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This article is about the Oklahoma City transit authority. For other possible meanings of embark, see Embarkment (disambiguation).
EMBARK
EMBARK bus 2102, a 2021-built New Flyer compressed natural gas bus
ParentCentral Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority
Founded1966 (from 1992 as Metro Transit, from 2014 as EMBARK)
Headquarters2000 S. May Ave, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
LocaleOklahoma City
Service areaOklahoma City metropolitan area
Service typeTransit bus, Paratransit, trolley, tram
Routes
  • Bus: 22
  • Streetcar: 2
Hubs2
Stations1
Fleet71 (2024)
Daily ridership8,200 (weekdays, Q1 2025)[1]
Annual ridership2,987,100 (2024)[2]
Fuel typeDiesel, Hybrid, CNG, Electric
Chief executiveJason Ferbrache
Websiteembarkok.com

Embark (styled in all caps as EMBARK) is a public transit agency in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Operated by the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA), EMBARK is the largest transit agency in the state and operates services throughout the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

EMBARK operates bus and paratransit service in Oklahoma City and Norman (including an express bus connecting the two cities), the Oklahoma City Streetcar, RAPID bus rapid transit service, public parking and bike shares in Downtown Oklahoma City, and ferry service on the Oklahoma River. It also provides administrative and executive support for the Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma.

In 2024, the system had a ridership of 2,987,100, or about 8,200 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2025.

History

[edit]

The Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority was established on February 1, 1966, by the Oklahoma City Council to continue transit service as private operator Oklahoma Transportation Company, which provided bus service to the community, as City Bus Company, had announced it would discontinue transit service due to low ridership. There were initially only 18 buses, all leased from the Oklahoma Transportation Company (OTC).[3]

The system was rebranded as MassTrans in 1975[3] and used that name until 1992, when it was rebranded as Metro Transit,[4] though the official name remains in use as well.

COTPA was reorganized in 1989, when the city established a Transit Services division to provide senior management through an inter-local operating agreement. COTPA also purchased the historic Union Station in Downtown Oklahoma City, which served as an administrative office until 2022.[3]

Embark previously operated "Oklahoma Spirit Trolleys", a trolley-replica bus network from 1999 to 2020.[5]

Oklahoma City's downtown transit center at N.W. 4th St. and Hudson Ave. opened to customers in 2004 after the previous transit hub was demolished to make way for construction of the Paycom Center.[6]

A 2009 Gillig Low Floor bus, repainted for the change from Metro to Embark, in service in 2021.

In September 2013, it was announced that Metro Transit would change its name to Embark, effective April 28, 2014, and include a new bus route system.

On October 15, 2015, Embark announced that it would begin offering free Wi-Fi on all buses, on all routes.[7][8]

In August 2016, Embark received the award for "North America's Outstanding Public Transportation System" by the American Public Transportation Association for systems providing fewer than 4 million annual passenger trips.[9]

In December 2018, Embark began operation of Oklahoma City Streetcar, the state's only modern streetcar system, which services a nearly five-mile route in the urban core.[10]

On January 27, 2019, Sunday bus service was implemented for the first time in Oklahoma City public transportation history, utilizing the same operational routes and schedules as maintained on Saturdays. On Monday, September 2, 2019 (Labor Day), Embark buses began operating on all major holidays, resulting in the area's public transportation service operating 365 days a year for the first time; the authority utilizes the same schedule and active routes used on weekends during major holidays.

In late 2019, EMBARK assumed operation of Cleveland Area Rapid Transit's non-campus service, which consisted of seven bus routes and paratransit in Norman.[11] In 2023, EMBARK opened a new transit center in downtown Norman and redesigned the Norman route network.[12]

Interior of a 2022 New Flyer XN40 bus used for the RAPID NW BRT service.

In 2022, Embark broke ground on construction of RAPID NW, Oklahoma City's first Bus Rapid Transit route.[13] Service opened on December 3, 2023.

Fares

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No fare to riders 18 and under with EMBARK's Haul Pass Program. Eligible riders can fill out an application for Haul Pass.

EMBARK offers Reduced Fare for persons 65 and older, persons on Medicare and persons with a qualifying disability. They are also known as Special Patrons.

All buses have driver shields to minimize interaction.

