A Streetcar Named Embark OKC

Nikita Lewchuk, Reporter

After months of construction and anticipation, Oklahoma City joined cities like Dallas and Milwaukee in bringing modern streetcar systems to the inner city in an effort to revitalize the downtown area.

The project was part of Oklahoma City’s Maps 3 Program, which was funded through a one cent sales tax. In total, the budget for Maps 3 is $777 million, almost a fifth of which is reserved for the streetcars.

The route includes several districts of the downtown area, from Midtown to Bricktown. Fare is $1 for a single trip, day passes are available for $3, and monthly and yearly passes are also available for purchase.

According to the OKC Streetcar FAQ page, crews first broke ground in February 2017, and finished the final track pour last October.

The city partnered with EMBARK, and several other contractors to install a trolley system for easier accessibility to the downtown area at large.

The planning and construction was the work of several organizations and companies. The route was decided on by Embark, the MAPS 3 advisory board and City Council. Construction was carried out by Herzog/Stacey Witbeck construction company.

Mayor David Holt, who has championed the process from beginning to end, said on twitter, “… my appreciation & kudos to @EMBARKOK, COTPA, @cityofokc staff and the Council for supporting @OKCStreetcar and working to ensure that it meets the needs of our citizens.”