Desert Foothills Transit board pitches fare‑free pilot; Cave Creek council asks staff to pursue grant and legal review
Loading...
Summary
Representatives from the Desert Foothills Transit System presented a fare‑free circulator linking Cave Creek and Carefree; council indicated interest and asked staff to investigate grant eligibility, ADOT intergovernmental agreement terms and operational details before any commitment.
Representatives of the Desert Foothills Transit System on Feb. 17 proposed a fare‑free pilot circulator to serve Cave Creek and neighboring Carefree, telling the Town Council the two‑vehicle loop would use about 16 stops, take roughly 35 minutes per circuit and operate seven days during peak periods.
The transit group’s executive director, Max Anderson, and board president, Cam Cooney, said the service would be ADA‑accessible, adaptable for special events such as the Holland Center and the local rodeo, and funded initially through a combination of pilot grant money, private foundations, sponsorships and advertising revenue. Cooney said ad sales and stop sponsorships would be used to pursue long‑term self‑sufficiency.
Council members asked detailed questions about the project’s finances, legal structure and operations. Council legal staff warned that ADOT intergovernmental agreements often require a municipal or Title‑48 transit authority as a signatory and that nonprofit status can complicate insurance and indemnity requirements. The presenters said one or both towns would likely serve as the municipal pass‑through for any ADOT funding and that they would seek ADOT guidance on allowable arrangements.
Public commenters pressed for a ridership study and raised concerns about the visual impact of vehicle advertising. Presenters said they would work with the towns to limit ad content (no political, alcohol or tobacco ads) and to design wraps and signage to preserve the towns’ character. The presenters also identified possible in‑kind match options, such as vehicle storage or parking, to meet a typical 20% local match requirement for some grant programs.
Council did not take action on the proposal but signaled general interest and directed staff to follow up. The council requested a future agenda packet that addresses projected operating and maintenance costs, where vehicles would be parked and maintained, insurance and liability implications of any IGA with ADOT, and more information on projected ridership and revenue assumptions.
