| ITEM #: 10. DATE: 06/23/2025 AI #:2676 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | APPROVE THE MASTER TRANSIT SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF GOODYEAR AND THE REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (RPTA) FOR FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2026 |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Christine McMurdy, Project Management Coordinator |
SUMMARY
The Master Transit Services Agreement (Attachment A) between the city of Goodyear and the Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA) for FY2026 will renew RPTA/Valley Metro’s obligation to provide express bus trips to the Goodyear Park-and-Ride, fixed route bus service on Routes 3 and 17, and Paratransit/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) services via Dial-a-Ride and RideChoice. The City’s cost to continue the provision of transit services for FY2026 is $381,359.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Master Transit Services Agreement between the city of Goodyear and the RPTA and providing authorization and direction to take actions and execute documents necessary to carry out the intent of the Agreement for FY2026. (Christine McMurdy, Project Management Coordinator)
FISCAL IMPACT
The City's total FY2026 cost under this agreement is $381,359, which is comprised of $60,331 for Regional Paratransit services and $321,028 for RideChoice services. The amounts referenced are included as part of the city's FY2026 budget.
Prior to issuing agreements to member agencies, RPTA/Valley Metro applies expected fare revenue and federal operating assistance (Federal Transit Administration formula funds) to arrive at the estimated cost of providing transit services to member agencies. The estimates are processed through reconciliation with the member agencies after the end of each fiscal year.
Prior to issuing agreements to member agencies, RPTA/Valley Metro applies expected fare revenue and federal operating assistance (Federal Transit Administration formula funds) to arrive at the estimated cost of providing transit services to member agencies. The estimates are processed through reconciliation with the member agencies after the end of each fiscal year.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
The Master Transit Services Agreement (Attachment A) continues existing transit services in the Goodyear that are funded by the existing regional transportation tax (Proposition 400) through June 30, 2026. As of July 1, 2026, transit services will continue to be funded by the extension of the regional transportation tax (Proposition 479). City staff are attending ongoing meetings held by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) to provide input regarding how the Proposition 479 transit lifecycle guidelines will be administered to local agencies.
Currently, Proposition 400 funds express bus service (Route 562) operating out of the Goodyear Park-and-Ride, which provides service Monday through Friday, and local fixed route bus service (Route 17-McDowell Road and Route 3-Van Buren Street), which operates Monday through Saturday.
In addition to funding Express Route 562 and Local Fixed Routes 3 and 17, the regional transportation tax (Proposition 400) also allocates the City a subsidy to offset our federally-mandated ADA Paratransit (Dial-a-Ride) service, which is required to be provided within ¾ miles of our local fixed route bus service (Routes 3 and 17). The Master Transit Services Agreement (Attachment A, Schedule C) shows that after the regional transportation tax subsidy and federal operating assistance are applied, the City’s cost for ADA Paratransit (Dial-a-Ride) service in FY2026 is $60,331.
RideChoice is available citywide to ADA-certified residents of Goodyear that need a trip to work, school, or medical appointments. There are program options for Goodyear residents based on how often and how far they need to travel. The base program costs three dollars for up to eight miles, with any additional miles costing two dollars per mile. There is also a mileage-based option that allows customers to travel up to 400 miles per month, for trips of up to 50 miles in length, for three dollars per trip. RPTA/Valley Metro estimates that the City will provide at least 12,443 RideChoice trips in FY2026. The Master Transit Services Agreement (Attachment A, Schedule D) shows that after estimated fare revenue and federal operating assistance are applied to the estimate, the FY2026 cost of RideChoice service is $321,028.
Currently, Proposition 400 funds express bus service (Route 562) operating out of the Goodyear Park-and-Ride, which provides service Monday through Friday, and local fixed route bus service (Route 17-McDowell Road and Route 3-Van Buren Street), which operates Monday through Saturday.
In addition to funding Express Route 562 and Local Fixed Routes 3 and 17, the regional transportation tax (Proposition 400) also allocates the City a subsidy to offset our federally-mandated ADA Paratransit (Dial-a-Ride) service, which is required to be provided within ¾ miles of our local fixed route bus service (Routes 3 and 17). The Master Transit Services Agreement (Attachment A, Schedule C) shows that after the regional transportation tax subsidy and federal operating assistance are applied, the City’s cost for ADA Paratransit (Dial-a-Ride) service in FY2026 is $60,331.
RideChoice is available citywide to ADA-certified residents of Goodyear that need a trip to work, school, or medical appointments. There are program options for Goodyear residents based on how often and how far they need to travel. The base program costs three dollars for up to eight miles, with any additional miles costing two dollars per mile. There is also a mileage-based option that allows customers to travel up to 400 miles per month, for trips of up to 50 miles in length, for three dollars per trip. RPTA/Valley Metro estimates that the City will provide at least 12,443 RideChoice trips in FY2026. The Master Transit Services Agreement (Attachment A, Schedule D) shows that after estimated fare revenue and federal operating assistance are applied to the estimate, the FY2026 cost of RideChoice service is $321,028.
STAFF ANALYSIS
The transit services offered through the Master Transit Services Agreement between the city of Goodyear and the RPTA/Valley Metro for FY2026 can cross jurisdictional boundaries, which is why those transit services qualify for funding under Proposition 400. The city’s WeRide microtransit service provides local trips within the city, with the exception of a small number of trips that offer human/medical services outside of Goodyear.
Additional information about transit services funded by the extension of the regional transportation tax (Proposition 479) will be shared with Council at a future work session later this year.
This request is to approve the Master Transit Services Agreement between the city of Goodyear and the RPTA/Valley Metro for FY2026 (Attachment A).
Additional information about transit services funded by the extension of the regional transportation tax (Proposition 479) will be shared with Council at a future work session later this year.
This request is to approve the Master Transit Services Agreement between the city of Goodyear and the RPTA/Valley Metro for FY2026 (Attachment A).
Attachments
- Attachment A - Master Transit Service Agreement between the city of Goodyear and the RPTA for FY2026