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Central Oklahoma board hears 20–30 year long‑range transit plan and regional vision
Summary
Consultant Luke Schmidt presented a Central Oklahoma Long Range Transit Plan outlining short-, mid- and long-term horizons to expand access and reliability, projecting more than 400,000 new residents and recommending regional investments to increase federal grant competitiveness.
Luke Schmidt, a consultant with the Kimberly Horn team, presented the Central Oklahoma Long Range Transit Plan to the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority on Oct. 3, outlining a 20‑to‑30‑year vision for an integrated regional transit network.
The LRTP sets four project goals: expand meaningful access to transit, create a compelling and reliable rider experience, offer competitive and diverse services, and maximize limited resources. "My name is Luke Schmidt with the Kimberly Horn team here to give you an update on the long range transit plan," Schmidt said at the start of the presentation.
Why it matters: ACOG projects more than 400,000 new residents and more than 300,000 new jobs in Central Oklahoma over the next two decades, increasing demand for transit and making federal recognition of LRTP recommendations important for future grant competitiveness.
The plan divides investments into three horizons. Short‑term items include MAPS 4 bus rapid transit corridors and expanded high‑frequency routes; mid‑term actions emphasize Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) investments and enhanced core network service bands; and long‑term elements anticipate additional high‑capacity investments and broader on‑demand service. Schmidt said the LRTP will be included in the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments’ metropolitan transportation plan and rolled into federal submittals to strengthen grant applications.
Schmidt described four pillars for delivering the vision: enhancing the rider experience (standardized branding and integrated fares), diversifying service types (on‑demand zones, off‑peak service, high‑frequency routes), forming strategic partnerships (interagency and public‑private collaborations), and increasing reliable funding through local revenues, grants and private investment.
The LRTP maps shown to trustees identify on‑demand zones intended to connect additional communities into the core system. Schmidt also cited a commonly used APTA rule of thumb on economic return, saying transit investments often produce approximately a 5:1 return in jobs and annual growth.
What’s next: Schmidt said the full LRTP will be released for public comment toward October on the project website connectcentralok.com and that ACOG anticipates updating the plan every five years as part of the metropolitan transportation plan process. The board opened the floor to questions about streetcar connections and site‑specific studies; Schmidt and staff said corridor and streetcar siting would be refined in later, city‑level and RTA conversations.
The board received the LRTP presentation and moved on to subsequent agenda items.
