PowerPoint Presentation (Updated 3/22/2024)

Transit Discussion on VM’s 
RideChoice Program
March 26, 2024

•
Per trip comparison of current paratransit and RideChoice option.
•
Glendale participating in the RideChoice Program as part of a one-year pilot project.
•
Allowing both seniors and persons with disabilities to use the program.
•
Only trips taken outside of Glendale will be eligible for the pilot project.
•
Estimated funding required and possible funding sources for the pilot project.
CIOSI Scope of Work

1. City Provided Services
• ADA Paratransit Service within Glendale City Limits.
• On-Demand same-day service within Glendale City Limits.
2. Regional Services
• ADA Paratransit Service.
• RideChoice Program.
Existing Service

•
Operated by Valley Metro.
•
Customer pays $4 per trip regardless of trip length or space type 
(ambulatory/wheelchair).
•
Shared Ride service on a paratransit bus.
•
Requires advance reservation.
•
FY25 estimated cost to Glendale is $1.7M with an estimated 24K trips 
provided.
Regional ADA Paratransit Service

•
ADA paratransit certified and seniors aged 65 and above of participating communities.
•
Request ride when needed, no requirement to book ahead.
•
Customers can choose between the following options:
–
20 or 50 trips per month. Customers enrolled in this plan pay $3 per trip up to 8 miles; each 
additional mile cost $2.
–
400 miles per month which are capped at 50 miles per trip. 
Customers enrolled in mileage 
plan pay $3 per trip regardless of length.
•
Don’t have to share ride – direct trip from origin to destination.
•
City can determine eligibility rules
–
4 Cities (Chandler, Fountain Hills, Surprise, Tempe) allow both ADA eligible residents and 
Seniors to use program.
–
7 Jurisdictions (Avondale, Gilbert, Goodyear, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tolleson, County) require 
resident to be ADA certified – Seniors not eligible.
•
FY24 cost is $36-$57/trip, (depending on avg trip length/ambulatory/wheelchair).
4
RideChoice Program

Paratransit
13 miles (average)
RideChoice 
13 (assumed)
FY23 ADA Trip Length
Resident cost
$4
$13
City Cost Per Trip
$64 to $74
$26.46
$83.01
(ambulatory)
(w/c)
Average Trip Length/Resident Cost per Trip – 
ADA vs RideChoice

RideChoice Cost Breakdown (ambulatory)
Ambulatory
Trip Length (miles)
8
9
10
11
12
13
Cost to City
$23.31
$23.94
$24.57
$25.20
$25.83
$26.46
Customer Cost
$3.00
$5.00
$7.00
$9.00
$11.00
$13.00

RideChoice Cost Breakdown (wheelchair)
Wheelchair
Trip Length (miles)
8
9
10
11
12
13
Cost to City
$58.11
$63.09
$68.07
$73.05
$78.03
$83.01
Customer Cost
$3.00
$5.00
$7.00
$9.00
$11.00
$13.00

FY24 RideChoice Budget
Avondale
Chandler
Fntn Hills
Gilbert
Goodyear
County
Mesa
Scottsdale
Surprise
Tempe
Tolleson
FY24 Total
Trip Estimates
5,368
26,000
773
20,000
7,480
33,230
62,000
13,277
23,213
29,966
1,090
222,397
Total Gross Program Cost $ 
Gross cost per trip $
209,060
$38.94
939,527
$36.13
38,345
$49.60
764,113
$38.20
427,898
$57.20
1,713,859
$51.57
2,394,791
$38.62
553,859
$41.71
1,101,820
$47.46
969,570
$32.35
32,815
$30.10
9,145,657
Federal Funding/Fare 
Revenue/PTF Applied
(84,627)
(473,954)
(19,351)
(122,037)
(23,113)
(248,095) (1,867,129)
(347,911)
(141,728)
(166,424)
(7,549) (3,501,918)
Program Cost to Member 
City/Jurisdiction
124,433
465,573
18,994
642,076
404,785
1,465,764
527,662
205,948
960,092
803,146
25,266
5,643,739

Total ADA Paratransit Trips (FY25) is estimated at 22,470 = $1.7M
•
7,362 trips estimated to be 8 miles or less.
•
15,108 estimated to be over 8 miles.
Total ADA trips over 8 miles; 15,108 = $1.1M.
ADA Trips Shifted to RideChoice; 7,362 = $238,216.
Total - $1.3M
Additional Senior trips on RC; 9,030 = 
$421,430.
Total - $1.7M
Projected Cost For Regional ADA and RideChoice

Trip estimates
Estimated Net Cost
10,000 (192 per week/142 amb/50 w/c)
$465,504
12,116 (233 per week/172 amb/61 w/c)
$565,561
16,000 (308 per week/228 amb/80 w/c)
$745,430
22,354 (430 per week/318 amb/112 w/c)
$1,042,125
Glendale Projected Cost for RideChoice (ADA/Seniors) 
– 
Intercity Trips Only

Summary/Staff Recommendation
11
Summary
• Cost of a 1-year RideChoice Pilot Program, for Seniors and ADA eligible residents is 
estimated between $465K and $745K.
• Program cost within the region increased by 24% from FY24 to FY25 with ridership 
projected to increase by over 22% from FY24 to FY25.
• Both Transportation Sales Tax Program and Public Transportation Funding (PTF) are 
fully constrained.
Staff Recommendation
• Given Department’s current fiscal constraints, staff recommends not to launch the 
RideChoice pilot program at this time.

RideChoice Program
12
Questions?