Public Transit Department

Debbie Cotton, Public Transit Director Valley Metro Transit Information, (602) 253-5000; for customers with hearing impairments, TTY (602) 261-8208. Media Center Follow Phoenix Public on Twitter! Citizens' Transit Commission 2010-11 Meeting Dates NEW Citizens Transit Commission Mission Bylaws (Revised Apr. 2008) Creation of Commission Commissioner terms Sept. 2, 2010 CTC Agenda Other Phoenix Transportation Services Information on alternative transportation prepared by Human Services available here. Find social services, including transit, at Community Information and Referral's website. The Maricopa Association of Governments provides the Human Services Information Station for social services countywide. Reserve-A-Ride, now a part of the Public Transit Department, continues to serve Human Services senior centers. Rideshare promotes car- and vanpool options for drivers More transit information sites Transit Glossary. Terminos de transporte en espanol. Phoenix Transit Plan information Public Transit Department Annual Reports 2009 Annual Report 2008 Annual Report 2007 Annual Report 2006 Annual Report. Public Transit Department Environmental Policy Statement Transit Now cable show on PHX 11 (Cox and Qwest) City of Phoenix Finance/Purchasing Department Current solicitations for bids and requests for proposals. Valley Metro Rail Phoenix is a partner in METRO, the light rail transit project, along with the cities of Tempe, Mesa, and Glendale. Regional Transportation Plan National Transportation Web sites American Public Transportation Association Federal Transit Administration Center for Transportation Excellence Want to do business with Phoenix? Learn about the Minority, Woman, & Small Business Enterprise here.

Labor Negotiations Extended Two of the transit unions representing Veolia Transporation Services employees, the Teamsters Local 104 (maintenance staff) Union, and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 428 (mechanics) have agreed to extend contract talks to Sept. 30, 2010. Find out more here. Service changes July 26th for bus and light rail Transit service changes are occuring Valley-wide on July 26th. For more information about the changes, which will affect Phoenix RAPID, local bus, Dial-a-Ride service and light rail service.   For more information visit valleymetro.org. Bus stops moving at Central Station starting July 19th To prepare for construction occuring at the Phoenix Central Station transit center, bus stops on the northern portion of the site will be moving starting July 19th. The move is in preparation for construction starting later in July. Passengers who use the Route 0, Route 8, and Route 10 east among others should check for new locations for stops in both route directions.   A map of the new bus stop locations starting in July is here. Phoenix Public Transit Awards over $6 million in grants The Phoenix Public Transit Department announced the award of more than $6 million in Job Access Reverse Commute and New Freedom funding to projects within Maricopa County. The grants will support programs for commuters, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. Read more about the grants here. Personal Cool tips help with heat in summer months The Phoenix Public Transit Department wants to remind passengers that as temperatures rise, it is important to practice heat safety when using public transit. Take water and a hat or umbrella on your trip.   Get more Personal Cool tips here. Phoenix Dial-a-Ride reduces hours, ending trips booked after 10 p.m. Because of declining Transit 2000 tax revenues, the Phoenix Public Transit Department is reducing Dial-a-Ride hours to match local bus service hours of operation. Passengers will no longer be able to book trips after 10 p.m. starting April 5th.   More information is available here, or by calling Phoenix Dial-a-Ride at 602-253-4000. Phoenix Public Transit tests cab program for seniors Seniors 65 and older who live in the city of Phoenix can help the Public Transit Department test a new pilot program using taxicabs. The program, called Senior Cab, lets riders use prepaid vouchers to subsidize short cab trips. For more information, read the news release.   List of participating cab companies. City Budget is approved by City Council The City of Phoenix budget was adopted by the City Council on March 2, 2010, at its policy meeting. Affects to transit service include modified Dial-A-Ride operating hours; reduced neighborhood circulator service; and local bus route modifications. Details are available online.   The Budget & Research Department has 2010-11 budget information online. Phoenix Public Transit honors Rosa Parks   The Phoenix Public Transit Department commeorated the efforts of Rosa Parks to advance civil rights for all with an arts project created by students at Cloves C. Campbell Elementary School in Phoenix. Above is an image of the art display.   