February 01, 2019 - 2:51 PM
Oklahoma City's new streetcar system aims to improve consistency and reliability of service by adopting a seven-day schedule beginning this month.
The decision comes as Embark transit prepares to collect a base fare of $1 for a one-hour pass or $3 for a 24-hour pass starting Saturday, The Oklahoman reported. Rides had been free for about six weeks since the streetcar debuted in December . A half-off deal will run throughout February for passes bought on the mobile app.
When service started, plans were for regular service Monday through Saturday and limited, event-driven operations on Sundays.
Transit authorities ran the system on Sundays for the first seven weekends at Mayor David Holt's insistence.
"As many expected," Holt tweeted, "Sunday riders knocked it out of the park."
Streetcars will operate 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays through March after a break this weekend to get traffic signal priority equipment functioning. The Sunday schedule will be 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. starting April 7.
Embark is utilizing about $82,000 in boarding platform sponsorships for Sundays through June 30. The metro transit system is also moving ahead with installing equipment to keep street cars moving through five signals to address complaints about erratic service. The equipment gives streetcars a green light as they approach intersections.
Jason Ferbrache, director of the city's public transportation system, said operators intend to have streetcars running every 10 minutes on the downtown loop. The current average has been 13 minutes. Ferbrache noted "uncontrollables" take a toll on efficient and timely operations. Those unforeseen traffic factors include pedestrians, cyclists and parked cars blocking the tracks.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019