Residents urge council to restore We Ride transit service after pilot discontinued

Several Surprise residents used the council’s public-comment period Tuesday to urge restoration of the city’s We Ride transit service, which commenters said was discontinued after a pilot. Speakers described transportation loss as a barrier to medical care, employment and social activity for seniors and residents without other options. Todd Herberg and other speakers thanked Vice Mayor Hastings and staff for outreach but said the council did not adequately explain the rationale for ending transportation services and that residents were left without alternatives. Commenters requested the city pursue additional grant funding, consider increased service promotion, expand the program’s hours and vehicles, and follow best practices for pilot programs, including clearer goals and public involvement. Resident David Mills said the service had been used by people of “countless ages” for work and errands and urged the council to seek grants and expand service rather than discontinue it. Linda Barnes said local seniors and “elderly shut-ins” need transit and asked council to restore funding. Several online submissions echoed similar concerns and requested recycling and other services. Council response: Vice Mayor Hastings suggested taking lessons from the pilot and creating clearer pilot goals, public engagement and performance measures before restarting services. Councilman Haney and others recommended staff examine best practices for pilot programs and bring back options for community input and evaluation. Why it matters: The discontinuation affects residents who lack alternative transportation and raises questions about the city’s approach to piloting and scaling services that serve vulnerable populations. What happens next: Council members asked staff to look at pilot-program best practices and consider more in-depth community outreach and funding options; no immediate restoration action was adopted at the meeting.