Enid Public Transportation Authority Resumes/Expands Intercity Routes
Posted Date: 8/22/2013
Enid Public Transportation Authority has resumed and expanded its intercity routes, providing transit service to regional airports, bus terminals and metro centers.
EPTA General Manager James Neal said the intercity routes were suspended in April due to a shortage of available drivers and budget restrictions on the transit authority.
“Our previous fixed route system utilized all of our available resources at a significant financial loss, and we did not have the means to continue transit service to destinations like Oklahoma City and Tulsa,” Neal said.
He said a reorganization of Enid Transit, which took effect last month, has increased efficiency, freed up more resources and enabled resumption of the intercity services.
“By eliminating the redundancy of our previous fixed route and paratransit services and consolidating into one demand response service, we have made it possible to resume intercity service without having to add personnel or increase our overall operating budget,” Neal said.
Enid Transit has resumed service to Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Perry, and service has been added to Stillwater. In-county service to Lahoma and Waukomis also are available.
“The original intent of this service was to provide one-way service to and from airports and bus terminals, but we can provide service to any point within these cities,” Neal said.
Intercity trips must be scheduled at least two business days in advance, and fares vary based on distance.
Enid Transit’s one-way intercity fares are:
Waukomis: $10
Lahoma: $14
Perry: $60
Stillwater: $75
Oklahoma City: $125
Tulsa: $150
Fares cover up to two passengers. Additional passengers incur an additional fare, ranging from $4 per rider for Waukomis to $15 per extra passenger for OKC and Tulsa. Intercity trips are limited to 9 passengers per reservation.
“We designed the fares for our intercity routes to be cost effective for the riders, but also to at least cover the department’s costs for the trip,” Neal said. Fare information and more specifics on intercity service are available on the EPTA website, www.enid.org/transit.
Intercity trips may be scheduled on the EPTA website, by using the free Enid Transit app, by emailing transit@enid.org or by calling 580-233-RIDE (7433).
