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Maricopa transit supervisor reports dial‑a‑ride use by seniors, grant‑funded vans incoming
Summary
At a June 12 Transit Advisory Committee meeting, Transit Supervisor Toni Flood reported recent ridership data for Maricopa Express Transit, described grant funding for two new vans and said staff is pursuing a transit‑plan study; possible stop removals and a late route were discussed but require city management approval.
Toni Flood, the city’s transit supervisor, told the Transit Advisory Committee on June 12 that staff is tracking ridership and working to expand services while transitioning to different federal grant programs.
Flood said the combined 12‑month ridership figure for the fixed route and dial‑a‑ride was presented during the meeting and that dial‑a‑ride trips to the senior center numbered 79 one‑way trips in April and 80 in May. She said revenue tracking for the current fiscal year is limited to dial‑a‑ride fares because the fixed route is fare‑free.
The update matters because the city is moving from rural transit grants to larger urban formulas as its population grows. Flood told commissioners the city received two new transit vans through the Federal Transit Administration’s 5339 program, which she said are 85% grant funded and 15% city funded. She also said staff is awaiting approval of a transit plan study to be completed by the Maricopa Association of Governments; Flood said the study “takes 6 to 9 months to complete once it’s approved.”
On operating costs and grants, Flood gave a per‑ride cost figure during the briefing and explained the split between city expense and grant reimbursement, and she told the committee the city has moved from a 5311 grant status to a 5307 eligibility because of population thresholds. Flood also said the city expects a FTA audit and an ADOT audit tied to grant compliance.
Committee members probed what the study would include and how service changes would be implemented. Vice Chair Robertson asked the study’s purpose and scope; Flood replied it will include surveys, identify where people who need stops live, and recommend routing and fare policy. Commissioner Irving asked about grant length; Flood said the current grant covers two years and the city intends to transition to the 5307 program, which she characterized as an annual program once the move is complete.
Flood said staff is reviewing two operational changes that would require management approval: removing the Cobblestone stop north of State Route 238 (she said the stop averages about 8 or 9 riders per month) and deleting the last route of the day to improve schedule adherence. Flood said passengers affected by the Cobblestone proposal could use nearby Bash stop or continue to use dial‑a‑ride service. She said schedule pressures and traffic congestion at peak hours are the reasons behind the proposed change.
The committee did not take a vote; members said they wanted the pending transit plan and audit results to inform any formal changes. Flood closed by saying staff will continue updating policies, driver and rider procedures, and that additional training and public outreach will accompany the grant transition and service changes.
