Transit manager reports steady fixed‑route ridership, microtransit planning and upcoming FTA review

At the June 25 transportation committee meeting Taylor Johnson, the city's transit and parking manager, presented the May public transit report and took council questions on service, funding and next steps.

Johnson said a replacement cutaway bus (to replace a vehicle damaged in an accident) should arrive in July, and that the Federal Transit Administration will conduct the city’s triennial review on July 8–9. "FTA... is doing our triennial review at the beginning of July," Johnson said, noting staff had completed the desk‑audit work and would host the in‑person visit.

On funding, Johnson explained the city's local 1/8‑percent sales tax provides the local match that makes federal transit funds eligible and that formula allocations vary by urbanized area population. He said the city recently learned formula funds for the coming year provided about $98,000 more than the current year, which helped the transit budget.

Johnson reported system ridership context: fixed‑route ridership stands at about 457,193 year‑to‑date toward a 500,000 target (the figure cited referred to fixed route only), and Embark system totals are tracking near prior May figures. Norman on Demand recorded about 2,233 rides in May versus 3,382 the prior May, a decline the city will monitor as students return in the fall. For microtransit, Johnson said the city recently extended contracts (including funding contributions from VIA and OU) and plans to issue an RFP in the fall to identify turnkey providers or other service models; the goal is to preserve service levels while reducing or stabilizing cost.

Council members pressed on microtransit economics. Staff said a standing contract model can cost roughly $100 per service hour in minimum staffing and vehicle costs; the city subsidizes riders about $20–$25 per trip. Johnson said the May on‑demand service averaged about four to five riders per service hour and that RFPs will include wheelchair‑accessible vehicle requirements and options for shared‑fare arrangements with private providers.

Johnson reviewed performance data sources: Synchromatics for fixed‑route CAD/AVL data and Ecolane for paratransit scheduling; Norman on Demand runs through VIA’s software. He also confirmed the city did not receive a T‑SET physical activity grant for the Embark Well program but did receive a T‑SET grant for playground equipment at Reeves Park Playcape.

What's next: staff will continue microtransit RFP work over the next months and provide more updates in the August meeting; the FTA triennial review report will follow the July visit.