Embark presents service changes: proposed Route 19 elimination, streetcar insourcing and microtransit pilot discussed

Embark, the public transportation trust for the City of Oklahoma City, presented its proposed FY 2026 trust budget and detailed a package of operational changes that the department said are intended to meet a council-directed reduction target while preserving core services.

Embark Director Jesse Rush told the council, "We are a public transportation trust to the city of Oklahoma City," and outlined service lines — fixed-route buses, the Rapid Northwest bus rapid transit (BRT), the OKC streetcar, parking and the Oklahoma River cruises — and several initiatives tied to ridership and customer experience.

Why this matters: Embark’s choices affect transit-dependent residents, particularly low-income and less densely populated neighborhoods on the city’s edges. Council members pressed staff on proposed route changes and alternatives.

Major proposals described - Insourcing streetcar operations and maintenance: Embark plans to end its contract with Herzog Transit Operations and provide streetcar operations in-house. Staff said the change reduces contract overhead and insurance costs and that in-house staff with streetcar experience have been…