EMBARK Announces Service Improvements: SW 29 to Receive 30-Minute Weekday Service

January 16, 2015

Beginning Monday, January 26, EMBARK will make system enhancements to the bus system including increased frequency, additional stops, later service and minor schedule adjustments to improve schedule adherence.

Specifically, the changes will include:

• Minor schedule adjustments on routes 002, 005, 008, 009, 012, 013, 014, 018, 023 and 038 that will help schedule adherence.
• Route 011 will now operate every 30 minutes on weekdays until 7 p.m.
• Routes 011 and 23N will operate until midnight. Between 7 p.m. and midnight, frequency will be every 60 minutes. The new 23N route is similar to 023, but will serve Automobile Alley and the Transit Center weeknights. The new route will operate in lieu of the weekday route 023 starting at 7 p.m.
• Additional stops are being added to routes 011 and 23N. Both routes will extend to the Reno Mini-Hub, Downtown Transit Center and connect with EMBARK Link stops.
• Existing EMBARK Link designated stops have changed and seven new designated stops have been added.

“Research and our local experience has shown increased frequency leads to increases in ridership,” noted Jason Ferbrache, EMBARK Administrator. Since the changes that took effect in late April, average daily ridership has increased 8% over last year for the same period. “It makes service more convenient for current riders and helps simplify bus use for new riders. When you can walk to a bus stop and know you can catch a bus every 30 minutes, it takes out some of the guess work and our new mobile tools make it easier to plan your trip.”

The increased frequency and evening services are the continuation of service enhancements identified in a study conducted by an international transit research firm Nelson\Nygaard hired by the City of Oklahoma City and the EMBARK board to review and make recommendations for improving the public transit system.

In late April 2014, EMBARK launched the first phase of changes that included increased frequency of bus routes, reduced passenger wait time, reduced passenger travel time and routes that better match demand. EMBARK is making technology improvements which include a mobile trip planner, SMS real-time bus arrival info, new bus stop signage and on-board Wi-Fi.