Council discussion to consider implementing a one-year Microtransit Pilot program. (Christine McMurdy, Project Management Coordinator)

There is no immediate fiscal impact. Staff will present options that have associated fiscal impacts that may require further action.

Several recent studies accepted by the City Council point to the need to look beyond traditional fixed route bus service to provide enhanced mobility solutions in Goodyear. A Citizens Satisfaction Survey conducted in 2021 revealed that at least 6 in 10 Goodyear residents rated enhancements to local public transit services as essential or very important. The City's FY2022-2024 Strategic Plan includes a "Quality of Life" goal to complete an evaluation of public transit options, identify unmet needs and evaluate funding requirements. In August 2021, staff and consultants from Nelson Nygaard presented the results of the Avondale Goodyear Transit Study, which included public engagement feedback highlighting the need to improve access from low-income areas to basic needs and opportunities, serving new multifamily developments with transit and pursuing non-traditional transit options. In November 2021, staff presented a Community and Neighborhood Services Master Plan Phase 1 focusing on Human Services. This plan included transportation as one of four priority service areas, based on community and stakeholder engagement. 

The collected outcomes of these studies and accompanying conversations by members of the City Council created a pathway for staff to explore possible solutions to providing more mobility opportunities for residents in Goodyear. As identified in the recent Nelson Nygaard transit study, microtransit could play a role in improving mobility for many of our citizens. Staff will present an opportunity to execute a microtransit pilot program to further examine the viability of on-demand transit in Goodyear. 

 

Currently, Goodyear offers limited local transit options to residents through two regional Valley Metro bus routes, express bus service at the Park and Ride and associated Dial-A-Ride and RideChoice service for ADA certified customers. The global pandemic has severely impacted traditional transit services, forcing public agencies across the country to re-imagine how to continue the provision of mobility to better serve passengers that have travel needs during nights, weekends and other periods as work days shift from the old 9 to 5 to all the time. Also, how do you get transit to be faster and reliable, so it becomes a more desirable option than sitting in a car on a congested freeway.

Goodyear has a golden opportunity to take advantage of a Covid-induced decline in transit ridership nationwide and pivot to a more effective transportation solution.