MAG study presents mobility options for Queen Creek; near‑term candidates include microtransit and TNC partnerships

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) presented a draft Mobility Options and Connectivity Feasibility Study to the Queen Creek Town Council and outlined near‑term and future mobility options tailored to local travel patterns.

Hannah Quincy, MAG project manager, said the study included an attitudes-and-awareness survey administered by Arizona State University that gathered more than 1,000 resident responses. Survey respondents ranked improving safety and reducing congestion as the top priorities and showed support for enhanced active transportation and strategies such as on‑demand microtransit and ridesourcing partnerships. Third‑party shared micromobility (app-based shared scooters and bikes) ranked lower among resident priorities.

MAG described four near‑term options the town could consider within roughly a five‑year horizon: a transportation network company (TNC) partnership that subsidizes rides to select destinations (a fare structure example in other jurisdictions was a $2 rider base fare with a capped town subsidy per ride), a contracted microtransit service (on‑demand shared rides coordinated by an app), a resident‑focused micromobility safety and education campaign, and discrete mobility hub sites that co‑locate pick‑ups, drop‑offs and micromobility parking.

McCarty and Public Works Director Mohammed Yousef noted the town’s demographic profile — higher median household incomes and widespread vehicle ownership — means traditional fixed-route transit likely is not feasible in the near term. MAG estimated a full microtransit service for the proposed 19‑square‑mile zone could cost roughly $1.1 million per year for weekday and weekend service, with a smaller weekend‑only pilot estimated at about $230,000 per year. The study stated microtransit programs are typically locally funded and may be supplemented by advertising and select state and federal grants for senior or disability service trips.

Councilmembers asked questions and offered differing perspectives. Councilmember Brandon Brown asked for clarification about study status; MAG said this is a draft final that will be refined with council feedback and folded into the town’s transportation master plan as the transit element. Councilmember Bader said the options merit further work because shifting even a small number of trips from single-occupant vehicles could relieve pressure on roadway investments. Councilmember Brown expressed skepticism about subsidy programs given Queen Creek’s higher household incomes; Vice Mayor Martineau and others praised the clarity of the presentation.

MAG recommended staff consider pilots and outreach, and to treat the options as considerations rather than mandatory next steps. The council took no binding action; staff and MAG will incorporate council comments into the final report.