Read more about Ms. Parks and the event here. ARRA Grants Awarded to Public Transit Funded by: The Phoenix Public Transit Department announced on Aug. 20 that it was awarded $88.8 million in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for projects in the Phoenix/Mesa urbanized area. The portion of these funds dedicated to city of Phoenix projects totals more than $29.1 million in improvements to its transit system and infrastructure, including $3.9 million for METRO light rail improvements in Phoenix. Also, as the region’s federal grant recipient for the Phoenix/Mesa urbanized area, the city of Phoenix was awarded additional funds to disburse to grant sub-recipients. Media Release on ARRA Funding New tickets for Dial-A-Ride passengers The Phoenix Public Transit Department will have more options for ADA-certified Phoenix Dial-A-Ride (DAR) users purchasing fares starting August 1. Dial-A-Ride ticket books will be available, at a discount from cash fares. For more information, read this Dial-A-Ride media release. Insurance Savings for Bus Riders The Arizona Department of Insurance has published a brochure with information on possible auto insurance savings for drivers who ride the bus to work. For a copy of the 2008 Comparison Survey, visit the Department's website. No Taggin' Our Wagon Campaign Underway The Phoenix Public Transit Department is promoting the "No Taggin' Our Wagon" Campaign to alert passengers to the problem of graffiti on Phoenix buses. Passengers are asked let someone know when graffiti happens, by notifying the bus operator or members of the Public Transit Police Bureau. If you see someone tagging a bus, keep in mind: The bus number (its located inside at the front of the bus and outside the bus) The date and time The bus route and what direction the bus is headed Riders can call Valley Metro customer service with information, at (602) 253-5000.  Riders can also call the Graffiti Hotline at (602) 262-7327.  Your tip may earn you some money and help us keep our buses graffiti-free. Phoenix Neighborhood Circulator Service This free transit service is designed to get local residents to the most popular locations in their communities. Phoenix Neighborhood Circulator Service Transit Watch: Passengers Asked to Help Keep Transit System "Everyday Safe" The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department asks passengers to take part in the Transit Watch program to help keep Phoenix's transit system "everyday safe." Smoke Free Arizona Initiative, Proposition 201 as applied to city-owned transit vehicles and facilities in Phoenix The May 1, 2007 anti-smoking provisions changed rules on public smoking. This fact sheet may answer questions about how they apply to city-owned transit vehicles and facilities. RAPID/Express Information As gas prices rise, so does interest in taking the bus. For schedule and route information visit ValleyMetro.org. Transit Information E-mails To subscribe to information about public transit Bus Basics to Using Transit If you'd like to take the bus, here's some information on planning your bus trip: Bus Basics: How to Ride Right Time and Route: Choosing a trip Smooth Ride: Tips for a Courteous Trip Park your car and ride the bus: Check available parking places Local route chart or RAPID/Express routes: Find out which routes have the heaviest ridership. Phoenix Transit Plan Seven years ago, Phoenix voters approved the Phoenix Transit Plan allowing the Phoenix Public Transit Department to add more local and commuter buses and Dial-a-Ride vehicles, increase frequency and hours of service, and plan other transit improvements including METRO, the regional light rail that will serve Phoenix and other parts of the Valley. As a member of the Valley Metro, organization, Phoenix owns and operates transit service within the city and has about 45 million passengers boardings each year on buses traveling more than 18 million miles on city streets. The Public Transit Department business number is (602) 262-7242 and is located at 302 N. 1st Ave., Suite 900, Phoenix, AZ, 85003. Valley Metro Transit Information line is (602) 253-5000 or for persons with text telephones (602) 261-8208. The Phoenix Transit Plan supports these transit services: Local buses , also known as Metro buses, go more places, more often daily, including holidays. Phoenix Dial-a-Ride, a paratransit service for people who are ADA-certified, persons with disabilities, and seniors. If you live in other areas of the Valley, check other cities for their Dial-a-Ride programs. RAPID is a park-and-ride based commuter service that runs Monday through Friday within the city of Phoenix that goes to and from downtown Phoenix. Passengers can park their cars at a number of secured park-and-rides around the city and ride in on a specially-designed RAPID buses, which are made for freeway travel . Some trips have standing room only, so check out your RAPID or Express route for seat availability. Express is a Monday through Friday commuter service that travels along both city streets and the freeway to pick up passengers going to and from downtown Phoenix. ALEX is a neighborhood circulator covering the Ahwatukee area seven days a week. DASH Monday through Friday, the sleek blue- and green-colored DASH buses run between the State Capitol and Phoenix City Hall, and around Downtown Phoenix. Transit Facilities including transit centers and Park-and-Ride lots are all part of service improvements. If you'd like more information about transit programs and updates, sign up for transit news. Or contact the Public Transit Department at (602) 262-7242. Email the Public Transit Department back to top of page