Valley Metro Holds Public Hearings on Proposed Changes
Bus Service Impacted by Loss of Lottery Funds
Phoenix, AZ (April 29, 2010) The impacts from the loss of State Lottery funds and ongoing sales tax revenue decreases could be felt as early as July 26, 2010. As of February, the State legislature swept funds that had been dedicated to cities and towns in Arizona for 30 years to help provide transportation. With a loss of about $34 million dollars statewide, transit operators are scrambling to find alternative sources of revenue or look at major cutbacks in service.
“With little warning, our Valley Metro member agencies have lost $22 million annually in funding for the operations of local bus, Dial-a-Ride and METRO light rail,” said Dave Boggs, Valley Metro RPTA executive director. “The elimination of funds could not have come at a worse time, with budgets already constrained due to an ongoing decline in sales tax revenues that also support transit.”
The cuts to Valley Metro services will be felt Valley-wide. Passengers and residents can provide feedback in several ways:
1. Public Hearings: Open House at 5:30 p.m.; Public Hearing at 6:15 p.m.
May 19 Glendale City Council Chambers
5850 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale 85301
May 25 Webster Elementary School, Cafeteria
202 N. Sycamore, Mesa 85201
May 26 Avondale City Council Chambers
11465 W. Civic Center Dr., Avondale 85323
2. Webinars on May 25 at noon and May 27 at 5:30 p.m. Register at ValleyMetro.org
3. Electronic Comment Card at ValleyMetro.org
Proposed changes to service are based on ridership and performance measurements. For a complete listing of proposed service changes, go to ValleyMetro.org.
Valley Metro/RPTA provides eco-friendly public transit options to residents of greater Phoenix and Maricopa County, including a clean-fuel bus fleet, low-emissions light rail, a bio-diesel Dial-a-Ride fleet, online carpool matching and bus trip mapping, and bicycle and telework assistance. Funding is provided by local, state and federal revenues; and administered by a board of 16 governments working to improve and regionalize the public transit system.
Leave a Reply