Frequently Asked Questions

Launch Questions

How was the event funded?

The Grand Opening Celebration has been made possible by the City of Oklahoma City, EMBARK, OKC Streetcar, Downtown OKC Partnership, Herzog Transit Services, Herzog Contracting, and Brookville Corp.

If I go to the grand opening ceremony, will I get to ride the streetcar right after?

Other streetcar cities have seen big crowds on opening weekend. Anticipate long lines, and plan to exit at stops along the way to explore restaurants, shopping and downtown activities.

If large crowds aren’t your thing, don’t worry – we’ll be free through January 5.

How many streetcars will run during the free period?

The OKC Streetcar will begin regular service at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018.

Extra vehicles will be placed in service when demand peaks.

How to Ride

Can I bring my pet onto the streetcar?

Only service animals are permitted on the OKC Streetcar.

Can I bring my bicycle, stroller or wheelchair on the streetcar?

Yes, bicycles, mobility devices, strollers, scooters and personal shopping carts are able to board and disembark easily from the streetcar. Bicycle hooks are available inside each streetcar.

Never ride your bicycle or scooter on to the streetcar.

How do I know what stop I’m approaching?

Streetcars will provide audio and visual stop announcements.

Will streetcars stop at every stop?

Not always. At certain stops the streetcar must stop to raise or lower a pantograph. The streetcar will only stop at a platform if a rider is waiting at a stop or a stop is requested by someone on the streetcar.

Can I continuously ride the OKC Streetcar?

No, after completing a full loop, customers are required to collect their belongings and disembark. Every trip requires a valid fare.

Don’t be alarmed if Fare Inspectors or Ambassadors ask you for proof of valid fare or your destination. Trips are defined as having an origin and a destination.

How do I purchase fares?

Preferably through EMBARK’s fare app called Token Transit. Download it here. 

Single ride tickets and passes are available on every platform through the ticket vending machine. Only small bills, coins, and cards accepted. Exact change is required – no change will be issued.

Can I eat and drink on the streetcar?

No eating on the streetcar, but food in closed containers and drinks with lids are allowed.

Safety

Can I park on the streetcar route?

No. Vehicles may park along the route in designated parking areas. All motorists should take great care to ensure their vehicle is parked inside the painted white lines to avoid the risk of being impounded, incurring fines, or getting damage to their vehicle.

Do I need to change the way I walk, drive or cycle along the OKC Streetcar route?

Yes, here are a few tips.

  • Be prepared to stop. Streetcars travel at or below the posted speed limits and make frequent stops.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Streetcars are extremely quiet and there are no fences or barriers that separate you and the streetcar.
  • Listen for warnings. When they’re not being quiet, streetcars will use bells and warning horns to alert you of their presence.
  • Don’t dart in front of one. Streetcars can’t make abrupt stops or move off the tracks to avoid obstacles. A streetcar traveling at 20 miles per hour takes almost 60 feet to stop – so don’t risk it.
  • Follow your own traffic signals. At some intersections, streetcars have their own traffic signals that are not intended for motorists, cyclists or pedestrians.
  • Remember to always be aware of your surroundings. Streetcars have slow reaction times, so be sure to obey traffic, wear proper riding gear and safely cross at designated locations. Always cross tracks at a 90 degree angle.

Let’s all get home safely – learn more.

ADA Questions

How will a person with a hearing or vision disability know when to get off the streetcar?

All streetcar vehicles are equipped audible and visual announcements. Announcements include:

  • Next Stop
  • Arriving Stop Name
  • Service Information
Are both ends of the platform ADA accessible?

Yes and no. Some stops are accessible on both sides, others are accessible from one side. All streetcar platforms are ADA accessible and offer level boarding onto streetcars.

As you’re exiting the streetcar, look for signs on the platform indicating ramp access.

What do I do if all the priority seating is taken?

Seek out onboard personnel for assistance.  Keep in mind, however, by law, customers already seated or in the area are not required to move.

Do the ticket vending machines have speakers for persons with a hearing disability?

Yes, ticket vending machines have an audible function.

How many wheelchairs can be on a streetcar? Do they "strap in" like on a bus?

A maximum of four mobility devices can be transported at a time.

What is the ding-dong sound?

The “ding-dong” sound indicates a stop has been requested.

Stops can be requested by pressing the blue “stop” button located throughout each car of the vehicle.

Do persons with a disability receive discounted fares?

