Big Transit Changes for METRO

Light Rail is coming to Phoenix and we are less than 30 days away! Here is some great information to be aware of…

Phoenix, AZ(Dec. 1, 2008)  The upcoming changes to Valley Metro bus service are extensive and varied, so passengers need to be on the lookout in late December for impacts to their regular bus routes. Riders can go to valleymetro.org beginning December 1 to see how the changes will make a difference in their travel or to view an online copy of the new Transit Book (formerly known as the Bus Book). Printed copies of Transit Books will be available at all major transit centers, libraries and city hall offices on Tuesday, December 23.
Although changes in Valley Metro service typically occur in January and July of each year, the distribution of the Transit Book, service revisions, additions and cuts will coincide with the start-up of METRO light rail.

On Monday, Dec. 29 key service additions or changes include:
METRO light rail service begins its regular schedule. 
Weekdays: Trains begin the first full trip of the day at 4:40 a.m. at the end-of-the-line stations. The last full trip of the day begins at 11 p.m., arriving at the opposite end of the line at midnight. Trains arrive every 10 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; all other hours, every 20 minutes.
Weekends and holidays: Trains begin the first full trip of the day at 5 a.m. at the end-of-the-line stations. The last full trip of the day begins at 11 p.m., arriving at the opposite end of the line at midnight. Trains arrive every 15 minutes between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.; all other hours, every 20 minutes.

Valley Metro LINK* operates in new 63-foot silver and purple buses as an extension of METRO light rail from the Sycamore Transit Center to Superstition Springs Center (Power Road) in Mesa. LINK operates weekdays every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during off-peak hours. Peak hours are typically from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays only. Weekend and holiday service will operate every 30 minutes. 
 
New Express bus service:
Route 536*: Northeast Mesa to Tempe’s Veterans Way/College Ave METRO Light Rail Transportation Center
Route 542*: Chandler regional park-and-ride to downtown Phoenix (via Loop 202 (SanTan) to I-10)
Route 576*: ArrowheadTowneCenter to Montebello/19th Avenue Transit Center (operates in both directions during peak hours)
Route 40 that operates on Apache Boulevard/Main Street will travel from SuperstitionSpringsCenter to PhoenixSkyHarborInternationalAirport
SR-51 RAPID will have selected trips serve the City North shopping area at Deer Valley Drive and 56th Street
City of Mesa’s new “Downtown Buzz” neighborhood circulator will serve the Multi-Generational Center and downtown Mesa between Brown and Main streets to Center and Alma School Road.
·                     Red Line is discontinued with METRO Light Rail operating in its place along with Route 40 in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa and Route 15 in Phoenix.
·                     Blue Line is now called Route 39 and the portion below Camelback has been eliminated; also serves the Central/Camelback METRO Light Rail Transit Center.
·                     Green Line will be called 29-Thomas and Green Line A will be called 29A-Avondale.
·                     Route 0 will have 20 minute service during the entire day from Dobbins Road to the SunnyslopeTransitCenter and 10 minute peak frequency from Dobbins Road to Central Station
Route 1 will no longer go into Tempe. It will now travel to the Phoenix Zoo.
Route 13 will extend from PhoenixSkyHarborInternationalAirport to serve the 44th Street and Washington Street light rail transit center
Route 15 will be extended to serve Metrocenter and PhoenixSkyHarborInternationalAirport
Route 32 will serve 44th Street and Washington Street light rail transit center
Route 60 will serve the Montebello and 19th Avenue light rail transit center
On Monday, Dec. 29 major service reductions include:
·                     In Phoenix, all Monday through Friday bus trips that start within the city of Phoenix prior to 5 a.m. and those starting after 10 p.m. will be eliminated. Routes affected are listed at ValleyMetro.org under Rider Alerts.
·                     In Phoenix, all Saturday bus service will be reduced to match Sunday levels. This includes neighborhood circulators ALEX, DART, DEER RUN, MARY and SMART.
·                     Other changes in Phoenix include:
.        Schedule adjustments to the I-17 and SR-51 RAPID service.
.        DASH Downtown Loop: service eliminated between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
·                     In Avondale: evening service has been reduced on weekdays and Saturdays on
3A, 17A, 29A (replaces Green Line A), 41A, 131 START
·                     In Chandler and Gilbert: Route 156 will have weekday and Saturday schedule changes
·                     In Glendale: Check for weekday and Saturday schedule changes on routes 43, 51, 59, 60, 67, 70, 80, 90, 106, 136 and 186.
·                     In Mesa: 
.        Route 30 will now serve the Sycamore and MainTransitCenter and will no longer serve the Mesa Multi-Generational Center, along with weekday and Saturday schedule changes, 15-minute peak hour service eliminated in Tempe
.        Route 45 will now serve the Sycamore and MainTransitCenter and will no longer serve the Mesa Multi-Generational Center, weekday and Saturday schedule changes, and some trips will serve the Apache and Price METRO station
.        Route 61 will have weekday and Saturday schedule changes
·                     In Peoria: Route 106 will have weekday and Saturday schedule changes
·                     In Scottsdale: Check for weekday and Saturday schedule changes on routes 17, 29 (formerly known as Green Line), 41, 50, 106, 154, and 170
·                     In Tempe: 
Route 30 changes listed under Mesa section
Route 44 will serve the new TempeTransportationCenter at Veterans Way and College Avenue
Route 45 will have some trips serve the Apache and Price METRO station
Route 56 will now end at the Priest/Washington METRO station, along with weekday and Saturday schedule changes
Route 61 will have weekday and Saturday service changes
Route 77 will have weekday, Saturday and Sunday service changes
 
All changes to service effective Monday, December 29 are not reflected in this document. Valley Metro passengers should seek out information about their regular bus routes by going to ValleyMetro.org or by calling 602-253-5000. Be on the lookout for the new METRO, Valley Metro LINK and major bus route changes beginning in late December.      
 
* All service and projects funded by the Proposition 400 Regional Transportation Plan funds approved by MaricopaCounty voters in November 2004.
 
Valley Metro/RPTA is an organization of 14 local governments that provides or funds transit services to citizens in the greater Phoenix metropolitan and surrounding areas. For more information about Valley Metro public transit services, call Transit Information at (602) 253-5000; for callers with TTY (602) 261-8208; or visit the Valley Metro website at www.ValleyMetro.org.