West Phoenix transit riders will get expanded weekday I-10 West RAPID service and a new on-demand van option beginning Monday, October 26, according to service-change notices from the City of Phoenix and Valley Metro.
The changes will extend inbound and outbound I-10 West RAPID trips throughout the weekday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Phoenix says the schedule is intended to provide options beyond the route’s traditional commute periods. The corridor links the Desert Sky Transit Center in west Phoenix with downtown Phoenix.
The October 26 rollout also introduces PHXLink, a shared-ride microtransit pilot with a west Phoenix service zone. The program is designed to connect neighborhoods with transit centers, commuter routes, light rail and local destinations that are difficult to reach on fixed-route buses.
How PHXLink works
PHXLink will operate daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Riders can request a van through the PHXLink mobile app or by calling 623-281-3479. The city advises riders to request a trip about 20 to 30 minutes before they are ready to leave.
Pickup and drop-off locations are “virtual stops,” which may be at a nearby corner, community mailbox or other designated point rather than a marked bus stop. Drivers will wait up to two minutes at the assigned stop before continuing the shared route.
The regular PHXLink fare is $2 per rider. Youth ages 6 through 18, adults 65 and older, people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders pay $1 when enrolled in Valley Metro’s Reduced Fare Program. Children younger than 6 ride free.
Cash, credit and debit cards, and mobile-wallet payments are accepted. Riders paying cash must arrange that when booking and bring exact fare. A PHXLink fare does not include a transfer to a bus or light-rail train, so riders connecting to those services must pay separately through the Valley Metro app, a Copper Card or cash where accepted.
The city says wheelchair-accessible vehicles will be available. Riders who require a wheelchair-accessible vehicle can note that need in the app or call the support number. PHXLink vehicles can carry up to five riders, although larger groups may face longer waits.
Other October 26 changes
Eligible riders will gain reduced-fare access on RAPID and Express routes on October 26. Phoenix says accounts using a reduced-fare Copper Card or the Valley Metro app will update automatically.
Valley Metro also lists schedule adjustments for dozens of routes, including Routes 17, 35, 43, 75, 83 and other services used in west Phoenix and the broader West Valley. Riders should check the October service-change page or Valley Metro app before traveling because the exact change varies by route.
Phoenix will hold a PHXLink information event from 6 to 8 a.m. Wednesday, October 21, at the Desert Sky Transit Center, 7887 W. Thomas Road. A second west- and northwest-Phoenix event is scheduled from 6 to 8 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, at the I-17 and Bell Road park-and-ride, 16808 N. Black Canyon Highway.
The city published its service-change notice October 16. The October 26 effective date is the operational milestone. The announcement does not extend PHXLink into Glendale, Avondale or other separate West Valley cities.
The transit changes arrive as Phoenix and Valley Metro continue planning a proposed light-rail extension to the Desert Sky Transit Center. West Valley Post previously detailed the 10-mile West Phoenix extension study, which remains in planning and is separate from the October bus and microtransit changes.
Image: AI-generated editorial illustration. It does not depict a specific bus, PHXLink vehicle or route location.
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