Bus route 50 extends trek from Phoenix to Scottsdale Community College

Beginning Monday, April 26, riders traveling from Phoenix to Scottsdale Community College no longer have to transfer to the trolley to complete their trip as bus route 50, which runs along Camelback Road, will be extended to the college.

The bus route currently ends near Scottsdale Fashion Square, and riders who continue to the college must transfer between the bus and Scottsdale’s 68th and Camelback trolley, according to a press release, adding buses on route 50 will run every 10 minutes during high-use times and up to every 30 minutes during low-use times.

These additional transit route changes will also take effect Monday:

• The 68th/Camelback Trolley route will end immediately south of Camelback Road on Goldwater Boulevard.
• Bus route 50 will remain on Chaparral Road between Granite Reef Road and 86th Street rather than traveling up to Montebello Avenue.
• The Old Town Trolley remains indefinitely suspended.

New routes can be viewed on the city’s (scottsdaleaz.gov) updated transfer map. In addition to providing a regional route between Scottsdale Community College and Phoenix, the bus route includes increased operating hours, weekend service and service on six additional holidays per year.

Keeping the bus on Chaparral  between Granite Reef and 86th will improve route efficiency and avoid having large buses on neighborhood streets, the release said.

Extending bus route 50 also enables Scottsdale to take advantage of about $3.2 million in unused Proposition 400 regional transportation sales tax funding, which will cover the cost of extending the bus route for the next four years.

Shortening the 68th and Camelback trolley route will free up more than half a million dollars annually in Scottsdale’s Transportation 0.2% Sales Tax funding, which is also used for transportation-related capital improvement projects, paving projects, path and trail improvements, alley maintenance and other transportation and streets projects, noted the release.

The Old Town Trolley was suspended along with other trolley routes in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Scottsdale began a phased return to service in August but opted not to bring back the Old Town Trolley as ridership declined prior to the pandemic.

Old Town Scottsdale can still be accessed via the 68th and Camelback Trolley with stops along Goldwater Boulevard between Indian School and Camelback roads and on Indian School Road between 68th Street and Goldwater Boulevard.

All trolley routes will continue to run every 20 minutes between approximately 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., weekdays only, added the release, noting that federal law still requires transit riders to wear face coverings on buses and trolleys and at transit stops.

To request a brochure with new routes and schedules, call the Transportation and Streets Department at 480-312-7250 or email Jennifer Banks at jbanks@scottsdaleaz.gov.

See www.ScottsdaleTrolley.com; and Valley Metro’s site at www.ValleyMetro.org for more information on bus schedules and fares.