New Supplement for Light Rail and Bus Changes

We know the service cuts are coming soon for light rail and bus riders. Frequency and holiday travel will see changes as of this month. Here is another update and more information on a supplement to help spread the word…

Look for New Supplement Providing July 26 Transit Service Changes

Services Impacted by Loss of Tax Revenues and Lottery Funds

Phoenix, AZ (July 7, 2010) As a result of historic funding losses in 2010 due to ongoing declines in sales tax collections and a permanent loss of State Lottery funds, or Local Transportation Assistance Funds (LTAF), Valley Metro will experience cutbacks in service on bus and light rail beginning July 26. 

Due to last-minute service changes and the accompanying public input process, the July edition of the Transit Book is being modified as a Transit Book supplement. The supplement will feature only the routes and schedules that will be affected on July 26. The supplement includes the regional system map and basic transit information, but no individual route maps. Routes not impacted by the service change on July 26 will remain the same as shown in the January 2010 Transit Book. Valley Metro is asking passengers to keep their January issue if their routes are not changing.

Also on July 26, METRO light rail will operate 12-minute service from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and all other times of the weekday will remain at 20-minute service. Five additional holidays are being added to the bus and light rail schedules: Christmas Eve, the day after Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day and Veterans Day. Service will operate on Sunday schedules on these holidays. For a complete list of holidays, go ValleyMetro.org.

“With some ingenuity and determination, we’ve been able to develop a very practical tool to help passengers without internet access stay informed on the July 26 changes,” said Dave Boggs, Valley Metro RPTA executive director. “The supplement will provide the basics and helps us save on printing and delivery costs.”

The Transit Book, typically printed two times per year, is free to the public. Beginning July 23, the complete July Transit Book will be available online only. Along with the Valley Metro website, it’s the primary source of information for local public transit users.

Proposed changes to service are based on ridership and performance measurements. For a complete listing of proposed service changes and the holiday service schedule, or to search for a carpool partner or get information about joining or starting a vanpool, 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 15 governments working to improve and regionalize the public transit system.

*All service and projects funded by the Proposition 400 Regional Transportation Plan funds were approved by Maricopa County voters in November 2004*

source: Valley Metro