By John Dobberstein, Editor
The city of Broken Arrow has launched its new micro transit program designed to handle unmet transportation needs of residents.
Broken Arrow Transit (BAT) is billed by the city as an “affordable” public rideshare system that is launching this year as a 6-month pilot program.
Broken Arrow Transit will be operated by MicroLink Tulsa, who will drive Ford Mustang Mach-E passenger cars and a Lightning ZEV3 passenger transit van with seven semi-ambulatory seats, plus a wheelchair area and a side-mounted wheelchair lift.
The program will work like private rideshare programs in which you book a ride to pick you up and drop you off at your destination in Broken Arrow. BAT will initially operate in a 17-square-mile area in the city.
Customers can book their trip by using the Go Pass app available on Apple and Android devices, or by clicking to the webpage here. Customers may request a ride up to one hour before the ride. Hours of operation for the pilot program will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a cost of $1.75 for a 3-hour ticket or $3.50 for an all-day pass. Discounts are available.
With the launch of Broken Arrow Transit, the city’s previous public transportation model is changing. The 508-route is being replaced with the micro-transit service, but the 900-route to downtown Tulsa will continue. City Manager Michael Spurgeon said this new transportation option will ensure the underserved have access to the services that they need with improved customer service.
With the city having grown nearly 15% just in the last decade, Spurgeon has said Broken Arrow leaders needed to explore “full-service city” amenities such as public transit to meet the needs of residents both now and in the future.
Marketing projections show Broken Arrow’s population could reach 137,500 people by the year 2040, and Census projections show the senior population is likely to grow rapidly in the coming years.
A study completed in 2022 by the city about its public transportation system recommended city planners, in the short term, implement a “micro transit” pilot program in the core area of Broken Arrow to serve local residents. The study revealed that 27% of Broken Arrow households have limited access to one or fewer vehicles. Fifteen percent of the city’s population is elderly, 8% percent of the population lives in poverty and 7% are disabled.
City staff explored various funding options and secured a $500,000 Congested Mitigation and Air Quality grant through the federal government in partnership with the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG). The grant funded the purchase of four Mustang Mach-E automobiles and a para-transit van that will accommodate wheelchairs. The grant also covered the cost of charging stations for the all-electric vehicles.
In the future, a fixed route service is also recommended once travel data, funding and decisions about governance are in place.
Customers are encouraged to book their trip by using the Go Pass app. Those who can’t book a ride virtually Can’t should call MetroLink Tulsa at (918) 982-6882.
Once a ride is booked customers will receive an estimated pick-up time and real time updates of their trip request. Drivers will pick you up passengers at the closest curb point.
Customers must be available at the time the vehicle arrives. Customers have a total of 2 minutes before the vehicle will depart. At this point a customer will be considered a no show.
The trip costs are as follows:
- • Adult (19+) $1.75 for a 3 hour ticket, which is good for all public transportation operated by MetroLink Tulsa
- • Adult Reduced Fare – $0.85 Seniors (75+), Disabled
- • Adult Accessible $1.75 Mobility device needed
- • *Youth (17 & Younger) FREE
- • Youth Accessible (5-18) FREE Mobility device needed
- • Child (4 & Under) FREE
- • Military Veterans FREE *Must present valid I.D.*
- * Riders who are under 12 must be accompanied by someone older than 14. Riders 14 and older can ride solo.
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