How the Trolleys Cost Downtown
I had it all planned out for today with the wife and kids. We would first stop at the Skirvin to see the massive gingerbread house of the Overholser Mansion. Next stop – Bricktown – where we would have the kids ride Santa’s Wonderland along the Bricktown Canal, followed by dinner probably at Falcones. We would then enjoy a free admission Sunday evening inside the Crystal Bridge at the Myriad Gardens.
Instead, after visiting the Skirvin, we left for home. Why? Because I don’t trust the Oklahoma Spirit trolleys. Once I was downtown, it was only then I recalled that the sold-out Thunder game against Cleveland was tonight at Ford Center. And with youngsters, the idea of walking a few blocks from one spot to another and then to another, and in 25-degree weather, was a no-go. Now, if we had a reliable trolley service, I could have parked along the trolley route and taken the trolley from stop to stop.
But the routes and timing of stops aren’t even available on the trolley signs anymore. Instead, we’ve dropped down to calling 235-RIDE for more information. And after hearing about horrible service from visitors, quite frankly, I wasn’t willing to take the risk.
Am I the only one who decided to cancel an evening of fun downtown thanks to the trolleys? What do you think?
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Comments
The trolleys were one of the original 9 MAPS projects. Shouldn’t the City have to deliver the promised ‘service’ of the trolleys just the same as the other projects (arena, ballpark, river, etc). They wouldn’t be given a pass if they didn’t come through on those projects and shouldn’t be left off the hook for reliable and dependable trolley service. It’s a service that was paid for by that penny.
Seed money for a Trolley or light rail system was part of the original MAPS. However our District 5 representative at the time (Earnest Istook) unexpectedly put a hold on Federal matching funding for the project. A few years later, Istook (a Mormon) strongly supported a similar project for Salt Lake City in time for the Olympics. As a substitute, the city instead purchased the rubber wheel street Trolley system we have now.
Unfortunately the trolley system is too ambitious for what the city has capacity to do.
My suggestions:
1. Discontinue service from downtown to meridian and adventure district. Too far to travel and too unreliable.
2. Run two trolley routes – North/South with a route that goes from Ford Center to 13th with stops within 1 block from Bombing memorial/art museum/downtown hotels. The second route would be East/West on mainly Reno and Sheridan from the Myriad Gardens to the Chesapeake boathouse. Run at least two trolleys on each line all the time. This is similar to the routes used in Washington D.C. by the “Circulator” Keep it simple and reliable. If the trolleys are broken, use buses. Just keep it reliable.
Its too ambitious Steve if you’ve got 5-6 trolleys and you’re trying to cover downtown, the adventure district, and the meridian corridor. Thats never going to work, which is why you yourself aborted your day out. If there were more trolleys and buses then its an easy fix. My suggestion was just trying to get something working right. And if all we can get working right is downtown, then thats at least what I think we should do. You can’t throw the moniker “Major league city” out on every project or initiative that doesn’t meet your expectations.
I guess my question is aimed at “is a reliable downtown public transportation service too much to expect for OKC considering its size and accomplishment…”
[...] but it doesn’t tell me any information. Longtime readers of this site are well aware of the evidence presented concerning MetroTransit’s shortfalls in operating the Spirit trolleys, unfulfilled [...]
Steve,
I agree. Even though I live and work and own property downtown. I don’t give it as much business as I would because the CITY makes it so hard to get from one side of downtown to the other unless you want to take your car. The CITY has done a poor job in adapting to citizens and visitors needs on the Trolley issue. It’s a chicken and egg and improperly funded issue. As you know, several of us have been trying to work with the City on this issue for about a year now. The impression I get is they vaguely get the idea there is a problem, even though they don’t want to admit it and don’t want to take at least partial blame along with Metro Transit. We’re so progressive on other issues, but we’re NOT a BIG LEAGUE CITY UNTIL we address MASS TRANSIT. We must have a system downtown that is reliable, despite gas prices dropping dramatically. Gas is way undervalued right now and will go up again. Why can’t we prepare for the future this time. Unfortunately I’ve been sensing lately people again resting on their laurels at the city, chamber and just the general community, look at all the bah-humbug at the Thunder since we’re having such a rough season, we’re becoming complacent again now that we have something, we just expect things to be handed to us now, the economy is depressing people, projects are halted. Let’s not rest our laurels and keep working on the forward momentum folks, we’re just on the brink of something BIG.