City council approves agreement for Tempe employee, youth transit passes

By Caroline Yu
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Tempe City Council approved an agreement with the Regional Public Transportation Authority at its March 6 meeting to provide Platinum Passes to city employees and youth riders through the Tempe Youth Free Transit Program.

Council unanimously approved the agreement on consent, passing 7-0. No public comment was received on the item.

Per a city staff report by Sue Taaffe, senior management assistant, the five-year intergovernmental agreement approved allows the city to provide Platinum Passes to employees and residents ages six to 18 at no cost.

Tempe and the RPTA “desire to provide a seamless and affordable regional public transportation system” through this agreement.

Taaffe wrote that the maximum amount to be spent on Platinum Passes should not exceed $250,000 each year, with funding coming from Tempe’s transit fund. 

The city provides free transit to its employees through the Maricopa County Trip Reduction Program, and the Tempe Youth Free Transit Program was implemented 20 years ago to allow youth residents to use Valley Metro bus routes, the light rail and Tempe Streetcar without charge for one year.

Annually, Tempe’s trip reduction program costs between $25,000 and $75,000 based on usage and the youth transit program costs from $80,000 to $150,000 based on usage. 

With council approval, the agreement shall continue under these terms through June 30, 2029. 

Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines. Reporter Caroline Yu can be reached at cyu@iniusa.org

Caroline Yu
Reporter | Tempe

cyu@iniusa.org

Meet Caroline
Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.  

Community:  She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events. 

Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French. 

Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years. 

Hobbies: Hiking, painting and crocheting.