At their July 5 meeting, the Flagstaff City Council voted to ask City voters to decide the future of the City’s award-winning transit system – Mountain Line.
By a unanimous vote, the Council called for a question to be placed on the November 8, 2016 ballot asking whether the existing city transit sales tax should be continued at the same rate for another ten years. If approved, the transit sales tax rate will continue to be $0.00295, which is equal to 29.5 cents on a $100 purchase.
Before making its decision, The City Council learned that the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) Board, the Mountain Line Citizens’ Review Commission made up of local leaders from throughout Flagstaff, and the City’s Transit Advisory Committee, all support the continuation of the city transit sales tax for 10 years at the existing rate.
“Mountain Line is an award winning transit system that improves the quality of life for all Flagstaff residents, not just those that use it every day,” said Flagstaff Vice Mayor and NAIPTA Board Member Celia Barotz. “The Council recognizes how important public transit is to the entire community.”
A recent survey by GlobalLocal Visions, LLC of local voters shows that more than 85 percent of city voters have a positive opinion of the Mountain Line system, which is composed of the regularly scheduled bus service and the paratransit, Mountain Lift, van service.
In 2008, City voters approved five ballot questions to continue and expand Mountain Line service. All five questions were approved by over two-thirds of voters. Since 2008, Mountain Line service has expanded to new areas and increased frequency, specifically:
• Added service in Bow and Arrow, Sunnyside, Sawmill, and Woodlands Village;
• Increased crosstown frequency to be every 20 minutes and frequency in Woodlands Village and on NAU campus to be every 8 minutes;
• Created a high-frequency route that links downtown Flagstaff, NAU, and Woodlands Village; and
• Converted ninety-two percent of Mountain Line’s fleet to hybrid-electric buses.
- Over the period, ridership grew from 800,000 to nearly 2 million annual riders.
"Mountain Line is a reliable transit system by getting residents to work and students to schools. It helps seniors and the disabled remain active and independent," added Flagstaff City Councilmember and NAIPTA Board Member Scott Overton. "Mountain line has proven to be a system that is receptive, consistent and efficient. This proven integrity is a cornerstone to a great system that has more than delivered on all of the items that the voters approved in 2008."
