Tempe residents who depend on the Orbit Mars and Mercury bus routes can expect some transit relief as the city implements a new pilot program aimed at easing congestion during peak hours. The program, dubbed Short Trips, is designed to add extra buses to the busiest segments of these routes, based on the local government's analysis of rider feedback and passenger data.
As reported by a recent City of Tempe's news release, the Mars route will see supplementary buses running between the Tempe Transportation Center and Dorsey Lane at Broadway Road and alongside, the Mercury route will benefit from added buses between the Tempe Transportation Center and the intersection at 8th Street and McClintock Drive. These additional services will be available Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., aligning with Arizona State University's academic calendar, particularly during the spring and fall sessions.
Those who ride beyond these extended service areas need to be aware of the bus they board, as the new Short Trip buses will conclude their routes at the designated endpoint of the chosen expansion zones. Riders caught standing in confusion might find themselves disembarking earlier than anticipated.
The one-year pilot program's kickoff is set for next Monday, with the city actively seeking public input during two meetings on February 18, information about these can be found on Tempe's official website, where FAQs and registration details for the noon virtual meeting are provided and for the in-person 5:30 p.m. meeting at the Don Cassano Community Room in the Transportation Center – it is not a moment too soon for the feedback loop as Short Trips could evolve in response to the voices of the community. Additionally, there will be an online survey open from February 18 to March 4, inviting further commentary.
Whether the Short Trips initiative will be extended or cemented into the regular scheduling depends heavily on community engagement and resultant performance metrics the outcome of which remains as critical as ever in our conversation about sustainable and responsive urban transit systems.
