By Cecilia Chan
Independent Newsmedia

Glendale is reconfiguring one of its neighborhood bus routes that would take more people to more places in the city.

The city operates three Glendale Urban Shuttle routes and proposes moving the GUS 2 route farther east. City Council gave consensus at last week’s study session to proceed with the proposal, which if approved takes effect in the fall.

"This is going to be very well welcomed," said Vice Mayor Ian Hugh, whose Cactus District the proposed route is in.

Since GUS 1 and 2 routes kicked off service in 1998 and the implementation of GUS 3 route in 2003 there have been no modifications until now, according to Transit Administrator Kevin Link.

He added for a number of years the city has been asked by a couple of independent living facilities and neighborhoods for a route that went farther east and farther south.

"This new route will greatly expand the GUS service area to certain neighborhoods that had to rely on Dial-A-Ride or walk to catch a fix-route service to meet their mobility needs," he said. "We are very excited about the new GUS 2 route."

He said the change would not cost the city more money.

Currently GUS 1 and GUS 2 run the same route but in different directions. With the proposed route change, GUS 2 riders would have to wait an additional 15 minutes and go across the street to catch GUS 1.

The reconfigured GUS 2 route would begin and end at Tanner Terrace, an independent living facility at 45th and Palmaire avenues. It would travel south to Glendale Avenue and circle clockwise and take riders to places, including downtown, Rose Lane Park at 51st Avenue and Rose Lane, St. John’s Manor near 51st and Myrtle avenues, Glendale Post Office near 55th and Maryland avenues, Fry’s Food and Drug near 43rd and Montebello avenues.

It would keep the current operating schedule of Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m.-5:50 p.m.

The new route would be 7.6 miles long, up from the current 6.3 miles. And because the route runs longer at about 45 minutes compared with the current 30 minutes, there would be six fewer trips per day, according to Mr. Link.

The reconfigured route also is anticipated to jumpstart a dropping GUS ridership. In fiscal year 2014, GUS ridership came in at 115,958 compared with 90,911 in fiscal year 2016, according to staff. GUS 2 saw the biggest drop in riders.

Councilwoman Joyce Clark asked why fewer riders rode GUS.

"It’s something we are seeing across the country," Mr. Link said, attributing the regional drop in public transit to a better economy and cheaper gas prices.

Ms. Clark then asked at what point does it make sense not to continue GUS service, which costs roughly $800,000 a year.

Mr. Link said he does not know how low the ridership number needs to drop in order to trigger that but the city will keep an careful eye on it.

"When it gets to the point that it does not make sense to continue, we will look at our options," he said.

Councilman Jamie Aldama said based on feedback from his constituents he would like the city to consider at an appropriate time pushing the GUS 2 route farther south to Camelback Road.

Mr. Link said that would make the route longer to 60 minutes and perhaps the city might consider adding another route later on.

Councilman Bart Turner shared the Mr. Aldama’s concern and asked if GUS 1 route could be extended from its current 6.3 miles or if another route can be added at a cost of about $250,000.

Mr. Link said staff can look at that in fiscal year 2019.

Councilman Ray Malnar asked if staff consider integrating GUS with Uber and Lyft, the ridersharing services.

By his calculation, GUS currently costs the city $8.79 per rider, he said. Using Urber or Lyft for the same distance would be cheaper, he added.

Mr. Link said staff has not consider Uber and Lyft for GUS but there may be some value down the road for incorporating them into the city’s Dial-A-Ride and paratransit services.

He said Valley Metro is trying to come up with an app that includes Uber, Lyft, bus and rail services and Glendale will see if it can be expanded to include the city.

Mr. Malnar said because GUS services end at 6 p.m. could the neighborhood circulators be used as an economic development tool by bringing people to Westgate or downtown.

Mr. Turner piggy backed on his comment, suggesting a GUS loop that would go from Westgate to downtown on Cardinal game days. The Arizona Cardinals play at the University of Phoenix Stadium near the Westgate Entertainment District.

Mr. Link said Valley Metro will do an outreach on the proposed new route, talking to GUS riders at bus stops during the week of May 1-5.

Because the reconfiguration is part of Valley Metro’s service change the agency is soliciting feedback from GUS riders. That information will then be presented to member cities, including Glendale, and voted on. If adopted the route goes into effect Monday, Oct. 23.