Keolis awarded three-year bus contract for Phoenix’s East Valley

Keolis North America (Keolis) has announced that the Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority (Valley Metro RPTA) Board of Directors has unanimously awarded a three-year contract to Keolis to operate and maintain its bus network in metro Phoenix’s East Valley. The contract includes four-year and three-year options that could bring the total contract term to 10 years. Keolis will assume operations when the base contract begins on 1 January 2024.

The Valley Metro RPTA East Valley service area includes the cities of Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Fountain Hills, Mesa and Scottsdale. There, Keolis’ dedicated transit personnel will be responsible for delivering operations and maintenance management for more than 30 fixed-route, express and circulator bus routes.

“As we begin this new chapter with Keolis, we are excited about this partnership and the positive direction in providing bus service to our riders and East Valley communities,” said Jessica Mefford-Miller, Valley Metro’s CEO. “Keolis has a proven track record in providing successful transit services across the U.S. and around the world. We look forward to bringing their expertise to the Valley to support our mission of connecting communities and enhancing lives.”

“We are so pleased to be Valley Metro’s future operating partner for the East Valley contract. Valley Metro is a well-led and respected organisation with which we’ve been eager to partner as we continue to grow Keolis’ presence in the North American transit market,” said CEO of Keolis North America, David Scorey. “This contract furthers the combined bus services model and serves to continuously improve the safety and reliability of the East Valley transit operations while ensuring value to taxpayers. On behalf of the Keolis team, we look forward to partnering with Valley Metro to continuously enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors with efficient, effective and sustainable transit.”

“Our mobilisation plan ensures seamless continuity of service for our passengers while also addressing Valley Metro’s needs,” said COO of Keolis North America, Steve Shaw. “Improving safety performance, employee retention and equipment availability are key to a consistently reliable system where ridership and passenger satisfaction both grow. We look forward to working with Valley Metro to do just that.”

As part of its proposal, Keolis will introduce a key management team with deep experience in leading, improving and managing large-scale transit operations. Other areas of focus for Keolis include resolving driver and technician shortages, reducing accidents, improving the availability of equipment to enhance service reliability, improving passenger satisfaction and continually enhancing training programmes for front-line employees.

Operating more than 1,000 electric vehicles (EVs) globally, Keolis is also well-positioned to support Valley Metro on the implementation of low or no-emission equipment. Keolis, through its international Center of Excellence for energy transition, assists industry partners on the deployment of alternative energy fleets by compiling performance data from around the world, identifying best practices and sharing lessons learned to support partners’ decision-making as they transition to greener fleets.