Title
October 2023 Proposed Bus Service Changes and Public Outreach
Description
This report provides the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee with information on the proposed October 2023 bus services changes and related public outreach efforts.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
The Public Transit Department (PTD) is proposing to extend the reach of frequent local bus service within the city with the proposed October 2023 local bus service changes. An entire route, or even segment of a route, is considered part of the frequent service network when its weekday service frequency is 15 minutes or better from at least 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In Phoenix, local bus service has a minimum base frequency of every 30 minutes daily, Monday through Sunday, although many routes have increased frequency based on levels of ridership throughout the day. These proposed service changes focus on weekday local bus service, during peak hours (from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.), or midday hours (from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.). Weekday local bus service runs from approximately 4 a.m. to 11 p.m.
As of April 2023, eight of 43 local/circulator routes operating in Phoenix are part of the frequent service network, which covers 34 percent of Phoenix residents in its service area. With the implementation of the proposed October 2023 service changes, the frequent service network would increase to 11 routes covering 47 percent of Phoenix residents within its service area.
Overall, the proposed October 2023 service changes are estimated to expand the frequent service network by covering 217,000 more residents as well as 133,000 more jobs within with its service area.
Following is a brief description of the proposed service changes, followed by details of current service and the proposed changes.
Brief description of proposed changes:
- Route 0 (Central Avenue): From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, modify frequency from 20 to 30 minutes.
- Route 3 (Van Buren Street): From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, modify frequency to 15 minutes between 35th Avenue and 32nd Street, and extend 15 minute frequency to 44th Street.
- Route 7 (7th Street): From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, modify frequency to 15 minutes between Dunlap Avenue and Baseline Road, and to 30 minutes north of Dunlap Avenue and south of Baseline Road.
- Route 16 (16th Street): From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, increase weekday frequency to 15 minutes between Baseline Road and Northern Avenue.
- Route 19 (19th Avenue): From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, increase frequency to 15 minutes for the entire route.
- Route 27 (27th Avenue): During weekday peak hours, increase frequency to 15 minutes between Bell and Lower Buckeye roads.
- Route 35 (35th Avenue): From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, increase frequency to 15 minutes between Lower Buckeye Road and the Metrocenter Transit Center.
- Route 70 (24th Street/Glendale Avenue): From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, increase frequency to 15 minutes between Baseline Road and 43rd Avenue.
- DASH Circulator: Extend route to Roosevelt Road and Third Street, and add weekend service between Roosevelt Road and Jefferson Street.
Current Route Description
- Route 0: The 8.6-mile route runs on Central Avenue between Van Buren Street (to the south) and Sunnyslope Transit Center (to the north) in central Phoenix. The route overlaps with light rail on Central Avenue from Van Buren Street to Camelback Road. This route operates at a 20 minute frequency on weekdays and every 30 minutes on the weekend.
- Route 3: The 24-mile route runs on Van Buren Street in the cities of Phoenix, Avondale and Tolleson, with the Phoenix portion operating between 83rd Avenue and the Phoenix Zoo. During weekdays, the frequency intervals increase between 35th Avenue and 32nd Street. Currently, the schedule in this area of the route is every 10 minutes during morning peak hours; every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; every 10 minutes from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and then every 15 minutes until 7 p.m.
- Route 7: The 25-mile route runs primarily on 7th Street between Dobbins Road up to 19th Avenue and Deer Valley Road. During weekday peak hours, the route operates on a 20 minute interval north of Van Buren Street and a 10 minute interval south of Van Buren Street.
- Route 16: The 23.5-mile local route runs on 16th and 32nd streets between Dobbins Road and Paradise Valley Community College. During weekday peak hours the route operates every 15 minutes between Baseline Road and Northern Avenue.
- Route 19: The 25.5-mile local route runs primarily on 19th Avenue from the 27th Ave/Baseline Park and Ride, to 23rd Avenue and Happy Valley Road. During weekdays, the frequency intervals vary throughout the between Jefferson Street and Union Hills Drive segment of the route. This section of the has 12 minute frequency during peak hours and every 15 minutes during the midday.
- Route 27: The 22-mile local route runs on 27th Avenue between Lower Buckeye Road and Rose Garden Lane/Deer Valley Road. The route operates every 30 minutes, seven days a week.
- Route 35: The 28-mile local route runs primarily on 35th Avenue between the 27th Ave/Baseline Park and Ride, to 23rd Avenue and Happy Valley Road, with a deviation to the Metrocenter Transit Center. During weekday peak hours, the route operates every 15 minutes between Lower Buckeye Road and the Metrocenter Transit Center.
