A new season in Tulsa brought with it a new bus system.
Changes to Tulsa Transit’s fixed-route system took effect Monday morning, the first day of fall. Routes have been tweaked, frequency has shifted to every 30 or 60 minutes, and several routes now converge at "sub hubs" throughout the city so riders don't have to travel into downtown just to transfer buses.
Tulsa Transit General Manager Ted Rieck said the result will be faster trips. One of the best improvements is the trip from Eastgate Metroplex to Woodland Hills dropping from 85 minutes to 45.
"Not everybody will be able to see that kind of a trip reduction. In fact, the average person will see a 25% reduction in their travel time," Rieck said.
Tulsa Transit is also implementing a policy requiring buses stop only at designated stops, which Rieck said will improve safety and efficiency.
The agency installed hundreds of new bus stop signs over the summer, which include codes riders can text to get updates on their bus' location. There is a grace period, however, for the new stop policy until Oct. 21.
The system redesign is Tulsa Transit's first overhaul in 15 years.
"The city has changed, and where people want to go and how they want to get there has changed. We’ve seen increased competition from transportation network companies, and Tulsa Transit needs to step up and make itself much more competitive with these different modes of travel," Rieck said.
Tulsa Transit Board of Trustees Chairman Emeka Nnaka said a lot of public feedback went into the redesign, and it won’t be the last one.
"I look at cities like Chicago or L.A. or New York. We all know them to be some great transit places. They didn’t get there overnight, and I know that we are not going to get there overnight. But we are committed to the growth of our city through growth of transit," Nnaka said.
Nnaka said Tulsa Transit has to look at improving service to underserved and unserved communities.
Buses will be free to ride through Sunday so riders can adjust to the system or new riders can try it out.
