About Us
RTA Milestones, 2005-Present
The Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma (RTA) is a regional, independent governmental agency established in 2019, under the laws of the State of Oklahoma. The originating City councils from each member city – Edmond, Norman, and Oklahoma City, created the regional Authority by resolution.
Today, the RTA is governed by a seven-member board of directors with appointed officials from each of the three-member cities – Edmond, Norman, and Oklahoma City.
The RTA is responsible for developing, funding, constructing, implementing, operating, and maintaining transportation projects located within the boundaries of the regional transportation district. The board of directors meets on the third Wednesday of each month.
See the Frequently Asked Questions below:
The RTA is the implementing agency for regional transit in Central Oklahoma. Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is a state agency responsible for state-wide transportation. Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) is responsible for regional transportation planning for central Oklahoma. EMBARK is the existing transit operator. The RTA will work closely with ODOT, ACOG, and EMBARK as the project advances.
In 2017, RTA’s predecessor, the RTA Task Force looked at six transit properties including Salt Lake City, Dallas, San Diego, Phoenix, Portland, and Detroit. In particular, we see similarities between RTA and Salt Lake City and looking to them as how their system was developed.
We are considering existing transit systems, such as Salt Lake City, to develop our world-class transportation system for the region that meets the needs of our member cities and their communities.
Equity and accessibility are part of the goals for the transit system plan. In addition, on the federal level, there are Title VI requirements that need to be met. To meet those requirements, there is an entire program of public engagement that needs to occur. The RTA Board would need to do its due diligence to make sure there is no adverse effect on low-income or minority population or a community that gets displaced.
Construction and operation of the first regional transit improvements associated with this effort is at least five years out and depends on a lot of variables. Construction will begin after funding has been secured at the federal and local level as part of a multi-year process, with operations following construction.
It is difficult to answer this question until we have a better understanding of what the future system will look like. The RTA believes that in the next two to three years, or 2024-2025, the agency will have a firm understanding of what the preferences are in the community and will therefore be able to choose what to implement. In the coming years, the RTA will be performing modeling and analysis to get closer to making such a decision.
The Board always welcomes public involvement at its regular monthly Board meetings. Meeting agendas are published ahead of time here. Board Members are always eager to hear from stakeholders and share RTA’s vision for transit as well as the benefits that come along with a collaborative planning environment.
Reach out to your local elected officials—there are usually campaigns and volunteer opportunities, especially with the potential referendum for a sales tax, that provide a platform to share your ideas. If you have suggestions to share with the Board or project team, connect with us here, at info@rtaok.org, or on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
The RTA project team has not yet conducted the analysis on the exact location of stations. That analysis is part of the work that will be developed over the coming year. In collaboration with the communities, there will be significant outreach opportunities over the next year to listen to community members. Station locations will be based on providing benefits to the greatest number of potential riders.
The project team is also interested in exploring places where automobiles and the transit system can easily connect with something like a park-and-ride option. Developments around this topic will be presented in future meetings as the project progresses.
System safety and security are always top-of-mind for a transit operator and the RTA is committed to creating a safe environment for future riders. As the RTA moves closer to operations, the agency will create a safety and security plan based on the safety guidelines and security measures established by the FTA.
The corridors currently under study by the RTA are the result of several previous studies, including the 2015 Commuter Corridors Study. In 2021, the RTA adopted the Transit System Plan, which identified four regional corridors to evaluate for high-capacity transit service. The Alternatives Analysis Study currently underway is examining two of those corridors, the East Corridor and the North/South Corridor. The RTA has been awarded federal grants towards the planning studies for additional projects, which should get underway in the fiscal year 2023 when the RTA gains a more balanced view of the area’s needs.
The RTA will continue to coordinate with the BNSF on a regular basis for the next several years to understand the capital improvements and operating plan that would provide the RTA sufficient capacity to operate passenger trains.
The journey toward forming the Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma has included numerous studies, stakeholders, consultants, committees, conversations, formal and informal briefings, public meetings, task force meetings, council meetings, workshops, and more. See the Major Milestones below:
Locally Preferred Alternatives Adopted
After completing the Alternatives Analysis process for each of the four corridors, the RTA adopted four LPAs. The four corridors build upon the originally identified corridors by specifying an alignment and transit mode and are shown as part of the future regional network:
- North/South Corridor (Commuter Rail): Connecting Edmond to Norman via Oklahoma
City, utilizing the existing BNSF railroad corridor - East Corridor (Bus Rapid Transit): Connecting Downtown Oklahoma City to Tinker Air
Force Base to the East via Reno Avenue, Eastern Avenue, and 29th Street. - Airport Corridor (Light Rail): Connecting Downtown Oklahoma City to the Will Rogers
World Airport via Reno Avenue and Meridian Avenue. - West Corridor (Bus Rapid Transit): Connecting Downtown Oklahoma City to Western
Oklahoma City via 10th Street, MacArthur Boulevard, Reno Avenue, Council Road, and
15th Street.