Yes, persons with a disability may qualify for reduced fare. To receive reduced fare based on a disability, call customer care at 405-235-7433 for more information, or request information in person at the Transit Center.

Be prepared to show an EMBARK Reduced Fare ID to staff or Fare Inspection Officers, if requested.

How does a PCA prove their status? Do they have to pay a fare?

Personal Care Attendants (PCA) must travel complete trips with their companion rider. Companions must be able to present an EMBARK ID with a PCA classification.

Operations

Who will operate the streetcar?

The system is operated under EMBARK’s family of transit services. EMBARK has contracted with Herzog Transit Services, Inc., for the day-to-day operations.

Will streetcars have an operator? Or are the streetcars autonomous?

Each streetcar is under the full control of an operator at all times. Prior to beginning service, every operator must first go through 130 hours of classroom training, where they learn rail industry rules of operations, before they ever begin operating a streetcar. Prior to operating a streetcar in revenue service, all operators must first pass 72 hours of seat time, where they learn the rules of the road and all standard operating procedures.

How will the streetcar work with the current bus system?

The streetcar route was designed to complement the current bus system and is the next step in developing a more comprehensive transit system for the central Oklahoma region. Two streetcar stops will be used by EMBARK’s bus system. The rest of the bus system will operate as usual and the OKC Streetcar will treat it just like any other vehicle on the road

How much are fares and passes?

Single trip – $1 per boarding
Day (24-hour) pass – $3
Monthly pass – $32
Annual Pass – $384

  • Kids 6 and younger are free.
  • Students 7–17 are half-price with an EMBARK Reduced Fare ID.
  • Adults 65+ are half-price with an EMBARK Reduced Fare ID.

All EMBARK Universal passes are valid on the streetcar.

These fares were approved by EMBARK’s Board in 2018.

What are the hours of operation?

Downtown Loop (Serves all 22 stops)
Monday – Thursday
6 a.m. to midnight

Friday
6 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Saturday
7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Sunday
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Bricktown Loop (Serves only 9 stops)

Friday
6 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Saturday
7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Sunday
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Additional service may be activated for large events that are expected to generate a high volume of trips. 

What do we call the streetcar system?

The official name is the Oklahoma City Streetcar and can be abbreviated as OKC Streetcar.

What are the streetcar colors?

The color palette is inspired by Oklahoma’s Redbud trees, Bermuda green grass and Clear Sky blue. Redbud is the primary brand color.

There are two Bermuda streetcars, two Clear Sky and three Redbud.

Are certain color streetcars assigned to certain routes?

No, vehicles are not routinely assigned to a specific route. Expect to see all vehicle colors on the Loops.

What is the route?

The streetcar operates on a 4.86-mile route known as the Downtown Loop with 22 stops that travel through Bricktown, Automobile Alley, Midtown, Arts District and City Center. The Downtown Loop serves all system stops.

The Bricktown Loop provides additional frequency along a 2-mile section of the Downtown Loop. The Bricktown Loop serves 9 platforms in Bricktown and the Arts District.

Key destinations along the route include: OKC National Memorial & Museum, Myriad Gardens, Scissortail Park, the ballpark and arena. Click here for a map.

Route colors on maps do not represent nor indicate streetcar colors. Expect to see all streetcar colors on the Loops.

How will I know when the next streetcar will arrive?

Arrival times are located on the digital screen found on each platform. Three times will be provided for each Loop that serves that platform.

Arrival times are provided by US Fleet Tracking.

Click here for Estimated Time Arrival. 

Where does streetcar stop?

There are 22 platforms. Click here for a map.

  • East Bricktown
  • Ballpark
  • Santa Fe Hub
  • Arena
  • Scissortail Park
  • Myriad Gardens
  • Library
  • Transit Center
  • Federal Courthouse
  • Broadway Avenue
  • Automobile Alley
  • Art Park
  • North Hudson
  • Dewey Avenue
  • Midtown
  • NW 10 Street
  • Law School
  • Memorial Museum
  • Business District
  • Century Center
  • Bricktown
  • Mickey Mantle
Are there cameras or security on the OKC Streetcars?

Yes. Cameras are located on both the interior and exterior of each streetcar.

Does the OKC Streetcar have free Wi-Fi access?

Yes.

Does the OKC Streetcar have signal prioritization?

Yes, for certain intersections. There are 15 intersections along the route that have a form of signal prioritization.

Should we expect slower traffic downtown because of the OKC Streetcar?

