Cathryn Creno
Panel set to decide on Ahwatukee bus cuts
by Cathryn Creno - Apr. 30, 2009 08:33 AM
The Arizona Republic
Since early March, a committee of nine Ahwatukee residents and one business representative have met for a series of painful discussions on ways to reduce the operating cost of the Ahwatukee Local Explorer, or ALEX, by 25 percent.
Should the free circulator bus start running later in the morning or hit stops less frequently? Should its route be redirected to stop near Chandler Boulevard retailers - or continue to wind through neighborhoods and past schools south of Chandler? Should it make fewer stops near a park and ride lot in the evening?
On Thursday the committee is expected to vote to trim ALEX's route, hours and frequency of stops.
"Our purpose was to cut miles, and I think we have done that part really well," said committee member Virginia Morton, who also served on a committee to plan ALEX's original route more than eight years ago. She said this process has been more painful, but she understands the need for the cuts.
In February, faced with a $270 million citywide general-fund shortfall, the Phoenix City Council voted to shave $360,000 from ALEX's present $1.44 million annual budget.
Right now 19-seat ALEX buses travel 40-mile routes around the village for about 16 hours a day. They are used by children and teenagers who are too young to drive as well as adults who lack transportation or want to save money on gas.
Morton has served on the committee with Wayne Unger, Linda Palumbo, Jean Moriki, Sue Laskovsky, Chad Blostone, Greta Rogers, Mary Youhanaie and Jeff Mirasola. "I have had a few phone calls from people who were afraid the service was going to be cut entirely," Morton said. "Once I assure them that that is not going to happen, they say they can adjust to a new route or schedule. But people have really come to depend on ALEX and worry about losing it."
The changes will take effect July 27, when Valley Metro's public transportation schedules book is published again.
One issue raised by several Ahwatukee residents who attended public open houses to view a new ALEX route map and schedule proposal is a plan to have the circulators make stops every 40 minutes instead of every 30 minutes.
Parents and students who count on ALEX for after school transportation say kids traveling from places like Desert Vista High School to the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA or Pecos Community Center already have long waits for ALEX because the circulator sometimes fills up before students can get on it.
Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio, who represents Ahwatukee and appointed the committee, said he "couldn't be prouder" of the way members made tough decisions about ALEX.
"We are not in here to make friends," he said. "We are here to get things done and make decisions in a tough economy."
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