Title
Consideration of Citizen Petition Related to Bus Route 27 Detour - District 1
Description
This report provides the City Council with information in response to a citizen petition (Attachment A) submitted by Paul Simoes at the October 30, 2024, Formal City Council meeting related to the temporary detour of bus Route 27.
Report
Summary
Route 27 is a fixed bus route that primarily utilizes 27th Avenue to operate between Deer Valley Road to the north and Lower Buckeye Road to the south. However, due to the design of 27th Avenue and its proximity to Interstate 17 (I-17), there are areas where the route utilizes other north/south directional streets. The petition submitted by Mr. Simoes pertains to one of those areas, whereby buses utilize 29th and 31st avenues, via Country Gables Drive, to travel between Greenway and Thunderbird roads. Route 27 has used these streets for decades, but in recent years the department has received concerns from nearby residents about instances where southbound buses have issues maneuvering around a traffic calming circle (roundabout) at the intersection of Country Gables Drive and 31st Avenue/Flamenco Drive. Because Country Gables Drive runs in a diagonal (northwest) direction, the turn radius from westbound Country Gables Drive to southbound 31st Avenue is tighter than at a normal intersection, resulting in some bus operators having to undertake additional maneuvers to safely make the turn. The difficulties of maneuvering the roundabout have endured over the years, despite modifications to the intersection and traffic calming features as well as training measures implemented for the route’s drivers.
In response to concerns raised by residents adjacent to the roundabout, the Public Transit Department (PTD) implemented a temporary detour for southbound trips only on September 30, 2024, which utilizes Mauna Loa Drive and Banff Lane, as this routing avoids the traffic calming device and ensures no southbound bus stops are missed. Prior to the temporary detour, PTD staff conducted outreach on the two streets and at the time did not receive any concerns from residents. The detour was intended to be temporary as city staff continued to explore other detour routes that would impact as few transit riders as possible.
Mr. Simoes first contacted PTD staff with the concerns from residents on Mauna Loa Drive and Banff Lane at the October 24, 2024, meeting of the Citizens Transportation Commission. Since that meeting, PTD has worked to devise alternate detours that can be used by southbound buses, until a more permanent routing can be implemented.
Staff Response
On November 18, 2024, PTD implemented a new detour that utilizes the southbound I-17 frontage road between Country Gables Drive and Thunderbird Road. While the new detour results in three bus stops being removed from the route, two other nearby stops (one new and one existing) will be used in their place. PTD staff conducted outreach at affected stops to alert riders of the change and the best options to board southbound Route 27 in the area.
PTD is committed to providing safe and easily accessible bus service in Phoenix and will continue to work on a long-term solution that enables southbound Route 27 to resume using 31st Avenue south of Country Gable Drive. Until then, the I-17 frontage road detour eliminates the use of the Mauna Loa Lane detour.
Options for Action
A. Accept the petition.
B. Deny the petition.
C. Other direction to staff.
Staff recommends denying the petition based on the implementation of the detour that now uses the southbound I-17 frontage road between Country Gables Drive and Thunderbird Road. PTD will continue to communicate with area residents about any other Route 27 changes.
Location
Council District: 1
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.