Title
October 2026 Proposed Bus Service Improvements (Ordinance S-53136) - Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 & 8
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to implement the October 2026 transit service changes. If approved, these changes will take effect October 26, 2026. The October Service Changes include expansion of I-17 and 1-10W RAPID service and implementation of microtransit service.
Report
Summary
The Public Transit Department (PTD) is proposing a federally grant-funded pilot program which includes three microtransit zones within Phoenix and enhanced service on two RAPID routes by introducing weekday bi-directional service beginning in October 2026.
Microtransit is a shared, on-demand public transportation service that uses smaller vehicles, such as vans or shuttles, to provide trips within a designated service zone at an affordable flat rate. Riders request trips by phone or through a mobile app. Unlike fixed-route bus service, microtransit vehicles do not follow predetermined routes; instead, they operate on dynamically generated paths based on real-time demand. The service is intended to connect riders to and from a public transit hub for the initial or final legs of their journey, otherwise known as a “first-mile, last-mile” solution. The three microtransit pilot zones, located in North Phoenix, West Phoenix, and South Phoenix, will be paired with either a light rail connection or weekday RAPID service at designated transit centers. Once implemented, each microtransit zone will provide immediate improvements to transit accessibility, supporting both local and regional travel needs.
The enhanced RAPID routes will provide bi-directional service on the I-17 and I-10 West RAPID routes Monday through Friday by adding reverse-commute trips during peak hours and extending service into off-peak periods. The introduction of off-peak periods also creates the opportunity for reduced fares on RAPID trips for riders who meet regional reduced fare requirements, in alignment with Federal Transit Administration policy.
The pilot is planned for a three-year duration, which matches the federal grant performance period, during which PTD will evaluate the performance and effectiveness of both the microtransit zones and the expanded RAPID service hours. Findings from this evaluation will guide decisions on whether these services should continue as designed, be expanded, or be modified based on demonstrated demand and operational outcomes.
Background
In October 2024, PTD was awarded a grant through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Congestion Relief Grant Program. Phoenix’s application proposed implementing Project EASE (Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion), a three-pronged congestion-mitigation initiative designed to expand travel options and improve public transit accessibility. The City Council approved submission of the grant application on May 15, 2024.
The Project EASE Grant Proposal included:
1. Implementing three microtransit service zones over a three-year period to expand transit coverage and improve first-mile/last-mile access.
2. Enhancing commuter bus (RAPID) service with improvements that complement and connect to the microtransit zones.
3. Integrating new and existing microtransit services into the region’s transit software application to support trip planning, real-time vehicle tracking, and fare payment.
These initiatives are designed to expand access to public transit by improving ease of use and enhancing the overall passenger experience, ultimately helping to reduce roadway congestion.
Proposed Service Improvements
See proposed service change maps in Attachment A.
Microtransit Implementation:
Three microtransit zones were identified in the Project EASE grant application. Each zone is planned to operate with four microtransit vehicles and will cover approximately 12-16 square miles. The size and boundaries of each zone were designed to balance service coverage with operational efficiency.
The North Phoenix Zone is generally bounded by Union Hills Drive to the south, Happy Valley Road to the north, 51st Avenue to the west, and 16th Street to the east. Implementation of this zone will be coordinated with the launch of enhanced all-day I-17 RAPID service, which will provide direct connections to Downtown Phoenix from the Happy Valley Park-and-Ride and the Bell/I-17 (Deer Valley) Park-and-Ride.
The West Phoenix Zone is generally bounded by McDowell Road to the south, Camelback Road to the north, 107th Avenue to the west, and75th Avenue to the east . This zone will be implemented alongside enhanced all-day I-10 West RAPID service, offering direct connections to Downtown Phoenix from the Desert Sky Transit Center and the 79th Avenue/I-10 Park-and-Ride.
The South Phoenix Zone is generally bounded by Dobbins Road to the south, Broadway Road to the north, 59th Avenue to the west, and Central Avenue to the east. This zone will connect directly to the Valley Metro Light Rail B Line at the Central and Baseline Park-and-Ride, providing seamless access to the regional rail network.
As identified in the FHWA grant application, PTD is partnering with Via Transportation to implement microtransit service within Phoenix. This partnership is structured as a turnkey solution in which Via Transportation will provide the vehicles, operators, ride-hailing platform (app), and performance-monitoring software necessary to operate and evaluate the service.
