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Phoenix's $2 On-Demand Ride Pilot Aims to Close Transit Gaps in Underserved Neighborhoods
Phoenix has launched PHXLink, a three-year microtransit pilot offering $2 shared rides in three zones across north, west and south Phoenix, funded largely by a $12.9 million federal congestion relief grant. City officials say the service is meant to connect residents in underserved areas to buses and light rail while generating data on where the transit network falls short.
Phoenix riders in three parts of the city now have a new, low-cost way to reach the bus stop or train station. The city launched PHXLink last month, an on-demand shared-ride service that charges a flat $2 fare and operates within designated zones in north, west and south Phoenix.
The zones were chosen to serve neighborhoods with limited access to public transportation, connecting riders to transit centers, commuter bus routes and light rail stations. Rides can be booked through the PHXLink mobile app or by phone at 623-281-3479, with pickups and drop-offs limited to designated locations inside each zone.
City officials framed the pilot as both a service and a research tool. Ridership data collected over the three-year program will inform how Phoenix plans future expansions of its transit network.
"PHXLink gives Phoenix an opportunity to explore new ways of connecting residents to public transit," Jesús Sapien, the city's public transit director, said in a statement. "By pairing flexible, on-demand service with our existing transit network, we can better understand where additional connections may be needed and how different public transit options can work together to serve our community."
The service also links riders to the I-17 RAPID and I-10 West RAPID commuter routes. The city noted that expanded weekday bidirectional RAPID service will give commuters more travel options.
PHXLink is part of a broader effort called Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion. It is supported by a $12.9 million Congestion Relief Grant from the Federal Highway Administration and partially funded through the city's Transportation 2050 program.
For residents in parts of the city where frequent bus service can be sparse, the program offers a cheaper alternative to ride-hailing apps for short trips to a transit hub. The flat $2 fare is a fraction of typical app-based ride costs, though the shared-ride format means passengers may travel with others headed in the same direction.
The pilot's outcome will depend on how many residents use it and whether the data it produces leads to permanent service. City officials have not announced specific expansion plans, saying those decisions will follow the pilot's results.