Phoenix gets $12.9m to fight congestion as Project EASE gets into gear
Phoenix, Arizona: The US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration has awarded the Phoenix Public Transit Department a $12.9 million congestion relief grant.
The award will fund Project EASE (Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion) in Phoenix. In partnership with Via Transportation, this project will implement microtransit service (a flexible, on-demand transit option) and evaluate its effectiveness with the city’s commuter bus program, known as RAPID bus service.
What is Project EASE?
Project EASE is a three-pronged congestion mitigation initiative designed to provide greater options for passengers to utilize public transit.
This includes: Implementing three strategically placed microtransit zones in Phoenix over a three-year period; augmenting existing RAPID commuter bus service that will complement the new microtransit zones, and integrating new and existing microtransit services into the regional transit software application (Valley Metro app) for trip planning, real-time vehicle tracking, and fare payments.
“Today marks an exciting day for Phoenix with the award of a new $12.9 million grant to our Public Transit Department for Project EASE,” Mayor Kate Gallego said. “The project won’t just help relieve congestion, it will also enable us to advance innovative transportation solutions that will improve our commuter bus program as well as explore new strategies to keep our city moving efficiently.”
The total project cost is estimated at $16.2 million, with Phoenix providing a local match of $3.2 million.