Phoenix area cities in most need of mass transit improvements (Mesa: transfer, school)

[Pink Jazz]

In the Phoenix area, mass transit service is excellent in Phoenix and Tempe, good in Mesa, and fair in Scottsdale and Glendale. Everywhere else the transit service seems to be lacking.

What Phoenix area cities do you think should have mass transit service improvements?

For me, I think Chandler, Gilbert, and Queen Creek are in need of improvements in transit service, the latter not having any at all. More bus routes along the grid would be nice, including a bus route along Ellsworth to serve Queen Creek and perhaps an express route into Queen Creek. A light rail along Chandler/Williams Field/Power (Pink Line) as well as Gilbert Road (Gold Line) would be nice as well.

[ibarrio]

Surprise needs it. It can be a quick line to Downtown using Grand (A lot of work needs to be put in so it is 10's of years away)

[JGMotorsport64]

The Chandler/Gilbert/Mesa area is one of the most heavily populated areas in the region, it needs a cohesive unit to connect with Phoenix. That area has the 3rd 4th and 5th most populated cities in the state.

In a distant second is Glendale going to downtown then maybe to Arrowhead or Westgate.

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

The Chandler/Gilbert/Mesa area is one of the most heavily populated areas in the region, it needs a cohesive unit to connect with Phoenix. That area has the 3rd 4th and 5th most populated cities in the state.

In a distant second is Glendale going to downtown then maybe to Arrowhead or Westgate.

Transit in Mesa is actually pretty good, being third in total ridership behind Phoenix and Tempe, plus the light rail to Downtown Mesa (with the future Gilbert Road extension), although much of the service is concentrated in western and central Mesa. Not as good as Phoenix or Tempe, but better than Scottsdale and Glendale. Chandler and Gilbert on the other hand are lacking in service.

[Diane de Poitiers]

As far as Phoenix goes, I think our mass transit system still needs some work when it comes to traveling between cities.....like say, between Phoenix and Scottsdale.

[Renegade007]

Light rail needs to be expanded valleywide. Even to Scottsdale. I don't care if the local residents whine and moan about it.

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by Diane de Poitiers

As far as Phoenix goes, I think our mass transit system still needs some work when it comes to traveling between cities.....like say, between Phoenix and Scottsdale.

One thing that many don't seem to be aware about is the fragmentation of our bus system. Our bus system isn't operated by a single agency, but a collection of different agencies operated by different contractors. Bus service in Scottsdale alone is operated by four different contractors:

• The Scottsdale Road, Hayden Road, and Scottsdale Express routes are operated by First Transit out of Tempe (I think with one or two on the Hayden route out of the Mesa garage as well) and are contracted by the RPTA.
• The McDowell, Thomas, and Indian School routes are operated by First Transit out of West Phoenix, but are contracted by the City of Phoenix instead.
• The trolleys are operated by Dunn Transportation dba Ollie the Trolley and are contracted by the city of Scottsdale itself.
• The rest of the routes serving Scottsdale are operated by Transdev and are contracted by the City of Phoenix.

[ScottsdaleMark]

Why would City of Phoenix contract bus companies to run routes in Scottsdale? Is it a case where the line serves multiple cities so one city contracts it and Scottsdale pays their fractional share to that city?

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by ScottsdaleMark

Why would City of Phoenix contract bus companies to run routes in Scottsdale? Is it a case where the line serves multiple cities so one city contracts it and Scottsdale pays their fractional share to that city?

Yes, the service is contracted by the City of Phoenix, where Scottsdale pays Phoenix to provide the service.

[dvxhd]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

In the Phoenix area, mass transit service is excellent in Phoenix and Tempe, good in Mesa, and fair in Scottsdale and Glendale. Everywhere else the transit service seems to be lacking.

What Phoenix area cities do you think should have mass transit service improvements?

For me, I think Chandler, Gilbert, and Queen Creek are in need of improvements in transit service, the latter not having any at all. More bus routes along the grid would be nice, including a bus route along Ellsworth to serve Queen Creek and perhaps an express route into Queen Creek. A light rail along Chandler/Williams Field/Power (Pink Line) as well as Gilbert Road (Gold Line) would be nice as well.

While I agree there are varying levels of service among Valley municipalities, "excellent" isn't a word I'd use to describe mass transit in any of them. I used public transit from the airport last week and it took about 2 hours from when my plane landed until I made it to Melrose, which really isn't that far and took so long mostly on account of waiting for my transfers. Despite it being rush hour when I arrived, the bus ran every 30 minutes, and that line (#8) runs more or less from Baseline to Dunlap, though there's still plenty of Phoenix to the north and south of its termini. Pretty much the entire area needs improved public transportation, but unless the cities start getting more aggressive about improving it while also deterring driving (i.e. more gas taxes, higher parking fees in downtown areas, less parking availability in developments, less freeway expansions, etc.), then I wouldn't get my hopes up about better options. I don't expect to see a comprehensive system in my lifetime on account of the cost and time it would take.