EMBARK and OKC officials introduce RAPID BRT vehicle design
Oklahoma City residents got their first up close introduction to what will become a more familiar site this fall: RAPID buses sporting the bus rapid transit (BRT) brand’s signature dark gray, light aqua blue and neon green colors.
Branding for the RAPID BRT was approved in November 2021. Officials with the city and EMBARK unveiled the new bus design at the Oklahoma City Convention Center where the public was able to see and tour the vehicle for the first time.
Construction is expected to begin in 30-45 days on EMBARK’s first BRT line that will span 9.5 miles, includes 32 stops and integrates into the existing transit network. The Northwest RAPID BRT will connect what is described as one of Oklahoma City’s “most job-dense and high-traffic corridors.” More than 20 percent of the region’s jobs are within a half-mile of the first BRT line.
“The goal of RAPID is to expand regional mobility, increase access to jobs and improve our customers’ abilities to connect within destinations that are important to them,” said Ferbrache. “This line travels through one of the region’s most job-dense areas that also has a population of 40,000 residents in its immediate area. This unveiling is another step forward to make RAPID a reality for our customers and all central Oklahoma residents. We look forward to next month’s groundbreaking for the first RAPID platform.”
The BRT project will be operated using nine compressed natural gas 40-foot buses from New Flyer. The vehicles feature wider doors, luxury seating and other amenities.
The $28.9 million Northwest RAPID BRT project is being funded by contributions from OKC Public Works, Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Federal Transportation Administration. The city was awarded a $14.4 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant in 2018 for the BRT project.
The Northwest RAPID BRT is expected to open for service this fall.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
