Phoenix plans to downsize the free Downtown Area Shuttle’s bus routes on July 26, but a downtown business group is lobbying prevent some of the cuts.

Because of city budget reductions, the DASH will lose its “Downtown loop,” which stops at or near many key Downtown cultural attractions, including the Phoenix Convention Center, Heritage Square, hotels and the Orpheum Theatre.

The more heavily-used “government loop” will continue. It links the county government campus and the state government complex, which lie farther west.

The change will save Phoenix’s Public Transit Department $317,000 annually in its $175 million bus operations budget.

“When we cut there is a method to the madness. We want to affect the least amount of people,” transit spokeswoman Yvette Roeder said.
The government loop had 459,984 boardings in fiscal 2009, city figures show, while the downtown loop had 71,266 boardings.

A boarding is a one-way trip made by one rider.

Merchants lobby

The Downtown Phoenix Partnership wants the city to save at least part of the Downtown loop, said David Roderique president and CEO of the business group.

The partnership, which contributes $18,000 annually to the DASH, plans to meet with transit officials in a few weeks to discuss options, Roderique said.

Tourists use the downtown loop, he said. Although light rail and bus routes pass through Downtown, some of those stops are a half mile from some Downtown attractions.

This year the Public Transit Department will endure several rounds of budget cuts. Transit service cuts, including the DASH reduction, were part of the city’s effort to close a $240 million general-fund budget deficit. The department is exploring additional cuts because money that it receives from state lottery funds has been cut.

It’s unclear why the downtown loop didn’t attract many riders, Roeder said. “The Downtown loop was intended to lure the lunch crowd.”

Few riders

Several factors may have made the Downtown loop less popular, she added. The route may have been too long for some riders or many prospective riders may prefer to walk to those destinations, she said. Also, the city reduced the route’s evening hours, which may have affected the route’s appeal.

Riders can use light rail and other bus routes to get around the neighborhood, Phoenix officials say.

The partnership operates the Downtown Evening Express, or DEE, which runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The free trolley stops at several downtown hotels, Arizona State University’s Downtown campus, the convention center and many bars and restaurants.

The year-old express averages 800 to 1,000 riders a month, Roderique said. More people are riding it each month, he added.

“We are seeing it build up over time,” Roderique said.