Oklahoma City local fare (Single Ride)

[edit]
Regular: $1.75 – Special Patron: $0.75

Express Service (OKC to Norman)

[edit]
Regular: $3 – Special Patron: $1.50

One express route serves Norman on Monday through Friday only. Service in the City of Edmond will no longer be provided by Embark effective June 30, 2009. The City of Edmond's new Citylink service began July 1, 2009. Citylink comes to the EMBARK Transit Center twice daily during the week at 7:50am and 4:50pm.

OKC Streetcar

[edit]
Regular: $3 – Special Patron: $1.50

Passes

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All passes are universal and can be used for both local, express, streetcar, and RAPID NW.

Annual Pass – Regular: $600 – Special Patron - $300
30-Day Pass – Regular: $50 – Special Patron: $25
24-Hour Pass – Regular: $4 – Special Patron: $2
7-Day Pass – Regular: $14 – Special Patron: $7

Routes

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Embark currently operates fixed-route bus service in Oklahoma City and bus routes in Norman that were previously operated by Cleveland Area Rapid Transit, along with an express route between Norman and Downtown Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City routes

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Embark's downtown transit center, at NW 4th and Hudson.
A high-floor bus (type Orion V), carrying a bike on the front, in 2007.

Most (but not all) EMBARK routes terminate at the EMBARK Transit Center in Downtown Oklahoma City.

Route Termini Other points of interest Frequency
Weekday Weekend
2 N Coltrane East: Diggs Park
West: EMBARK Transit Center 		Half-hourly Hourly
3 N Kelley/Memorial North: Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City
South: EMBARK Transit Center 		Half-hourly Hourly
7 N May North: Integris Health Baptist Medical Center
South: EMBARK Transit Center 		Half-hourly Hourly
8 N Penn/NW 63rd North: North Council Road
South: EMBARK Transit Center 		Half-hourly Hourly
9 W Reno Crosstown East: EMBARK Transit Center
West: Reno Mini Hub (Westgate Marketplace) 		Half-hourly Hourly
10 N Portland North: Deaconess Hospital
South: EMBARK Transit Center 		Half-hourly Hourly
11 S 29th Crosstown East: EMBARK Transit Center
West: Reno Mini Hub (Westgate Marketplace) 		Half-hourly Hourly
12 S May North: EMBARK Transit Center
South: Oklahoma City Community College 		Half-hourly 45 minutes
13 S Western/OCCC North: EMBARK Transit Center
South: Oklahoma City Community College 		Half-hourly 45 minutes
13N S Western/OCCC Night Hourly
Nights only 		No service
14 SE 44th/Sunnylane North: EMBARK Transit Center
South: MetroTech Bryant 		45 minutes 45 minutes
15 Midwest City East: South Douglas Boulevard in Midwest City
West: EMBARK Transit Center 		80 minutes No service
16 S Penn North: EMBARK Transit Center
South: SW 89th Street 		Half-hourly Hourly
18 N Lincoln North: McBride Orthopedic Hospital
South: EMBARK Transit Center 		Half-hourly Hourly
19 Spencer East: North Hiwassee Road in Spencer
West: Diggs Park 		Hourly No service
22 MLK/OCCHD North: OCCHD Northeast Regional Health & Wellness Center
South: EMBARK Transit Center 		Half-hourly Hourly
23 N 23rd Crosstown East: University of Oklahoma Medical Center
West: Reno Mini Hub (Westgate Marketplace) 		Half-hourly Hourly
23N N 23rd Crosstown Night East: EMBARK Transit Center
West: Reno Mini Hub (Westgate Marketplace) 		Hourly
Nights only 		No service
24 Norman Express North: EMBARK Transit Center
South: Norman Transit Center in Norman 		Four trips per day No service
38 10th Crosstown East: EMBARK Transit Center
West: Reno Mini Hub (Westgate Marketplace) 		Half-hourly Hourly
40 S Walker North: EMBARK Transit Center
South: Southwest 104th Street 		Half-hourly Hourly

RAPID

[edit]
RAPID logo (2023)

RAPID is a bus rapid transit service operated by EMBARK. RAPID services specially-designed larger stations and utilizes transit signal priority to ensure faster trips.[14] RAPID operates seven days per week with 12-30 minute headways.

