Passengers on two of CART’s longtime routes — Main Street (10) and Alameda/East Norman (21) — will have shorter waits and faster service beginning Aug. 24.
The one-hour routes will become 30 minutes. Two CART (Cleveland Area Rapid Transit) buses will begin serving routes 10 and 21.
“Making all Norman city routes 30 minutes has been a longtime goal of CART. On Aug. 24, we’ll be there,” said Doug Myers, director of the University of Oklahoma Parking and Transportation Services, the operating arm of CART.
“With increases in funding the past three years, the City of Norman has made it clear that expanding transportation options for residents is a priority,” Myers said.
The Norman City Council recently approved a $25,000 appropriation increase for CART for the new fiscal year. CART is both an OU and city bus system.
The Main Street route serves portions of Main Street, 24th Avenue Northwest, Northwest Interstate Drive, River Oaks Drive behind Sooner Mall, and parts of Robinson Street and Bery Road.
“The Main Street bus also will serve as a shuttle for OU faculty, staff and students this fall,” Myers said. “Sooner Mall is graciously allowing OU-bound drivers to park on the north side of the mall and catch the bus at Stop 19 (River Oaks/Cotswold).
“For example, commuter students can park at the mall, catch the bus at 7:20 a.m. and be at Campus Corner by 7:40 a.m. With much campus construction and the temporary loss of parking spaces, using park-and-ride lots will be a way to ensure drivers have a free parking space.”
Other park-and-ride lots will be located at Bethel Baptist Church Annex and on the north side of the Lloyd Noble Center.
