Tempe is looking to expand its popular Orbit neighborhood circulator service by adding a new route – Saturn – to serve neighborhoods between U.S. 60 and Elliot Road.
Over the past several months, area residents participated in planning the proposed route, indicating preferences for points of interest, hours and frequency of service, as well as providing feedback on draft route options.
The final proposed route will be presented for feedback at two public meetings at Marcos de Niza High School, 6000 S. Lakeshore Drive—Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. or Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m. Both meetings will cover the same information.
A comment form will be available Sept. 9-28 at www.tempe.gov/orbit.
In 2014, the Tempe City Council authorized staff to explore adding a new Orbit route between U.S. 60 and Elliot Road, from the city’s eastern border with Mesa to the western side where Tempe meets Guadalupe and Phoenix.
The first phase of public involvement began in January, with more than 100 residents participating in public meetings and providing feedback online. During the second phase, city planners presented draft routes based on input received in January.
At the September meetings, residents will be asked to review and comment on a final proposed route. In December, the Tempe City Council will review the recommended route along with public feedback and determine whether to implement the route in 2017.
Neighborhood circulator service was part of the Tempe Transit Tax approved by voters in 1996, with the five existing routes – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Jupiter – implemented between 2007 and 2008. The existing routes operate seven days a week, connecting neighborhoods north of U.S. 60 with local destinations, Valley Metro bus routes and light rail.
Tempe began work to expand the Orbit system in 2007, but had to put plans on hold due to the economic downturn and associated budget impacts.
The city renewed those efforts last spring, studying the feasibility of implementing a new route, including estimating costs and gauging public interest through a telephone survey of residents in the area. The survey indicated general support for a new route.
The city has $1.2 million in Tempe Transit Tax funds available annually to operate a new route.
If approved and implemented, the Saturn route would provide connections to neighborhood destinations within the planning area, as well as several Valley Metro bus routes that travel to destinations like downtown Tempe, ASU, Tempe Marketplace, light rail and destinations throughout the Valley.
For more information, visit www.tempe.gov/orbit.
I will be attending the public meetings.
I live on Baseline almost directly South of the Library.
I am disabled but have not been able take advantage of this service because it stops 1 block short of where I live.
I read a lot and miss going to the Tempe Public Library.
I would certainly take advantage of it of the routes were extended to Baselone.