The service currently consists of one line, RAPIDNW (route 200 on destination signs), which travels from the EMBARK Transit Center in Downtown Oklahoma City along Classen Boulevard and Northwest Expressway (SH-3) to a park-and-ride lot at the intersection of Meridian Avenue and SH-3.[15] The line travels 9.5 miles (15.3 km) and services 32 stops (16 each way).[14]

Two other RAPID lines in northeast and southern Oklahoma City are planned as part of the MAPS 4 project.[16]

RAPIDNW stations
Station Connections
Broadway & Main Parking Century Center Garage
Robinson & Park[a] EMBARK: 11
Oklahoma City Streetcar: Downtown Loop
Bus interchange Citylink Edmond: 100X
Transit Center (Hudson & NW 4th) EMBARK: 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13N, 14, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23N, 24, 38, 40
Oklahoma City Streetcar: Downtown Loop
Bus interchange Citylink Edmond: 100X
Hudson & NW 8th[b] EMBARK: 38
NW 10th & Dewey EMBARK: 38
Classen & NW 13th EMBARK: 10
Classen & NW 18th
Classen & NW 23rd
Classen & NW 31st
Classen & NW 36th
Classen & NW 42nd
Expressway & Blackwelder EMBARK: 3
Expressway & Penn (Penn Square Mall)
Independence & NW 56th EMBARK: 7, 8
NW 56th & Portland EMBARK: 8
Expressway & Portland[b]
Portland & Expressway[a]
NW 63rd & Meridian EMBARK: 8
Meridian & Expressway Parking Park and ride
  1. ^ a b Outbound only
  2. ^ a b Inbound only

Norman routes

[edit]

All EMBARK Norman routes are free to ride (except the 24 Norman Express, which requires a timed pass or express fare) and start at the Norman Transit Center on Comanche Street in downtown Norman.[17] Buses operate Monday through Saturday unless otherwise specified.

Route Terminus Other points of interest Frequency
24 Norman Express Embark Transit Center in Oklahoma City Four trips per day
Monday through Friday only
110 Main Street/24 NW Norman Regional Hospital Hourly
111 East Lindsey/Alameda Griffin Memorial Hospital Half-hourly
112 West Lindsey/36 NW Rambling Oaks Assisted Living Half-hourly
121 Westheimer Airport University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport Hourly
122 12 NE/Rock Creek Road George M. Sutton Wilderness Park
  • Griffin Memorial Hospital
  • Griffin Community Park
 Hourly
144 Social Security Social Security Administration office in Moore
  • Griffin Memorial Hospital
 Two trips per day
Tuesday and Friday only
Does not run if the SSA office is closed

Former routes

[edit]
  • 1 Garden Day/NE 23 & Bryant (discontinued on April 28, 2014, due to low ridership; eastern loop replaced by extended Route 2)[18]
  • 4 Belle Isle/NW 23rd & Walker (discontinued on April 28, 2014, due to low ridership with the northwesternmost portion transferred to Route 5)[18]
  • 5 (Same area now served by Route 3)
  • 6
  • 17
  • 20 SE OKC/Crossroads/SE 74th & Shields (discontinued on April 28, 2014; replaced by rerouted Route 14)
  • 21
  • 25 S. 44th St Crosstown/S. Meridian (discontinued July 21, 2003)
  • 26 Northwest Expressway/County Line Rd. & Britton (discontinued August 2, 2004)
  • 29 Airport/NW 50th & Portland (discontinued June 25, 2007; Routes 10 and 11 extended to serve the ends of the route)
  • 37 Edmond Express/Oklahoma City (discontinued June 30, 2009)
  • 39 Edmond Local/Oklahoma City (discontinued August 2, 2004)
  • 50 The CIRC (Transit Center, Bricktown, Bass Pro Shops, Bricktown Landing, discontinued in 2020)
  • 80 Eastern OK County (discontinued July 20, 2008)
  • 81 NW Area Neighborhoods (discontinued on April 28, 2014)
  • 82 Southwest Area (Became 83 Southwest Area by 2011 due to restructuring; discontinued on April 28, 2014)
  • 82 (served the northeast area; discontinued on April 28, 2014)
  • 83 Southeast Area (Became 84 Southeast Area by 2011 due to restructuring; discontinued on April 28, 2014)
  • 84 Shep. Mall – St Anthony – MetroTech (discontinued on June 30, 2009, due to restructuring)
  • 85 West Area (Eliminated by 2011 due to restructuring)
[edit]

An unusual aspect of Embark was the Link program, which is a combination of owl service and paratransit service. Since regularly scheduled routes operate only until about 8pm local time, and not at all Sundays, Link provides nominally fixed route service from 7 pm until 12 midnight Monday through Saturday, and Sunday from 7 am until 7 pm. The four routes may however, deviate by as much as three-quarters of a mile from the fixed route if the customer notifies Embark by 4 pm the day before (or by 12 noon Saturday for Monday service). An additional fee will be charged in that instance, but customers using the fixed stops will be charged the normal fare. The Link was discontinued in April 2014 as Embark began extending hours on 5 routes (see below), as well as adding Sunday and holiday service on most bus routes in 2019.

