The Site Analysis: Mobility Needs

The Valley Metro Regional Transportation Authority (Valley Metro) operates public transit throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. Valley Metro services include regional bus and light rail systems, as well as on-demand para-transit and a local streetcar service in Tempe. Despite this wide coverage, ridership remains low due to challenges in efficiency and comfort.

Efficiency: First, many residential areas cannot access Valley Metro’s most reliable bus lines. These “frequent” routes have headways of 15 minutes or less, but only run along the central axes of downtown Phoenix, dividing the geography into roughly comparable quadrants, each with centers farther than a 5-minute.

Amenities and Comfort: Second, Valley Metro transit stops have few features that make waiting for public transportation bearable in extreme heat. Only 55% of bus stops have shelters that provide shade; only 9% within the light rail system. Valley Metro reports that ridership increases at stations with seating and shade, but to date, these features have not been implemented widely across the entire system.

Active Transportation and Micromobility: The Inner Loop includes roughly 30 miles of “quickbuild,” dedicated bike lanes. Private micromobility companies Spin and Lime operate their own networks within the Inner Loop, which allow residents to rent e-scooters, bicycles, and e-bikes for short trips charged by the minute. Though a useful alternative for those living in areas without access to public transit, equitable distribution and adequate safety measures for these vehicles have not been achieved. Eighty-eight percent of the Inner Loop’s dedicated bike lanes are located within a five-minute walk of a bus stop, providing an incentive for ridership in areas already well served by multiple transportation modes.

The cover image of the report titled: Economic Assessment of Heat in the Phoenix Metro Area

Source: The Nature Conservancy and AECOM