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Sedona updates transit plan: record trailhead ridership, pilots for neighborhood on‑demand service, transit facility design funded to 30%
Summary
Staff reported record Trailhead Shuttle ridership for FY25, new neighborhood pilots for the on‑demand Connect service, an ongoing Uptown circulator feasibility study and 30% design work funded for a transit maintenance and operations facility paid with a $720,000 FTA design grant.
City staff gave a broad Sedona in Motion update Sept. 23 that covered transit ridership, new pilots for neighborhood on‑demand service, an Uptown circulator study and progress on a transit maintenance and operations facility.
Amber Wagner, the city’s transit administrator, told the council the Trailhead Shuttle recorded nearly 359,000 rides in fiscal year 2025 — an increase of about 3% from FY24 — and that the shuttle program has moved more than 1.1 million riders since its 2022 start. Staff estimated the service has reduced vehicle trips by tens of thousands (staff reported a cumulative reduction of roughly 282,500 vehicle trips since launch).
On local mobility pilots: Wagner said the city will test a Chapel neighborhood pilot in November (working with neighborhood committees) and planned a second pilot north of Sanborn in spring. Staff framed those pilots as test phases — limited, monitored expansions to measure impacts on time performance, neighbor effects and ridership — with performance metrics to guide adjustments.
Uptown circulator: The Uptown circulator feasibility study, funded with an FTA planning grant, is evaluating fixed-route options to link the new Uptown garage with Uptown destinations and nearby neighborhoods. Staff reported more than 420 survey and outreach responses so far (about 60% from residents, 17% from businesses and 23% from visitors). Early outreach suggested businesses are interested in branding/advertising opportunities and residents want service that benefits locals and employees, not only visitors. Staff said they will develop three service alternatives, choose a preferred option later this year and recommend phased pilots tied to performance metrics.
Transit maintenance and operations facility: Kurt Harris, public works director and city engineer, updated the council on the proposed transit maintenance and operations (M&O) facility to be sited adjacent to the wastewater plant. Design is at 30% and the project has $720,000 in FTA grant funding for design. Staff said only design funding is currently in hand; there are no dedicated construction funds. Harris and Wagner said a business analysis will be presented in November, with final design anticipated in May 2026 if funding for design and subsequent stages is secured.
Connect on-demand service and other updates: Staff said the Connect on‑demand service provided more than 14,000 rides in FY25 and that recent weekend demand had rebounded to spring peak levels. A free-ride coupon pilot and extended evening hours produced notable weekend pick-ups. Staff also reported Route 11 frequency changes and a seasonal pause of an alternate route (Route 12) due to lower demand.
Next steps: Staff will return with the Uptown circulator alternatives and recommended performance metrics; a business analysis for the M&O facility is expected this fall; pilots for neighborhood expansions will be launched and monitored with defined metrics.