Fleet

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As of early 2024, the Embark OKC fleet consists of 71 buses: 62 fixed-route buses and nine RAPID BRT buses. The fleet consists of 58% CNG buses, 37% diesel buses, 2% hybrid buses and 3% electric buses, with a goal to become 100% alternative-fueled fleet by 2025. The fleet has an average age of 7.7 years (revenue), with an average of 367,386 lifetime miles per vehicle.[19] Much of the current Embark fleet can be referenced in the table below.

Fleet number(s) Photo Model Year Manufacturer Model Powertrain Transmission Notes
0901-0913 2010 Gillig Low Floor 35'
  • Allison B400R
1101-1107 2011 Gillig Low Floor 35'
  • Allison B400R
1180-1181 2011 New Flyer C40LFR
  • Allison B400R
1200 2011 Nova Bus LFS HEV
  • Allison H 40 EP hybrid system
 Ex-Nova Bus demo
1301-1306 2012 Gillig Low Floor 29'
  • Allison B400R
1307-1310 2012 Gillig Low Floor 35'
  • Allison B400R
1311-1312 2013 Gillig Low Floor 40'
  • Allison B500R
1313-1316 2014 Gillig Low Floor 40'
  • Allison B500R
1601-1606 2016 New Flyer XN40
  • Allison B400R
1701-1711 2017 New Flyer XN40
  • Allison B400R
2000 2020 New Flyer XE35 First electric bus in Embark fleet.[20]
2002-2003 2020 New Flyer XN40
  • Allison B400R
2102-2109 2021 New Flyer XN40
  • Allison B400R
2200 2022 New Flyer XE40
2201-2207 2022 New Flyer XN40
  • Allison B400R
2220-2228 New Flyer XN40 Cummins Westport L9N
  • Allison B400R
 Used for the RAPID NW BRT service.[13][21]

Oklahoma River Cruises

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EMBARK operates Oklahoma River Cruises, a ferry service on the Oklahoma River, which provides public service seasonally from April to November.[22] The service also operates private charter cruises.

The service operates from five landings at Meridian Avenue, Stockyards City, Exchange Avenue, Bricktown, and Regatta Park.[23] A sixth landing at the First Americans Museum is planned.[24][25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2025" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 15, 2025. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "History | METRO Transit Providing Central Oklahoma Transportation & Bus Service Options". Archived from the original on July 20, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  4. ^ "History | METRO Transit Providing Central Oklahoma Transportation & Bus Service Options". Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  5. ^ "Oklahoma Spirit Trolleys | City of OKC".
  6. ^ "Paycom Center | City of OKC".
  7. ^ "OKC Transit Gets Smarter" (Press release). Embark. October 15, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "OKC Transit Gets Smarter". Mass Transit. October 15, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
  9. ^ "Embark Wins National Award". KWTV-DT (News 9). August 18, 2016. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "Oklahoma City Streetcar | City of OKC".
  11. ^ Standlee, Katie (July 30, 2019). "City council unanimously approves Embark partnership". The Norman Transcript. Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  12. ^ King, Brian D. (May 16, 2023). "New transit center will mean changes to bus routes". The Norman Transcript. Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "RAPID".
  14. ^ a b "2023 RAPID Bus Rapid Transit". EMBARK. Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  15. ^ "RAPID Schedule". EMBARK. Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  16. ^ "MAPS 4 Infrastructure & Development: Transit". City of Oklahoma City. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  17. ^ "About Us - EMBARK Norman". EMBARK. Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Bus Schedule Details | METRO Transit Providing Central Oklahoma Transportation & Bus Service Options". Archived from the original on October 2, 2013.
  19. ^ "EMBARK".
  20. ^ "EMBARK opens new CNG filling station".
  21. ^ "RAPID".
  22. ^ "Oklahoma River Cruises: Public Ferry". EMBARK. Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  23. ^ "Oklahoma River Cruises: Landings". EMBARK. Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  24. ^ "2025 First American Museum Landing". EMBARK. Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  25. ^ Hayes, Jana (May 29, 2023). "A new scenic stop is coming to Oklahoma City as part of OKANA development". The Oklahoman. Gannett. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
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