Oklahoma City Council Approves New 17-Mile Bus Rapid Transit Corridor as Part of MAPS 4 Plan

The MAPS 4 plan allocated $97 million to transform the public transit system. This includes upgrades to existing bus stops, future planning and land acquisition, and advancements to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which is designed for speed and efficiency. 

On July 2, the Oklahoma City Council approved combining two separate corridors, the northeast and south corridors, into one new 17-mile route preferred by residents. This marks the initial steps of the project. 

“Thanks to robust community input and the efforts of the consultant team, consolidating the two previously separate corridors into a single 17-mile route allows for a significantly enhanced customer experience when both phases are operational,” said Jason Ferbrache, director of EMBARK. 

The 17-mile route will include 26 stops, passing destinations such as Metro Tech, Ralph Ellison Library, Automobile Alley, the Innovation District, Capitol Hill, INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center, and Oklahoma City Community College. 

The new MAPS 4 EMBARK-operated BRT route will serve OKC residents and connect communities, reaching approximately 50,000 jobs and providing easy access to numerous resources. 

Ferbrache noted that customers traveling from northeast to south Oklahoma City will no longer need to transfer buses, as the corridor integrates seamlessly with established areas while introducing transit access to new parts of the city. 

The BRT buses will run on a 12-to-15-minute weekday cycle, traveling along mixed traffic and dedicated lanes, including business access and turn (BAT) lanes and center-running lanes, with potential traffic signal prioritization (TSP). The stations will feature lighting, shelter, monumental signage, ticketing kiosks, real-time arrival information, level boarding, and more. 

The route was designed based on residential input from 19 public events, 15 pop-up events, and an online and map survey. Feedback highlighted the need for reliable service, greater access to healthcare and education, connections to employers, access to Oklahoma City districts, neighborhood service, and support for disadvantaged populations. 

"The recommendation was developed based on the input we received through community engagement and extensive analysis of the corridors,” said MAPS Program Manager David Todd. "Now that we have a locally preferred route, we can move forward with this project to address the transportation needs of our residents and enhance connectivity across Oklahoma City.” 

The MAPS 4 plan includes $61 million to build the 17-mile EMBARK BRT corridor connecting south and northeast Oklahoma City. Construction is set to begin in 2028.