Embark board sets public hearing on proposed elimination of Route 19, reduction of Route 24

The Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority voted to adopt a resolution authorizing a public hearing on a proposal to eliminate Route 19 and reduce service on Route 24, the authority’s staff said. The board scheduled the hearing for its May 2 meeting and said it will hold community outreach meetings before then.

Advocates who spoke during the meeting’s public-comment period urged Embark staff and trustees to pursue alternatives rather than cutting service in eastern Oklahoma County and Midwest City. Larry Hopper of the Alliance for Public Transportation said staff intends to eliminate Route 19 around July 1 and recommended extending Route 15 to cover the most active portions of Route 19 — particularly service to Spencer — or temporarily detouring 15 while a longer-term solution is developed. “You have a very, very low income and minority community out there in Spencer and to the east in Oklahoma City,” Hopper said, urging solutions that preserve connections to Mary Mahoney and other community services.

Laverne “Peaches” Weller, treasurer of the Alliance for Public Transportation and a nonprofit staffer, said the group has sought direct engagement with Embark about proposed changes and requested a named staff…