12 Phoenix weekday bus routes affected starting July 25

Phoenix, July 6, 2005—The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department will reduce late-night service during weekdays on 12 local Phoenix routes.  Beginning Monday, July 25, late-night trips that began past about 10:30 p.m. will be eliminated.

During the slower economic growth of the past few years, Phoenix has made cuts to all non-public safety departments. Many city services have been affected and the Public Transit Department tried to impact the lowest number of passengers possible.

“We realize that having a ride to their destination is important to each passenger.  It is not without much regret that we reduce late- night service.  In evaluating ridership data, the last trips of the day have the fewest passengers - a rough estimate of 300 passenger boardings out of the 121,000 each day.” said Debbie Cotton, the Department’s director.

Initially the Department had been asked to find $667,700. After hearing from many passengers and other members of the public during budget hearings, City Council restored $167,700 to the Department’s budget, resulting in the $500,000 final cut and affecting 12 of 16 originally-identified routes.

The Department began adding late-night service in 2002 as part of the Phoenix Transit Plan approved by voters five years ago. The Phoenix City Council recently reviewed a forecast showing that transit funding could be restored over the next five years if improvements in the local economy continue.

Also, on July 25 route changes will be made to Routes 35, 27 and 60. Passenger Notices of service changes will be on Phoenix buses by July 8.  For more information, passengers are advised to consult the Valley Metro web site at www.ValleyMetro.org, call the customer information number at (602) 253-5000, or pick up a Bus Book, available the week of July 11 on board buses, at transit centers, and at city offices and libraries.

Routes Affected by the Schedule Reduction:
The list below shows the route number, general route description, begin and end time of the last trip beginning July 25, and bus stop deviations.  A deviation, in parentheses ( ), occurs when the bus does not go to its usual beginning or end point.

Route 7- 7th St.  Dobbins Rd. to Union Hills Dr.
Northbound - last trip begins at 10:32 p.m., ends at 11:54 p.m.
Southbound - last trip begins at 10:17 p.m., ends at 11:39 p.m.

Route 16 - 16th St. Jesse Owens Medical Center to Sunnyslope Transit Center
Northbound - last trip begins at 9:45 p.m., ends at 10:47 p.m.
Southbound - last trip begins at 10:07 p.m., ends at 11:10 p.m.

Route 17 - McDowell Desert Sky Mall to Granite Reef Rd.
Eastbound - last trip begins at 10:40 p.m., ends at 11:45 p.m. (48th St./Fillmore)
Westbound - last trip begins at 10:40 p.m. (48th St./Fillmore), ends at 11:42 p.m.