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The Morning Brew: Streetcar testing continues; GOP candidates talk school shootings

Matt Patterson
by Matt Patterson
Published: Tue, May 22, 2018 5:45 AM

Streetcar testing continues 

Crews push a cart along rails buried on E. Reno in front of the Bricktown Ballpark Monday, May 21, 2018. The dry run is part of testing being done in advance of the actual streetcars being placed on the tracks. The cart is custom designed to replicate the width and height of the streetcars that will traverse downtown, Bricktown and Midtown in the future. Crews are checking distance tolerances and clearances to ensure the streetcars won't be damaged by overhead or side obstructions along the routes. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Crews push a cart along rails buried on E. Reno in front of the Bricktown Ballpark Monday, May 21, 2018. The dry run is part of testing being done in advance of the actual streetcars being placed on the tracks. The cart is custom designed to replicate the width and height of the streetcars that will traverse downtown, Bricktown and Midtown in the future. Crews are checking distance tolerances and clearances to ensure the streetcars won't be damaged by overhead or side obstructions along the routes. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman

Streetcar testing is under way in downtown Oklahoma City as the process of installing the city's streetcar system reaches its home stretch ahead of its big opening later this year. 

Streetcar testing moved onto downtown Oklahoma City streets Monday, beginning six months of trials leading up to the start of service in December.

Monday's work was on the 2.3-mile loop that connects Bricktown with Chesapeake Energy Arena, the new convention center complex and park, and Myriad Gardens.

A "clearance" cart was walked around the Bricktown loop to check for trees that must be trimmed, and other issues, before the streetcar vehicles themselves will begin test runs.

The first streetcar tentatively is scheduled to make the circuit Thursday evening, pulled by a truck.

The $131.8 million system includes the Bricktown loop and a longer loop through downtown.

More here.

GOP candidates blame morals, mental health for shootings 

DUNCAN — Republicans running for Oklahoma governor blamed moral decay and mental illness for school shootings and called for a variety of responses, mostly at the local level.

At a forum held Saturday as part of the annual Stephens County Republican Fish Fry, the candidates were asked about school security in the wake of the latest mass shooting, this one on Friday at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas, where eight students and two teachers were killed.

 

More here.

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Related Photos
Crews push a cart along rails buried on E. Reno in front of the Bricktown Ballpark Monday, May 21, 2018. The dry run is part of testing being done in advance of the actual streetcars being placed on the tracks. The cart is custom designed to replicate the width and height of the streetcars that will traverse downtown, Bricktown and Midtown in the future. Crews are checking distance tolerances and clearances to ensure the streetcars won't be damaged by overhead or side obstructions along the routes. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman

Crews push a cart along rails buried on E. Reno in front of the Bricktown Ballpark Monday, May 21, 2018. The dry run is part of testing being done in advance of the actual streetcars being placed on the tracks. The cart is custom designed to replicate the width and height of the streetcars that...

<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-a539fa31144db4a2cf9e0e2005b061df.jpg" alt="Photo - Crews push a cart along rails buried on E. Reno in front of the Bricktown Ballpark Monday, May 21, 2018. The dry run is part of testing being done in advance of the actual streetcars being placed on the tracks. The cart is custom designed to replicate the width and height of the streetcars that will traverse downtown, Bricktown and Midtown in the future. Crews are checking distance tolerances and clearances to ensure the streetcars won't be damaged by overhead or side obstructions along the routes. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman" title="Crews push a cart along rails buried on E. Reno in front of the Bricktown Ballpark Monday, May 21, 2018. The dry run is part of testing being done in advance of the actual streetcars being placed on the tracks. The cart is custom designed to replicate the width and height of the streetcars that will traverse downtown, Bricktown and Midtown in the future. Crews are checking distance tolerances and clearances to ensure the streetcars won't be damaged by overhead or side obstructions along the routes. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Crews push a cart along rails buried on E. Reno in front of the Bricktown Ballpark Monday, May 21, 2018. The dry run is part of testing being done in advance of the actual streetcars being placed on the tracks. The cart is custom designed to replicate the width and height of the streetcars that will traverse downtown, Bricktown and Midtown in the future. Crews are checking distance tolerances and clearances to ensure the streetcars won't be damaged by overhead or side obstructions along the routes. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure>
Matt Patterson

Matt Patterson has been with The Oklahoman since 2006. Prior to joining the news staff in 2010, Patterson worked in The Oklahoman's sports department for five years. He previously worked at The Lawton Constitution and The Edmond Sun.... Read more ›

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