Oklahoma City, OK — Initial Streetcar Route Accepted

Rail Transit Online, April 2011

On Apr. 5 Oklahoma City Council accepted an initial recommendation for a downtown streetcar circulator loop connecting MidTown to Bricktown. The project is part of the $777-million third phase of a downtown revitalization program known as MAPS 3 that includes a new convention center, a large park, senior centers and other community amenities. "This represents about four miles (6.4 km) of the five- to six-mile (8-9.6 km) route as part of the MAPS 3 budget," MAPS program manager Eric Wenger told The Oklahoman.

However, the proposed alignment could change once the locations of a new intermodal transportation hub and the convention center are selected and after detailed engineering studies are completed. In addition, plans for a makeover of downtown streets, sidewalks and public spaces would be part of the decision.

"It's very early in the process, but we do have a lot of overlapping projects and it's nice for staff to have some direction even though the council is not committing itself to any specific route at this time," Mayor Mick Cornett told The Oklahoman.