3.2.2.c Existing and Projected Levels of Transit Discussion

Valley Metro under the Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA) provides all of Surprise’s transit service. Surprise is currently served by two Valley Metro express bus routes and one regional connector. Surprise also provides paratransit services to the general public. Most of the ridership is derived from individuals who do not have the functional ability to ride public transit buses.  Express bus routes are meant to be suburb-to-suburb routes. Routes 571 and 572 serve commuters that travel between Surprise and Phoenix and Surprise and Scottsdale respectively. The regional connector bus service travels from Wickenburg to Arrowhead Transit center with a stop at the Surprise municipal complex. A park and ride facility at Bullard Avenue and Tierra Buena Lane serves the needs of the transit users. The popularity of these routes shows that there are important transportation needs in Surprise and the surrounding areas. Due to the success of these facilities, plans are progressing to have a circulator route within the city as well as regional high capacity transit such as commuter rail.