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COPTA adopts $193 million five-year capital plan and approves FY26 budget
Summary
The COPTA board adopted a five-year capital improvement plan totaling $193 million and approved the FY2026 operating budget; the board also adopted a FY2025 budget amendment to reflect new revenue and the streetcar takeover.
The Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority on June 16 adopted a five‑year capital improvement plan (FY2026–FY2030) totaling $193 million, and the board approved the FY2026 operating budget and a FY2025 budget amendment.
Highlights: the CIP lists 29 projects and includes three large‑ticket items that staff singled out—an $80 million proposed transit administration and maintenance facility, a proposed $21 million replacement garage for the former Cox Convention Center site and $18 million for projects tied to LA 28 Olympic needs. Staff noted that roughly 76% of the CIP was unfunded in the plan as presented, but removing the three big items reduces the unfunded share to about 36%; staff said roughly 64% of the CIP is funded when large Olympic and facility items are excluded.
Funding and timeline: staff said federal grants are the largest existing funding source and that the agency is pursuing multiple options including competitive FTA grants and a proposed general obligation (geo) bond to be considered by residents in the fall; the geo bond, if approved, is intended to fund the $80 million headquarters and the $21 million arena parking garage. Staff also said they have been meeting with LA 28 representatives to identify transit projects that must be in place by spring 2028 if the city is to support the Olympics’ transportation needs.
Budget decisions: The board approved a FY2025 budget amendment to recognize $671,000 of additional revenue related to shuttle services and an energy cap transfer and to adjust personnel authority tied to bringing streetcar operations in‑house. The FY2026 combined operating budget adopted by the board is $67,526,000, a 1.56% increase over last year’s adopted budget; staff said that with the FY2025 amendment included the FY2026 budget is effectively flat year‑over‑year.
Board action: Trustees moved and seconded the capital plan and budget resolutions; the board adopted the CIP, the FY2025 amendment and the FY2026 budget. Trustee Brent moved the CIP resolution and Trustee James Cooper seconded the motion for the CIP; subsequent motions for the FY2025 amendment and FY2026 budget were similarly moved and seconded and recorded as passed.
Why it matters: the CIP establishes capital priorities that will guide grant applications, potential bond measures and construction planning; the FY2026 operating budget sets service and personnel funding levels as Embark implements operational changes including the in‑house streetcar transition.
