Much like the brave little railroad engine that accepted the roundhouse challenge of pulling a heavy load of freight cars up a steep grade and down to safety on the other side when larger locomotives declined the challenge, Yavapai Regional Transit (YRT) has overcome hurdles, moving ever faster and puffing, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.”
This “regional transit system that could” outgrew Chino Valley Transit (CVT) to additionally operate inter-community general ridership between Chino Valley and Prescott. Last October, CVT officially expanded its focus, became a non-profit and changed its name. The existing fleet of two nine-passenger cutaway buses and a newly acquired 15-passenger vehicle were rebranded to YRT in June.
YRT offers two routes: the Chino Valley local on Monday and Wednesday and the regional Chino Valley-Prescott on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Regional stops include the Chino Valley Senior Center, Safeway and the American Legion in Chino Valley, Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Yavapai College, Hwy 69 Wal-Mart and Prescott Gateway Mall. Nine drivers participate as volunteers, paid commercial drivers or both. The one-way general fare is $2, with a $1 discount for seniors (60 and over), young people (ages eight to 17) and disabled individuals. For current stops and schedules, visit www.yavapairegionaltransit.com.
The privately held Prescott Transit Authority operates its own Citibus on a one-way loop in the City of Prescott daily at a price of $2 each way to the general public. For current stops and schedules, visit www.prescottransit.com. Prescott Valley relies completely on taxis and other independent services to move its citizens. YRT has made known its goal to add a Prescott-Prescott Valley route.
The grant process for the original CVT started in 2009, buses were running in 2010 and the program has been operational ever since, according to YRT Board Chairman Ron Romley, who was Chino Valley’s vice mayor when he helped spearhead that first initiative.
YRT has the full support of the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization (CYMPO), established in 2003 when Prescott and Prescott Valley were federally designated as an urban area, and managed by Administrator Christopher Bridges. CYMPO encompasses 400 square miles, including the Quad Cities and surrounding unincorporated Yavapai County.
The area’s overall transportation picture, described in CYMPO’s updated 2014 Coordinated Public Transit/Human Service Transportation Plan, identifies for-profit services to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, reserve-a-ride companies for seniors, the disabled and non-emergency medical transport, town cars/sedans/limousines for hire and demand response taxi services. Many of the seven taxi services also provide non-emergency medical transport to Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) recipients using public funding. The average price to the general public for a taxi ride is reported as $3 for a pickup fee and $2 per mile.
The Quad Cities uphill grade looms steeper and the little engine works harder when politics, community involvement, matching money requirements, fund restrictions and the distances between Quad Cities’ communities are tossed into the mix. Funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) spills into separate funds for urban (Section 5307) and rural (Section 5311) areas. Funds for routes such as Chino Valley-Prescott are rural, while the Prescott-Prescott Valley route would fall under the urban program. Federal money to urban areas is paid directly through CYMPO, while the rural funds are administered through the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). Using 2010 census figures, the population for funding purposes is 123,000.
Federal funding provided to CYMPO is subject to a 20 percent local match for capital expenses and 50 percent for operating expenses, along with multiple federal regulations and reporting requirements. This federal money, which has accumulated at a rate of $700,000 to $1 million a year for general public transportation, remains an untapped resource. Currently, about $8 million remains available to CYMPO, depending on availability through the state pool dispersing the funds. Meanwhile, local movers and shakers continue to seek the requisite matching funds.
A $400,000 FTA rural grant currently goes toward cost of the YRT’s existing routes, which additionally are supported with about $150,000 in local sponsorships, fundraising and in-vehicle advertising. The buses’ window advertisers mostly are Chino Valley businesses, but Prescott firms also are represented.
The fledgling regional system currently serves 200 riders a month and “it’s going up a bit every month,” Romley said. “People who needed the service [previously] could not afford it, so they did without. We have been improving that ever since.”
Most riders go to shopping or medical destinations, and a few ride to part-time jobs at destinations such as the Frontier Village Shopping Center. To include commuters, the buses would need to run 12 hours daily. Ridership is difficult to track.
“A lot of people spend a lot of money,” Romley said. “We are bringing 3,000 people a year into these locations. They are all spending money. It has not really gotten to that point (where merchants) are cognizant of that fact… We are getting really good feedback. The whole thing of it is that we are in a growing phase right now.”
Bridges, Romley and other supporters worked diligently three years ago on a contract for a private company to provide the required matching funds, assume full liability and operate the system. The team approached businesses, organizations and donors for funds and advertising sponsorships “to kick this whole thing into gear,” Bridges said. Ultimately, the contract “did not pan out,” but the effort continues.
Hear the train coming? That is the sound of Bridge’s little locomotive puffing up the ever-steeper incline with a novel and creative sharing opportunity with the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transit Authority (NAIPTA). The authority, located in Flagstaff, consists of Northern Arizona University, the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County. NAIPTA has 20 years of public transit expertise, local funding and a need for more federal funds. CYMPO proposes joining NAIPTA, re-allocating Central Yavapai federal funds to the combined organization, receiving NAIPTA funds to run Quad Cities programs, and gaining knowledge transfer in reporting, grant writing and management services to “start getting our oars in the water to where we can be self-sustaining.”
So far, CYMPO staff has met with NAIPTA counterparts several times to finish an evaluation and scope of work proposal by September. The “swap” appears to fall within the parameters of federal guidelines for MPO transportation services and the two boards are receptive to continued discussion about the respective benefits, Bridges said, adding that ADOT and FTA “buy-in” also are required to proceed.
“One thing we have to do is think outside the box,” Romley said. “We are always doing that. We will not really be happy until eight to 10 buses are on the road. Wait times are now longer than what people are accustomed to. We are trying to get down to 20 minutes [from the current 1.5 hours]. To our knowledge and everyone we talk to, we are the only non-profit public transportation group in the nation. Everyone else is sponsored by some type of government entity. A lot of people are watching us very [closely].”
Expansion from Prescott into Prescott Valley would require a regional hub, which Bridges said could be at Prescott Gateway Mall, Frontier Village, the Walmart on Gail Gardner or another Prescott location. The goal, he says, is accommodating ridership to desired employers, shopping areas, medical facilities and entertainment districts.
“We are going around talking with different people,” Romley said. “If it works out, this thing with Flagstaff will help us tremendously. We do not want to lose control of the transit system here, but NAIPTA has been around for 20 years. We need some real major transit expertise – are we doing it right or do we need to change a couple of things?”
Today, the chug, chug, chug of the little locomotive in the 1930s tale still inspires children – and the likes of CYMPO and YRT – to bravely and persistently follow their dreams to ultimate triumph on the downward grade, chanting: “I thought I could. I thought I could. I thought I could.” Bridges, Romley and other public transportation supporters are convinced that they indeed can – and will. QCBN
By Sue Marceau
Quad Cities Business News