RAPID Service Enhancement:
Current Route Description
I-17 RAPID: The I-17 RAPID is an express bus route connecting north Phoenix with Downtown Phoenix along the I-17 freeway corridor. Current service operates inbound to Downtown Phoenix during weekday morning peak hours (5 a.m. to 8 a.m.), and outbound during weekday afternoon peak hours (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) to the Thelda Williams Transit Center, the Bell/I-17 Park-and-Ride, and the Happy Valley Park-and Ride.
I-10 West RAPID: The I-10 West RAPID is an express bus route connecting west Phoenix with Downtown Phoenix along the I-10 freeway corridor. Current service operates inbound to Downtown Phoenix during weekday morning peak hours (5 a.m. to 8 a.m.), and outbound during weekday afternoon peak hours (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) to the 79th Avenue/I-10 Park-and-Ride and the Desert Sky Transit Center.
Proposed RAPID Changes
PTD proposes improving both routes to operate bi-directionally Monday through Friday by adding reverse-commute trips during peak hours and extending service into off-peak periods. Once implemented, each route will operate in both directions from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Existing peak-hour frequent service will remain in place to accommodate high-demand travel periods.
In addition to I-17 and I-10 West RAPID, PTD also proposed schedule adjustments to other RAPID routes (SR-51 RAPID, I-10 East RAPID, South Mountain East RAPID, and South Mountain West RAPID) that were shared for public comment in the effort to improve on-time performance and service efficiency.
Service Equity Analysis
Per FTA regulations, a Title VI Service Equity Analysis on the proposed service change was conducted to analyze if the proposed change causes a disparate impact on minority populations or yields a disproportionate burden towards low-income populations. According to the established major service change policy for the region, none of the service change proposals for October 2026 would have a disparate impact on minority populations or place a disproportionate burden on low-income populations. Therefore, no mitigation efforts are required as part of the October 2026 proposed service changes. Details of the analysis for the proposed service change are included in Attachment B.
Financial Impact
The estimated cost of the proposed October 2026 service changes will be approximately $5,239,000 in the first year. The total cost of the pilot program is $16,180,500, with 80 percent coming from the FHWA Congestion Relief Grant. All funds are available in the Public Transit Department budget.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was recommended for approval at:
- The Citizens Transportation Commission on June 25, 2026, by a vote of 11-0.
Public Outreach
The Public Transit Department used the locally adopted public outreach process to solicit public feedback on proposed service changes. The public input process took place from May 11, 2026, through June 16, 2026. During the public comment period, Phoenix and Valley Metro staff conducted outreach utilizing the Valley Metro website, Valley Metro App, City newsletters, social media, and on-board bus public messaging announcements to notify passengers of the proposed changes and direct passengers to visit Valley Metro’s website to submit comments. All outreach methods utilized bilingual (English and Spanish) messaging.
The proposed service change information was also presented by Public Transit staff to the following Village Planning Committees where the village would be impacted by the proposed service changes:
- May 4, 2026 - Deer Valley Village.
- May 11, 2026 - Laveen Village.
- May 12, 2026 - South Mountain Village.
- May 13, 2026 - Maryvale Village.
- May 19, 2026 - Estrella Village.
A hybrid public hearing was held on May 27 at Valley Metro offices, Conference Room 10A and virtually, for the public to attend and provide comments.
Overall, 193 individual surveys were received about Phoenix’s proposed service changes. The results of the public input by service proposal are as follows:
Project EASE Elements
Implement North Phoenix Microtransit Zone
- 94% Support. 6% Not in Support.
Implement South Phoenix Microtransit Zone
- 92% Support. 8% Not in Support.
Implement West Phoenix Microtransit Zone
- 95% Support. 5% Not in Support.
Improve I-17 RAPID
- 97% Support. 3% Not in Support.
Improve I-10 West RAPID
- 98% Support. 2% Not in Support.
Other RAPID Route Schedule Change Proposal
I-10 East RAPID
- 90% Support. 10% Not in Support.
South Mountain East (SME) RAPID
- 95% Support. 5% Not in Support.
South Mountain West (SMW) RAPID
- 90% Support. 10% Not in Support.
SR 51 RAPID
- 92% Support. 8% Not in Support.
Based on the feedback received and high levels of support, the PTD is recommending approval of all proposed service changes.
Location
Council Districts: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Cynthia Aguilar and the Public Transit Department.