Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority Explained

Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority
Founded:1968
Headquarters:510 South Rockford, Tulsa
Locale:Tulsa, Oklahoma
Service Area:Tulsa, Jenks, Broken Arrow and Sand Springs
Service Type:bus service, paratransit, express bus service
Routes:21
Hubs:2 Transit Centers
13 Park and Rides (locally called "Park-N-Save lots")
Fleet:63
Ridership:5,420 (2022)[1]
Annual Ridership:1,548,388 (2022)
Operator:City of Tulsa
Website:http://tulsatransit.org/

Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority, usually known as MTTA or Tulsa Transit, is the public transit system operating buses and paratransit for Tulsa, Oklahoma. In existence since 1968, the system consists of 21 regular routes and 4 night routes, with two major transit hubs: Memorial Midtown Station at 7952 E. 33rd St. in Midtown Tulsa, and the Denver Avenue Station at 319 S. Denver across from the BOK Center in Downtown.

History

The city's first bus rapid transit line, known as "Aero" or 700, began operating on November 17, 2019, on Peoria Avenue from 52nd Street North to 81st Street South and Lewis. The route has 52 stations and buses that arrive every 15 to 30 minutes.[2] The service officially launched on December 19, 2019.[3]

In August, 2023, Tulsa Transit experienced its busiest month ever to that point, with ridership reaching about 290,000.[4]

Operations

Tulsa Transit operates regular fixed service Monday to Saturday, from early mornings to early evenings. After daytime service ceases between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., the service operates night service on its "Nightlines" until midnight. Bus frequencies are 30 or 60 minutes Monday through Saturday. A fixed route service with reserved deviations permitted (identical to Nightline routes), operates on Sundays. There is no service on public holidays.

The service used to be known for request stops: bus stops were infrequently signed and would stop on request typically after any intersection where it is safe to do so. This practice was abolished, and stops posted, in a September 2019 system redesign.[5]

Routes

Tulsa Transit operates a variety of routes all over the city, and into Jenks, Broken Arrow and Sand Springs although it does not run as a full-time bus fleet in those locations. Each set of routes is grouped by the first of the three digits, as follows:

Fixed route ridership

The ridership statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response services.[6]

Fleet

Active

FleetNumberYearManufacturerModelEngineTransmissionNotes
0401-04082004GilligLow Floor 35'Cummins ISL
0409-04142005ElDorado NationalE-Z Rider II 30'Cummins ISCAllison B300R0412 retired.
0501-05032004GilligLow Floor 40'Cummins ISL
0504-05112004Low Floor 35'
06052006Low Floor HEV 35'Cummins ISBAllison EP40hybrid system
0901-09032009Low Floor 29'Cummins ISL
0904-0905Low Floor 35'
1101-11112011BRT CNG 35'Cummins Westport ISL G
1112-1115BRT CNG 40'
1301-13052013BRT CNG 35'
1307-1309BRT CNG 40'
1310-1312BRT CNG 35'
1601-16022016BRT CNG 40'
1701-17082017BRT CNG 35'Cummins Westport ISL G NZ

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tulsa Transit 2022 Agency Profile. April 24, 2024.
  2. News: Canfield . Kevin . November 17, 2019 . Tulsa's Bus Rapid Transit service along Peoria Avenue begins Sunday . . April 7, 2020.
  3. News: Butler . Megan . December 19, 2019 . Tulsa Transit officially launches Aero Bus, extends free rides through Jan. 2 . . April 7, 2020.
  4. Web site: Tulsa Transit sees its highest monthly ridership ever, official says. Kevin Canfield, Tulsa World, August 31, 2023.
  5. News: Slanchik . Amy . Tulsa Transit Changes Routes, First Update In 15 Years . 14 June 2020 . News On Six . 23 September 2019.
  6. Web site: The National Transit Database (NTD) . April 24, 2024.