Until now, two of Phoenix's express buses have only run in one direction at a time. I-17 RAPID and I-10 West RAPID run toward downtown on weekday mornings from 5 to 8 a.m. and away from downtown on weekday afternoons from 3 to 6 p.m. Starting Monday, October 26, 2026, both routes run in both directions from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. The same day, the city launches PHXLink, a $2 shared van that picks people up in three Phoenix zones and drops them at those buses, at light rail, or at other places inside the zone.
The van is the part with the new logo. The schedule change is what makes it useful. If you live in north Phoenix, west Phoenix, or the stretch of south Phoenix along the B Line, a downtown trip no longer has to follow commuter hours.
What changes on the two RAPID routes
City Council approved the October package on August 26, 2026. Here is how the two routes compare before and after:
- Through October 23: inbound to downtown 5 to 8 a.m., outbound 3 to 6 p.m., weekdays only. No reverse trips and no midday trips.
- From October 26: both directions, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. That adds trips against the usual commute direction at rush hour plus trips in the middle of the day. The frequent rush-hour service stays.
I-17 RAPID stops at Thelda Williams Transit Center, the Bell Road/I-17 Park-and-Ride and the Happy Valley Park-and-Ride. I-10 West RAPID stops at the 79th Avenue/I-10 Park-and-Ride and Desert Sky Transit Center. The city also says riders who qualify for reduced fares will get reduced-fare options during off-peak RAPID hours. The materials I reviewed don't give the exact fare.
The council report also mentions schedule adjustments to SR-51 RAPID, I-10 East RAPID, South Mountain East RAPID and South Mountain West RAPID. Those changes are about on-time performance. They don't add a second direction.
Each zone is drawn around one connection
The council report shows the zones weren't placed at random. The North zone launches together with the all-day I-17 service. The West zone launches with the all-day I-10 West service. The South zone ties into the B Line.
| Zone | General boundaries | Main connection | Bus and rail lines it links to |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Union Hills Dr. to Happy Valley Rd., 51st Ave. to 16th St. | Happy Valley and Bell/I-17 park-and-rides for I-17 RAPID | Routes 7, 19, 27, 35, 43, 186 and I-17 RAPID |
| West | McDowell Rd. to Camelback Rd., 107th Ave. to 75th Ave. | Desert Sky Transit Center and 79th Ave./I-10 Park-and-Ride for I-10 West RAPID | Routes 3, 17, 29, 41, 50, 75, 83, I-10 RAPID, Rural 685 and MARY |
| South | Broadway Rd. to Dobbins Rd., 59th Ave. to Central Ave. | Central and Baseline Park-and-Ride on the Valley Metro B Line | Routes 0, 8, 16, 19, 35, 51, 52, 61, 77 and the B Line |
Each zone covers about 12 to 16 square miles and is planned to run four vans. That works out to roughly one van for every three to four square miles. A van serving that much ground can't wait long at any one stop, which is why the booking rules below are strict.
One boundary has changed since spring. The May version of the proposal ended the South zone at Elliott Road. The plan the council adopted ends it at Dobbins Road. If you live between Dobbins and Elliott and saw an early map, check again.
How a $2 ride works
PHXLink runs Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., so it runs longer and on more days than the weekday RAPID schedule. A trip goes like this:
- Book in the PHXLink app or by calling 623-281-3479. Enter your destination and how many people are riding.
- You'll get a pickup window and directions to a nearby "virtual stop." That might be a street corner or a spot like a community mailbox. It usually won't be marked like a bus stop, and it isn't necessarily your front door.
- Be at the stop before your window opens. Drivers wait two minutes. After that the van leaves and the trip is marked as a no-show.
The standard fare is $2. Youth ages 6 to 18, seniors 65 and older, riders with disabilities and Medicare cardholders pay $1. Children under six ride free. You can pay by credit or debit card or with Apple Pay or Google Pay in the app. If you want to pay cash, ask for it when you book and bring exact change.
One cost catches people at the transfer. Moving from PHXLink to a bus or train means paying again through the Valley Metro app or a Copper Card, and the city's page doesn't promise a free transfer. A van-plus-RAPID trip downtown is two fares, not one.
Wheelchair-accessible vans are available once the rider verifies the need, and those rides get pickup at the door. Riders who need other door-to-door help can call to ask. Phoenix Dial-a-Ride, the separate ADA-certified service at $4 one-way, isn't described as being replaced.
What a weekday trip can look like now
Here's an example. You live inside the North zone and have a midday appointment downtown on a Tuesday. Before October 26 there was no I-17 RAPID trip for that. Inbound service ended at 8 a.m. and nothing came back north until 3 p.m.
From October 26, you can book a PHXLink van to the Happy Valley or Bell/I-17 park-and-ride and take I-17 RAPID downtown at midday. You can come back on any trip before the 7 p.m. cutoff, then take a van home, since vans run until 8 p.m. The same pattern works in the West zone through Desert Sky Transit Center or the 79th Avenue/I-10 Park-and-Ride. In the South zone, the van connects to the B Line at Central and Baseline, and that connection doesn't depend on RAPID hours at all.
Two limits still apply. RAPID stays weekday-only, so on a Saturday the van can get you to the B Line or to the local bus routes in the table, but not to an express bus downtown. And the van doesn't go outside its zone. It's a way to reach transit and nearby destinations, not a ride across town.
Why it's labeled a pilot
The van and the RAPID expansion are both part of Project EASE, a three-year pilot. After three years the city will decide whether to continue, expand or change the services. The pilot is budgeted at $16,180,500 in total. Of that, $12,944,400 comes from a Federal Highway Administration Congestion Relief Grant and $3,236,100 is a local match from T2050 funds. The city estimates the October service changes will cost about $5,239,000 in the first year. KJZZ covered the launch in its September 14, 2026 report.
Via Transportation runs the service from end to end. Via supplies the vans, the drivers, the booking app and the software the city will use to measure performance. The council report says the evaluation will look at demand and operating results for both the vans and the longer RAPID hours.
For local price comparison, Glendale OnBoard charges $5 for general-public microtransit rides and $2 for reduced fare. Valley Metro's directory also lists on-demand services in Avondale, Chandler and Goodyear.
Before the 26th
As of today, October 4, the PHXLink page says the app is still coming soon. The same page has an interactive map. The written boundaries above are general, so the map is the way to confirm your own address. The city is holding three pop-ups where you can set up an account, practice booking and see a van:
- Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6 to 8 a.m.: I-17 and Bell Park-and-Ride, 16808 N. Black Canyon Hwy.
- Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6 to 8 a.m.: Desert Sky Transit Center, 7887 W. Thomas Rd.
- Thursday, Oct. 22, 3 to 5 p.m.: Central and Baseline Park-and-Ride, 7436 S. Central Ave.
Each pop-up is at a hub its zone connects to, so going to one also shows you where your van trips will start and end.
If you live in one of these zones and want to know how a $2 van and all-day express service fit into your home's value or your next move, I'm happy to walk through it with you. Kelleigh Evans answers quickly and explains each step clearly. Schedule a Consultation, and we'll start with your address and the zone map.
