The Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA) has made significant strides in enhancing public transportation services, as highlighted in their recent meeting on March 7, 2025. A key development is the launch of a new service alert system that allows riders to receive real-time updates via text or email regarding service disruptions or detours. This initiative has already attracted over 7,500 subscribers, demonstrating a strong community interest in timely communication.

In addition to the alert system, COTPA has been actively engaging with the community through various events. They participated in a career connect event hosted by Goodwill for Central Oklahoma, aimed at connecting job seekers with opportunities at Embark, the transit service provider. The organization also held geo bond engagement meetings, including a Spanish language session, to ensure diverse community input.

COTPA's outreach efforts extended to participation in the recent MLK parade and a panel discussion on transportation's role in economic development, showcasing their commitment to community involvement and advocacy for public transit.

The meeting also celebrated the success of the RAPID transit service, which recently marked its first anniversary and surpassed 500,000 riders. The service received recognition with a ULI impact award, underscoring its positive impact on the community.

COTPA is also focused on enhancing ridership through partnerships and special events. Their Thunder game day park and ride shuttle has provided over 6,500 rides, and they are working with the Oklahoma City Thunder to continue this service into the playoffs. Additionally, collaborations with Visit OKC have led to over 11,000 streetcar riders benefiting from conventions in the area.

Looking ahead, COTPA plans to offer free rides for the Festival of the Arts and support for the Oklahoma City Marathon, among other initiatives. They are also working on improvements to the Embark Connect app to enhance user experience.

Overall, COTPA's recent efforts reflect a proactive approach to improving public transportation services and engaging with the community, setting the stage for continued growth and development in Oklahoma City's transit landscape.