The system saw its highest ridership ever in the last fiscal year.
The Oklahoma City streetcar, operated by EMBARK, will start offering free rides on January 5, with a pilot program approved to continue through July 5, 2026. As Steve Lackmeyer explains in The Oklahoman, the program could become permanent if successful.
According to Lackmeyer, “The latest fiscal year that ended on June 30 saw a new record high ridership on the streetcars totaling 288,517.” However, streetcar fares only account for less than 2 percent of annual operations costs, making going fare-free a relatively affordable experiment.
“James Cooper, a member of the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority that oversees EMBARK, voted for the free fares but urged commissioners to consider extending free fares to bus passengers should the pilot program be deemed a success.” Cooper surmised that increased sales tax revenue from people traveling to commercial areas on transit would offset the cost of eliminating fares.
Read the full story: Pilot program for free streetcar fares approved; could buses be next?
OKC streetcar will stay fare-free after ridership shot up 74%
The downtown streetcar saw a surge in ridership after it eliminated fares in January.
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OKC Celebrates New Rapid Bus Line With Free Rides
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