Oklahoma City Streetcar

The Oklahoma City Streetcar (OKC Streetcar), also known as the Downtown Streetcar, is a planned modern streetcar system located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The 4.5-mile (7.2 km) system is projected to open in late 2017 and would serve the greater downtown Oklahoma City area. The initial system would connect the Central Business District with the entertainment district, Bricktown, and the Midtown District.[1] Expansion is currently being planned to districts surrounding downtown as well as more routes in the CBD.

History

The streetcar was first conceived in a 2005 regional transit study known as the Fixed Guideway Study. The concept lay dormant until a local Oklahoma City businessman, inventor, and political activist named Jeff Bezdek promoted the project to the Oklahoma City Council to be considered as part of Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS 3) program.[2] Jeff Bezdek launched a strategic campaign called the Modern Transit Project to generate public support for the initiative.[3] Polling indicated that the streetcar plan had a majority of support from likely voters.[4] The Oklahoma City Council incorporated the concept into the MAPS program.

Funding

The system is financed through a local 1-cent sales tax initiative named Metropolitan Area Projects or (MAPS). The initiative was approved in 2009 via a majority vote by the citizens of Oklahoma City.

Design

The streetcar system is to be of the conventional type using steel rails embedded into city streets, with modern vehicles powered from overhead electric wires. The streetcars are planned to be in use with everyday traffic. Initially, five vehicles are slated to be ordered. A sixth car is slated to be purchased through MAPS 3 with options for six more vehicles beyond the initial purchase. The streetcar vehicles will be required to operate wirelessly for several hundred feet under the existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway bridges that separate downtown Oklahoma City central business district from the Bricktown entertainment district.[5]

On September 29, 2015, the Oklahoma City city council approved the awarding of a $22 million contract to Inekon, of the Czech Republic, for the purchase of five streetcars,[6] as well as spare parts and training.[7] However, after Inekon failed to meet a one-month deadline for submitting required financial-guarantee information, project staff recommended switching to Brookville Equipment Corporation, another manufacturer that had also bid for the order.[8] On November 10, the city council voted its approval for the staff to begin negotiations with Brookville for the streetcar contract.[8] In March 2016, the city reached a final agreement with Brookville to purchase five streetcars, with an option for a sixth, at a cost of $24.9 million.[9]

Frequency

Streetcars are planned to stop at 8- to 12-minute intervals at designated pedestrian shelters along the 4.5-mile route.

Planned expansion

Major expansion of the Oklahoma City Streetcar system beyond the first phase is already being planned. A steering committee made up of local mayors, city councillors, and other civic leaders approved plans for major expansion from the MAPS 3 system northward up the major thoroughfare Classen Boulevard to the planned 63rd street commuter rail station stop and southward from downtown along Walker to the south 25th street commuter rail stop in Capitol Hill. Additional plans have also been discussed for streetcar expansion to Oklahoma City University through the historic Plaza District northwest of the initial downtown starter line.[10]

Project oversight

The Oklahoma City Streetcar project as part of the MAPS initiative is overseen by a committee appointed by the mayor and city council of Oklahoma City. The original promoter of the streetcar system, Jeff Bezdek, is appointed to committee along with several other volunteers from the original Modern Transit Project initiative.[11] Recommendations from this committee are formally made to the MAPS 3 oversight board which then makes recommendations to the Oklahoma City Council to be potentially enacted as policy.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Modern Streetcar/Transit". City of Oklahoma City. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  2. ↑ Lackmeyer, Steve (July 14, 2009). "Streetcar plan may open downtown transit route". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  3. ↑ http://www.yesformaps.com/pdf/okcgazettetransit11-04.pdf
  4. ↑ http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/griffin/NEWS9/PDF/0909/MAPS3PollResults.pdf
  5. ↑ Felder, Ben (July 8, 2014). "Streetcar still on track". Oklahoma Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Inekon to supply Oklahoma City Streetcars". Railway Gazette International. September 30, 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  7. ↑ Fultonberg, Lorne (September 30, 2015). "Oklahoma City council approves $23 million streetcar contract". KFOR-TV. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  8. 1 2 Crum, William (November 10, 2015). "Oklahoma City Council votes to change MAPS 3 streetcar manufacturers". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  9. ↑ "Oklahoma City OKs $24.9 million contract to buy five streetcars from Brookville". Progressive Railroading. March 29, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  10. ↑ Felder, Ben (August 18, 2014). "Regional rail-based transit system plan could reach voters in a few years". Oklahoma Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  11. ↑ Koon / Creative Vega, Patrick W. Moore. "Welcome - Modern Transit Project in Oklahoma City". mtpokc.com.
  12. ↑ http://www.okc.gov/maps3/advboard.html

External links

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