Last Modified on 02/03/2010 16:13:20
Public Transit Department
Debbie Cotton,
Public Transit DirectorValley Metro Transit Information, (602) 253-5000; for customers with hearing impairments, TTY (602) 261-8208.
Media Center
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Citizens' Transit Commission
2009-10 Meeting Dates REVISED
Citizens Transit Commission Mission
Bylaws (Revised Apr. 2008)
Creation of Commission
Commissioner terms
Other Phoenix Transportation Services
Reserve-A-Ride Human Services DepartmentRideshare 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 ReportsPublic 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.
National Transportation Web sites
American Public Transportation AssociationFederal Transit Administration
Center for Transportation Excellence
Want to do business with Phoenix? Learn about the Minority, Woman, & Small Business Enterprise here.
City budget hearings will include transit information
The City of Phoenix will be holding several public hearings in February, to give residents an opportunity to discuss proposals for the city budget. The budget hearings will also provide information on possible changes to transit service, and will serve as public hearings for those potential changes.
Hearing dates in English
Fechas de la audiencia en español..
JARC and New Freedom Grants Process Announced
The Phoenix Public Transit Department is accepting applications for Job Access/Reverse Commute and New Freedom grants. For more information about the grants, and how to apply, click here.
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.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.
Federal government pays $90 million to light rail cities
With a $90 million reimbursement coming from the federal government the week of August 3rd, the METRO light rail cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa are close to being completely paid back on the $587.2 million they fronted for the federal portion of the 20-mile Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Transit Project.
For details, read this media release.
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 PhoenixThe May 1, 2007 new anti-smoking provisions changes 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. Before you plan your trip on RAPID(tm), know which buses are full by checking out the seating capacity charts. For the on-line trip planner go to ValleyMetro.org.
Light Rail Construction Updates Newsletter
Topic: Bus Stops and other changes to bus serviceThis newsletter focuses on changed bus stops in the area of light rail construction and other passenger questions. You can subscribe to receive transit news via e-mail at the PubTrans listserv site.
Transit Information E-mails
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.