Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority

Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority, usually known as MTTA or Tulsa Transit,[a] is the public transit system operating buses and paratransit for Tulsa, Oklahoma. In existence since 1968, the system consists of 21 regular routes and 4 night routes, with two major transit hubs: Memorial Midtown Station at 7952 E. 33rd St. in Midtown Tulsa, and the Denver Avenue Station at 319 S. Denver across from the BOK Center in Downtown.

Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority
Founded1968
Headquarters510 South Rockford, Tulsa
LocaleTulsa, Oklahoma
Service areaTulsa, Jenks, Broken Arrow and Sand Springs
Service typebus service, paratransit, express bus service
Routes21
Hubs2 Transit Centers
13 Park and Rides (locally called "Park-N-Save lots")
Fleet63
Daily ridership5,420 (2022)[1]
Annual ridership1,548,388 (2022)[1]
OperatorCity of Tulsa
Websitehttp://tulsatransit.org/

History

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The city's first bus rapid transit line, known as "Aero" or 700, began operating on November 17, 2019, on Peoria Avenue from 52nd Street North to 81st Street South and Lewis. The route has 52 stations and buses that arrive every 15 to 30 minutes.[3] The service officially launched on December 19, 2019.[4]

In August, 2023, Tulsa Transit experienced its busiest month ever to that point, with ridership reaching about 290,000.[5]

Operations

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Tulsa Transit operates regular fixed service Monday to Saturday, from early mornings to early evenings. After daytime service ceases between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., the service operates night service on its "Nightlines" until midnight. Bus frequencies are 30 or 60 minutes Monday through Saturday. A fixed route service with reserved deviations permitted (identical to Nightline routes), operates on Sundays. There is no service on public holidays.

The service used to be known for request stops: bus stops were infrequently signed and would stop on request typically after any intersection where it is safe to do so. This practice was abolished, and stops posted, in a September 2019 system redesign.[6]

Routes

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Denver Avenue Station

Tulsa Transit operates a variety of routes all over the city, and into Jenks, Broken Arrow and Sand Springs although it does not run as a full-time bus fleet in those locations. Each set of routes is grouped by the first of the three digits, as follows:

  • 1xx routes serve Denver Avenue Station to various parts of the city.
  • 2xx routes serve various parts of the city between Denver Avenue and Memorial Midtown Stations.
  • 3xx routes serve Memorial Midtown Station to various parts of the city without going to Downtown Tulsa.
  • 4xx routes serve neither station, but serve parts of the city.
  • 5xx routes serve areas outside of Tulsa.
  • 6xx routes run during major events as shuttles.
  • 7xx routes are bus rapid transit routes.
  • 8xx routes are operate only on Sundays, or at night, and serve each quadrant of the city.
  • 9xx routes are express and link Downtown Tulsa and outlying park and rides.

Fixed route ridership

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The ridership statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response services.[7]

1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
2002
2005
2008
2011
2014
2017
2020
2023

Fleet

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Active

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Fleet

Number

Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
0401-0408 2004 Gillig Low Floor 35' Cummins ISL
0409-0414 2005 ElDorado National E-Z Rider II 30' Cummins ISC Allison B300R 0412 retired.
0501-0503 2004 Gillig Low Floor 40' Cummins ISL
0504-0511 2004 Low Floor 35'
0605 2006 Low Floor HEV 35' Cummins ISB Allison EP40

hybrid system

0901-0903 2009 Low Floor 29' Cummins ISL
0904-0905 Low Floor 35'
1101-1111 2011 BRT CNG 35' Cummins Westport ISL G
1112-1115 BRT CNG 40'
1301-1305 2013 BRT CNG 35'
1307-1309 BRT CNG 40'
1310-1312 BRT CNG 35'
1601-1602 2016 BRT CNG 40'
1701-1708 2017 BRT CNG 35' Cummins Westport ISL G NZ

Notes

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  1. ^ Tulsa Transit is a trademark of the MTTA[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Tulsa Transit 2022 Agency Profile" (PDF). Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "TULSA TRANSIT - Trademark Details." Accessed November 20, 2016.
  3. ^ Canfield, Kevin (November 17, 2019). "Tulsa's Bus Rapid Transit service along Peoria Avenue begins Sunday". Tulsa World. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  4. ^ Butler, Megan (December 19, 2019). "Tulsa Transit officially launches Aero Bus, extends free rides through Jan. 2". KTUL News. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "Tulsa Transit sees its highest monthly ridership ever, official says". Kevin Canfield, Tulsa World, August 31, 2023.
  6. ^ Slanchik, Amy (23 September 2019). "Tulsa Transit Changes Routes, First Update In 15 Years". News On Six. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  7. ^ "The National Transit Database (NTD)". Retrieved April 24, 2024.
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