Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA dba EMBARK)

PROJECT PURPOSE

a. The purpose of this project is for the City of Oklahoma City through the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA) to proactively add the necessary infrastructure to the City of Oklahoma City?s public transportation system that serves the central Oklahoma Region and our states capitol city so that the existing EMBARK transit network can expand to meet demand and fully leverage the future high capacity transit expected through the Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma RTA and the City of Oklahoma City?s planned future transit improvements. Specifically the project: 1) adds a new bus maintenance and operations center that accommodates doubling the size of the current EMBARK bus fleet which is required for planned new Bus Rapid Transit corridors and other bus system frequency enhancements, 2) construction of the region?s first dedicated park and rides at the fringe of the existing bus system to accommodate current worker commute patterns from surrounding cities and counties, and 3) construct the region?s first bus transfer station outside of the downtown Oklahoma City core. Improving public transportation is consistent with current resident surveys where public transit scores high as a community service needing resources and high in importance satisfaction ranking where residents indicate high levels of dissatisfaction but also believe a robust public transit system is highly important. Conceptual planning for the facility expansion is underway.

EVIDENCE

EMBARK is conducting a comprehensive operational analysis with industry experts, Nelson Nygaard that outline the need for expanded transit. The regional transit authority completed a transit vision plan with consultant Kimley Horn that also outlines the need for expanded transit in the region. In 2005 we completed a fixed guideway study with consultant Carter Burgess. It also outlined the need and visions for expanded transit in Oklahoma City. During the pandemic our ridership has declined the least amongst peer transit agencies except Kansas City, demonstrating the need and desire for our services within the region.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Through our rider surveys we know that our services are used by the city's most vulnerable. 79% of our customers earn income of less than $20k annually and 59% earn less than $10k. 64% do not have a valid driver's license. 62% of our customers report using the service to save money and 26% report using the system because they can't drive. 35% report using the service to get to work, 20% report using it for shopping, and 12.7% report using it for medical care or social services. Expanding transit will offer residents throughout the region more opportunties to connect to jobs, healthy food, and healthcare services they need. Without transit many of the regions residents our customers are homebound or without any medical care. Transit offers them independence and opportunity. These low income populations are less likely to have healthcare and more likely to have comoridities as well as be in jobs with a higher risk of exposure to COVID. These factors put that at a higher risk of being neg

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Ridership, air quality, and survey results will be used as performance measures for the project. Expanding our system will boost ridership, which we measure with fareboxes and Automatic Passenger counters. Increasing the percentage of Oklahoma City travelers that use public transit will improve air quality or delay it getting worse. It is measured with existing monitors throughout the state. Finally, the City of Oklahoma City and EMBARK conduct statistically valid resident and rider surveys regularly that provide a rich set of qualitative data about our performance.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma