Oklahoma City Wins Federal Money for BRT Planning

Oklahoma City will begin planning and design work on a proposed bus Rapid transit service (BRT) that would create a bus-only lane connecting the city’s northwest side to the central business district. “The service would link to the downtown streetcar line, providing an option for reaching downtown offices, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues without having to drive and park,” William Crum writes for NewsOK. The project is expected to complete planning by 2021 and begin service by 2023.

“The $14.3 million BUILD grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation was announced Thursday — along with grants to Tulsa and the Port of Muskogee — by Sen. Jim Inhofe,” Crum reports. The Federal dollars will be matched by local funds from a bond initiative and sales tax revenue.