Mesa Service Cuts Effective Saturday, May 3, 2008

Download Passenger Notice containing revised Saturday schedules.
[1.42M PDF file requires Acrobat Reader]

How is bus service in Mesa changing?
Saturday service on bus routes in the City of Mesa is being reduced to one hour frequencies.

What routes are being impacted?
Route 30 - University
Route 45 - Broadway
Route 61 - Southern
Route 77 - Baseline
Route 96 - Dobson
Route 104 -  Alma School
Route 120 - Mesa Drive
Route 128 - Stapley
Route 136 - Gilbert Road

Note: Route 112 (Country Club/Arizona Avenue) will not be impacted by this service reduction because it does not currently have Saturday service.

When will these changes be effective?
This service reduction will begin effective Saturday, May 3, 2008.

Why is Saturday bus service being reduced?
This change is being made in response to a recent decline in sales tax revenues.

Why is service being reduced when new light rail and bus service begin in December?
Some new and expanded bus service that travels in Mesa has been funded by Proposition 400, which was approved by voters in November 2004 and is a county-wide sales tax that was extended for another 20 years. The one-mile of light rail service has been funded by Mesa general funds. The light rail vehicles are also being funded by the Proposition 400 initiative. The cuts in service that will begin on May 3 are those routes funded by the city of Mesa and are impacted by the recent decline in sales tax revenues.

Will Dial-a-Ride Service be impacted?
No. These service changes to not affect Dial-a-Ride service.

Will the City of Mesa be conducting a public meeting on this service change?
No.  Public transportation services may be reduced through minor modifications in order to improve service efficiencies and cost effectiveness. FTA requires that the opportunity for a public hearing be made in cases where "major" service reductions are being considered.  In addition to financial considerations, service reduction recommendations must also be evaluated in order to comply with Title VI Environmental Justice policies.  

The City of Mesa has traditionally considered a "major" service reduction to be 25 percent of an individual route's revenue service miles.  If the City of Mesa proposes to reduce service along a single route by more than 25 percent of that route’s revenue miles, an opportunity for a public meeting would be provided.

Are there future service cuts being planned by the City?
Beginning July 28, there will be weekday service reductions planned on Route 136 (Gilbert Road) for the portion of the route operating only in the city of Mesa during non-peak hours. The route will operate at a one hour frequency between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

NOTE:  Service reduction on Routes 61 and 96 are short-term reductions.  Effective July 28, 2008 these routes will become regionally funded routes and will have service seven days a week

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