RTA Transit System Adopted
The regional transit corridors in the RTA Transit System Plan represent a long-term vision to be implemented over time. This Transit System Plan embodies a vision for high-capacity transit to complete a comprehensive transit system providing important connections to the Central Oklahoma region for years to come.
April 2021Historic Signing
In February 2019, a celebration was held at Santa Fe Station memorializing the signing of the trust agreement and indenture.
February 2019Trust Agreement and Indenture
In the years following the signing of the MOU, 2016-2018, the task force worked on RTA development including governance models; board representation and structure; voting protocols; district boundaries, and much more. In late 2018, Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) worked with six city councils to ensure approval of the trust agreement and indenture creating the RTA. All six cities approved the historic documents, and in January 2019, selected directors to serve on the RTA. A celebration was held at Santa Fe Station memorializing the signing of the trust agreement and indenture.
2016-2018Memorandum of Understanding
In 2015, six local mayors and ACOG signed a historic memorandum of understanding memorializing the creation of a Regional Transit Authority Task Force for Central Oklahoma. That task force was charged with developing the RTA for the region.
2015Passage of HB 2480
In 2014, another major milestone toward regional transportation was met with the passage of Oklahoma HB 2480. The legislation ensured that a regional transportation authority had the flexibility to draw tax boundaries by precinct, city and county. This legislation provides the RTA more options. Thanks to HB 2480, through a ballot question, residents can vote to create a dedicated sales tax for an RTA. Thus, taxpayers will eventually need to vote to raise revenue through taxation to fund regional transportation.
2014Commuter Corridors Study
In February 2013, ACOG initiated the Commuter Corridors Study to evaluate the three commuter corridors: the north corridor between Oklahoma City and Edmond; the east corridor, between Oklahoma City and Midwest City (Tinker Air Force Base), and the south corridor between Oklahoma City and Norman. The 18-month study was completed in 2014, and approved by ACOG’s Intermodal Transportation Policy Committee that same year. The study provided in-depth analysis of potential alignments, technologies, ridership forecasts and estimated costs. It culminated in the selection of a locally-preferred alternative for each corridor.2013-2014Intermodal Transportation Hub Study
In 2010, ACOG partnered with the EMBARK, the City of Oklahoma City, and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) on an Intermodal Transportation Hub Study. The study involved a two-tier evaluation process that began with 10 potential hub locations along major rail lines within downtown Oklahoma City. That study, which was completed in 2011, culminated in the selection of the Santa Fe Station as the regional transportation hub. A total of $28.4 million was spent to restore and renovate the art-deco structure and transform it into a transit hub to serve passenger trains, the streetcar system, city buses, taxis and bicycle and ride-sharing services. The Federal Highway Administration awarded a $13.6 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to Oklahoma City for the project. Oklahoma City provided $11.3 million in funding. ACOG, through the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), provided $2 million in funding and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) provided another $1.5 million.
2010Streetcar Returns
Also in 2009, Oklahoma City citizens voted in favor of MAPS 3, a sales tax-financed capital program, which included a modern streetcar system. That system had first been conceived in the Fixed Guideway Plan of 2005. More than 10 years later, with 4.9 miles of rail laid, streetcar service commenced in Oklahoma City to great fanfare in December 2018. Eventually, the streetcar will serve as an intricate part of a comprehensive, regional transit system and will work in tandem with express buses and commuter rail.
2009Regional Transit Dialogue
In 2009, ACOG initiated the Regional Transit Dialogue, a visioning process to determine the desire for expanded and enhanced regional public transportation, in cooperation with local partners. The RTD engaged local, elected officials; policy stakeholders; transit advocates; private sector leaders, and the general public to articulate how transit can serve the region in the years and decades to come. It built upon the recommendations from the 2030 Fixed Guideway Plan.
2009Regional Fixed Guideway Study
The Central Oklahoma Transportation & Parking Authority (COTPA), now also known as EMBARK - lead a Regional effort to improve connections throughout Central Oklahoma's growth centers; enhance economic development opportunities; improve and expand mobility options; and improve air quality. As a result, the 2030 Fixed Guideway Plan was adopted.
2005