The Chandler City Council has recently greenlighted a two-year contract renewal for Chandler Flex, ensuring the continuation of the on-demand shared transportation service in the city, as reported by the City of Chandler's press release. This agreement, which will persist until June 30, 2027, involves a maximum expenditure of $3.315 million and represents an extension of the original service that commenced in July 2022.
Lasting from July 1, through June 30, 2027, the new contract with River North Transit, LLC (Via) marks an ongoing commitment to facilitate transportation within Chandler, while the first two years of Chandler Flex were underwritten by state funds via an A for Arizona Transportation Modernization grant, it is a $1 million Congressionally-Directed Spending (CDS) grant that will subsidize up to half of the ensuing contract's operations, the monies for which were secured through the efforts of Congressman Greg Stanton.
Stanton emphasized the critical nature of good transit in economic thrust, noting, "Good transit drives economic development—and as one of the fastest-growing areas in the region, Chandler needs flexible and affordable last-mile transportation options," he expressed satisfaction in aligning with Mayor Hartke to ensure federal support for the initiative, a sentiment echoing throughout the corridors of Chandler's municipal framework., as per the City of Chandler.
Sporting an app-based ride request system, Chandler Flex deploys minivans that curate shared travel experiences for its users, where passengers are collected and delivered within a marginal walking distance from the minivans heading to their destinations, this system has been warmly received, amassing over 100,000 trips and an average 4.9-star rating from users, testimony to a service sculpted by its community's contour.
Praising the city's forward-thinking approach to transport, Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke said, "The City of Chandler is proving itself to be a leader in providing reliable, convenient and safe transit options," the city commits to pushing boundaries by offering the likes of Chandler Flex, with an aim to serve the myriad transport needs of its residents, students, workers, and the wider visitor populace, as detailed by the City of Chandler.
