Tulsa Transit is down a contractor and a federal grant for a Peoria Avenue rapid bus route.
Debbie Ruggles with Tulsa Transit told the Transportation Advisory Board they fired their contractor over communication issues. Tulsa Transit has already put out feelers for a new contractor.
"We've had a lot of interest. I believe that we will have a number of contractors vying for that contract, and so I'm excited about that," Ruggles said.
Tulsa Transit should save some time in negotiations with the next contractor by already having spelled out with the firm they let go what they want done.
Tulsa Transit applied for federal transportation funding known as a TIGER grant. Their application for the rapid transit route was turned down.
"It's one of those projects where it kind of needs to be your turn, and last year we got the Riverside project for Tulsa," Ruggles said. "And so, I'm sure we were not seen as it was our turn, so we're hoping for next year."
Tulsa received a $10 million TIGER grant in 2014 for transportation-related work on the Gathering Place.
Tulsa Transit is moving forward, however, and after a new contractor is picked, a public branding campaign will begin.
"What are the stations going to look like? What are the buses going to look like?" Ruggles said. "You know, what amenities are going to be at the stations? All of those things that we'll see as we go up and down Peoria that will make that project distinctive."
The bus route is in a planned three-year funding break. It will get more money in fiscal year 2019. Due to its funding schedule, the rapid bus route likely won’t start until at least 2020.