No.

How is ridership counted?

Electronic Automated Passenger Counters (APC) are installed on each streetcar to count riders. Manual counts will be conducted to ensure accuracy.

Vehicles

What is a modern streetcar?

Modern streetcar is a type of rail transit that fits easily into urban streets. Modern streetcars share lanes with automobile traffic. OKC Streetcars run on rails embedded in the ground and are powered by a combination of overhead electric wires and batteries. They provide frequent, all-day service, board passengers quickly with off-board fare payment, have multiple doors, and level boarding platforms. Modern streetcar systems spur and support economic development.

How big is an Oklahoma City Streetcar?

Length: 66 feet, 5 inches
Height (w/o pantograph): 11 feet
Weight: 83,200 lbs

Who built the streetcars?

The “Liberty” model streetcars are built in the USA by Brookville Equipment Corp. of Pennsylvania.

What other cities have this same model?

Dallas, Detroit, Milwaukee, Tempe and Tacoma

Were the streetcars and rail tested for safety?

Yes.

  • Streetcars: Each streetcar has had at least 500 kilometers (310 miles) of testing before certification was granted to carry passengers. Every component of the vehicle is tested at the manufacturer and then re-tested upon delivery.
  • Operator: Streetcar operators attend 130 hours of classroom training and log 72 hours of training inside the streetcar.
  • Route: Clearance testing occurred to ensure the tracks were built according to plans and specifications. Testing included clearances with stops and adjoining signs, signals, poles and more.
  • Overhead Contact System: The electrical and signaling systems were also tested.
What powers the streetcars?

The streetcars use overhead wires for electric power on 60 percent of the route and battery power on 40 percent. To date, this is the longest off-wire streetcar system in the United States.

Will there be a dedicated streetcar lane?

Mostly, the streetcar travels in lanes with other motorists and following the same traffic signals and other rules of the road. However, there are three streetcar-only sections on the system, identifiable by white hatch road markings in the lane:

  • Dewey from NW 11th to NW 10th
  • Joe Carter from Sheridan to Reno
  • Parallel to the OKC Blvd. from Thunder Dr. to Hudson
Will streetcars follow the same traffic signals as motorists?

Yes and no. Streetcars will follow the same traffic signals as motorists, except when a streetcar-specific signal is present. Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists should follow their normal traffic signals, not the streetcar-specific signals.

How fast will the streetcar travel?

Streetcars will follow the posted speed limits.

How fast can streetcars travel?

Maximum speed is 31 mph.

What’s the capacity for each streetcar?

Seating capacity: 30 seats + 4 flip-up seats + 1 operator

People: 69 standees + 34 seated + 1 operator = 104

How many seats are on each OKC Streetcar?

There are 34 seats.

How many doors are on the OKC Streetcar?

There are three sections in each streetcar vehicle, with two sets of passenger doors on each side of the center section of the middle car.

Is the system ADA compliant?

Each OKC Streetcar stop is ADA-accessible for easy, level boarding at the platforms with signage, real-time arrival information, covered shelters and a ticket vending machine.

Construction

Who designed the route?

The MAPS 3 Modern Streetcar Transit project was planned using a public, resident-driven process including input and guidance from EMBARK, MAPS 3 Modern Streetcar/Transit subcommittee, MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board and City Council. Professional consultants included ADG, Jacobs Engineering, AECOM, SOJ and Jenkins RTS.

Who constructed and installed the track?

Herzog/Stacy & Witbeck constructed the rail line. Crews broke ground February 7, 2017, and worked nearly two years. The final track pour was October 25, 2018.

Where was the rail made?

The rail is made up of two different variations – girder rail, which is the main rail pieces that the streetcar travels on, and special trackwork sections, such as switches and frogs.

  • The special trackwork sections of rail were manufactured by Vossloh AG, a rail technology company based in Werdohl in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
  • The girder rail sections were manufactured by M.F. Wirth Rail Corporation in Montreal, Canada.
How was the streetcar funded?

The Oklahoma City Streetcar is a project of MAPS 3, a $777-million, debt-free capital improvement program to advance the quality of life in Oklahoma City. It was funded by a one-cent sales tax initiative that began in April 2010 and ended in December 2017. The Modern Streetcar project budget was $135 million to purchase seven streetcars and build a 4.86-mile system with two routes/loops linking important districts in and around downtown OKC. A storage and maintenance facility was built at SW 7th Street and Hudson Avenue.