- Route 70: The 31-mile local route runs on 24th Street and Glendale Avenue, between the 24th Street and Baseline Park and Ride to Luke Air Force Base in Glendale. During weekday peak hours, the route operates every 15 minutes between the 24th/Baseline Park and Ride and the Glendale Park and Ride at 99th Avenue.
- DASH Circulator: The 1.5-mile Downtown Phoenix Circulator runs on Jefferson and Washington Streets between the State Capitol and Third Avenue. The weekday-only circulator runs every 12 minutes from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Proposed Changes
Map illustration of proposed service changes by route are included in Attachment A.
- Route 0: Modify weekday frequency from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes. Recent passenger load analysis revealed that frequency can be reduced while not causing overcrowding on the route. The route also overlaps with light rail service between Van Buren Street and Camelback Road.
- Route 3: Modify weekday peak hour frequency from every 10 minutes to every 15 minutes between 35th Avenue and 32nd Street, while also extending the frequency eastward to 44th Street, expanding the route’s contribution to the frequent service network.
- Route 7: Modify weekday frequency from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. to every 15 minutes between Dunlap Avenue and Baseline Road. Segments north of Dunlap Avenue and south of Baseline Road would run at a 30 minute frequency. If implemented, frequency changes for the route would decrease south of Van Buren Street from 10 to 15 minutes; increase between Van Buren Street and Dunlap Avenue from 20 to 15 minutes; and decrease from 20 to 30 minutes north of Dunlap Avenue. The Dunlap Avenue to Baseline Road segment would become part of the frequent service network.
- Route 16: Increase midday frequency from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. to every 15 minutes between Baseline Road and Northern Avenue. The frequency improvement would match the route’s current peak-hour service frequency of every 15 minutes on the same segment, making the segment part of the frequent service network.
- Route 19: Modify weekday frequency from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. to every 15 minutes between Jefferson Street and Union Hills Drive. If implemented, frequency changes for the route would increase from 30 to 15 minutes south of Jefferson Street and north of Union Hills Drive, and frequency would decrease between Jefferson Street and Union Hills Drive from every 12-15 minutes to every 15 minutes. The entirety of Route 19 would become part of the frequent service network.
- Route 27: Increase weekday frequency to every 15 minutes during peak hours between Bell and Lower Buckeye roads; the segment of the route north of Bell Road would maintain 30 minute frequency.
- Route 35: Increase weekday midday frequency to every 15 minutes between Lower Buckeye Road and the Metrocenter Transit Center. The frequency improvement would match the route’s current peak-hour service frequency of every 15 minutes on the same segment, making the segment part of the frequent service network.
- Route 70: Increase weekday midday frequency to every 15 minutes between the 24th Street and Baseline Park and Ride and the intersection of 43rd and Glendale avenues. The frequency improvement would match the route’s current peak-hour service frequency of every 15 minutes on the same segment, making the segment part of the frequent service network.
- DASH: Following extensive outreach and community engagement conducted during the department's Neighborhood Transit Study (NTS), the PTD proposes to expand the DASH circulator’s reach in the downtown area. The proposed expansion includes extending the route east to 1st Avenue and Jefferson Streets, where it would connect with the Fry’s grocery store and multiple light rail connections within walking distance. Also, expand the route north to Roosevelt Street via 3rd and 5th streets to provide a transit connection to Roosevelt Row. In addition, PTD proposes to modify the service frequency, days, and hours to the following: implement frequency to every 15 minutes; extend hours to 11 p.m. between Roosevelt Row and Downtown Phoenix; and add service on weekends on the same segment.
Staff will return to the City Council with a recommendation on the proposed changes after completion of the public outreach process in June. If approved, the service changes will take effect Oct. 23, 2023.
Service Equity Analysis
Per FTA regulations, a Title VI Service Equity Analysis on each proposed service change will be conducted to analyze if the proposed change causes a disparate impact on minority populations or yields a disproportionate burden towards low-income populations. Details of the analysis for the proposed October 2023 proposed service change will be included when staff returns to request Council's recommendation to approve the proposed changes.
Public Outreach
The Public Transit Department uses the locally adopted public outreach process to solicit public feedback on proposed service changes.
The public input process takes place from May 8 to June 9. During that time, Phoenix and Valley Metro staff will undertake the public input process and conduct in-person and virtual outreach utilizing posters and A-Frame signs placed at key areas along each route to notify the public of the proposed changes, and direct passengers to visit Valley Metro’s website to submit comments. The proposed service changes will also be advertised via social media, interactive webinars, and a public hearing, which is scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24 at Valley Metro’s offices, Conference Room 10A.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.