will drop the ball on this.