Central Oklahoma has spent decades growing. More people are choosing to live here, more jobs are being created, and more destinations are drawing residents and visitors across our communities.
That growth is something we have experienced again and again. During his 2026 State of the City address, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt illustrated just how quickly the pace has changed. It took Oklahoma City about 61 years to reach its first 250,000 residents and another 50 years to add the next 250,000. The city is now on pace to add its third quarter-million residents in only about 30 years, reaching approximately 750,000 residents by 2030.1
As Holt said during the address, “the first place we will feel that pressure is in our transportation system.”1
And Oklahoma City is only one part of the story. Across Central Oklahoma, population growth is expected to continue for decades, with the region approaching 2 million residents by 2050.2
So, what does this growth mean for the future of transportation in the region?
More people and jobs mean more trips
In April, we shared How ONE Transit Helps Communities Thrive, exploring how regional transit can support mobility, economic opportunity, community connections, and quality of life. This time, we are taking a closer look at the numbers behind those benefits.
The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) projects regional employment to grow by nearly 50% by 2045, from about 652,000 jobs to nearly 972,000. That is approximately 320,000 additional jobs across the region.3
As our communities and employment centers grow, transportation is about more than the number of vehicles on the road. It is also about access. Can people reliably reach work, school, health care, and the other places that matter in their daily lives?
The ONE Transit System Plan is designed to create more of those connections, linking major employers, educational institutions, health care providers, and entertainment destinations through a network of efficient, diverse and high-capacity transit corridors.
What does continued growth mean for traffic?
For many residents, the effect of growing travel demand is already personal.
According to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s 2025 Urban Mobility Report, the average Oklahoma City commuter experienced 64 hours of traffic delay in 2024.4 That is the equivalent of eight full workdays spent in traffic.
Those hours can show up in everyday ways, from leaving home earlier to getting home later, or having less flexibility in your day.
Mayor Holt offered another perspective in his State of the City address. He noted that the average Oklahoma City commute increased from 19.2 minutes in 2005 to 22.1 minutes today. Over the course of a year, he calculated that difference at approximately 26 additional hours spent commuting compared with 20 years ago.1
Looking ahead, ACOG projects daily vehicle miles traveled across Central Oklahoma to increase 42% by 2045, while total daily hours of traffic delay are projected to more than triple.3
Regional transit does not mean everyone will stop driving, and it does not replace the need for roads and highways. It adds another option for making trips as the number of people, jobs and daily miles traveled across the region continues to grow.
Regional transit is one tool in a larger transportation system
That same idea came up during the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s 2026 State of the Region, where transportation leaders discussed how Central Oklahoma can prepare for continued growth.
Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz emphasized the importance of using “every tool in the toolbox” to meet Oklahoma’s transportation needs. He also discussed the need for transportation alternatives as traffic volumes continue to grow.5
That broader transportation network can include roads and highways, local bus service, and regional transit, with each supporting different kinds of trips.
ONE Transit’s plan will add high-capacity regional connections that do not exist today, including Commuter Rail between Oklahoma City, Norman, and Edmond, Regional Bus Rapid Transit connecting Downtown Oklahoma City with Tinker Air Force Base and western Oklahoma City, and Light Rail connecting Downtown Oklahoma City with OKC Will Rogers International Airport.
Residents can explore how those proposed connections work together through the ONE Transit System Plan and corridor map.
Planning for our region’s future
Transportation systems take time to plan, fund, design, and build. Meanwhile, Central Oklahoma’s population, employment and travel demand continue to grow.
The numbers help put that future into perspective: a region approaching 2 million residents, nearly 50% employment growth by 2045, 42% more daily vehicle miles traveled and regional traffic delay projected to more than triple.2 3
For ONE Transit, planning for growth means preparing expanded transportation options before we need them. The goal is to connect more people with jobs and destinations, provide more choices for everyday trips and create a regional network that connects with the transportation services Central Oklahomans already use.
Our region is growing. The way people move throughout it is part of planning for what comes next.
Learn more about ONE Transit and the future regional transit system.
Footnotes
1. City of Oklahoma City, 2026 State of the City, Mayor David Holt.
2. Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, 2050 Population Projections.
3. Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Encompass 2045.
4. Texas A&M Transportation Institute, 2025 Urban Mobility Report.