MOUNTAIN LINE ROLLS OUT SERVICE CHANGES AND NEW RIDE GUIDE ON JAN. 16
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (January 12, 2023) – Mountain Line is rolling out a new Ride Guide on Monday, January 16 and reinstating full service on all routes. Highlights include:
- Routes 2 and 4 will return to full weekday service hours.
- BASIS Flagstaff families and riders who use the Route 2 deviations should note that the times the stops on Gemini are served will revert to the regular weekday schedule on Monday, January 16. The schedule differences are as follows:
https://mountainline.az.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Route-2.jpg
- Route 10 will operate on a new schedule with Monday-Thursday service differing from Friday service. Weekend service will remain the same. A full schedule can be found at: https://mountainline.az.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mountain-Line-Route-10-Schedule.pdf
Ride Mountain Line FREE to the Coconino County Fair
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (September 1, 2021) – The 2021 Coconino County Fair is September 3-6 and Mountain Line is again partnering with Coconino County Parks & Recreation to offer free transportation to fairgoers.
This partnership allows fairgoers to save the $5 parking fee and enjoy a convenient, comfortable, hassle-free way to travel to one of the biggest events of the year. Per federal mandate, face coverings are required on all Mountain Line vehicles.
West Side Shuttle Service
The west side pickup spot for the free fair bus is at the NAU parking lot (Lot P62) on Pine Knoll Dr. Additionally, there will be a pickup at the Mountain Line bus stop on Beulah Ave. near Walmart (accessible via Routes 4 and 10) on the way to the fair, and a drop-off at the Red Lobster/Olive Garden bus stop (accessible via Routes 10 and 14) on the way back. The West Side Shuttle schedule is as follows:
• Friday, September 3: Buses to the Fort Tuthill Coconino County Fairgrounds begin running from Lot P62 at 4 p.m. and the last bus departs the fairgrounds at 10:30 p.m. Runs every 40 minutes.
• Saturday, September 4 & Sunday, September 5: Buses to the fair begin running from Lot P62 at 10 a.m. and the last bus departs the fairgrounds at 10:30 p.m. Runs every 20 minutes.
• Monday, September 6: Buses to the fair begin running from Lot P62 at 10 a.m. and the last bus departs the fairgrounds at 4:30 p.m. Runs every 20 minutes.
For more information, please call Mountain Line at 928.779.6624 or visit mountainline.az.gov. For information about the Coconino County Fair, visit coconinocountyfair.com.
Mountain Line launches “See Say Now” app to enhance safety
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (December 9, 2020) – Mountain Line launched the new “See Say Now” app on Wednesday, December 9 to give riders and staff an easy-to-use resource for reporting security concerns and safety hazards onboard Mountain Line vehicles and at stops and connection centers.
Designed by ELERTS, the See Say Now app provides a direct connection to Mountain Line staff who can assist with safety concerns as they arise. The app allows customers to submit a photo and description of the issue and select from a list of report options and locations. Report types include Disruptive Behavior, COVID-19 issue, Human Trafficking, Vandalism, Unattended Bag or Package, and more.
Mountain Line purchased the See Say Now app through funding received from the Federal Transit Administration’s Human Trafficking Awareness and Public Safety Initiative. While the app will be a valuable resource in combatting human trafficking in the Flagstaff community, it will also be a vital tool in Mountain Line’s safety program.
“Everyone has the right to a safe and secure transit trip, and the See Say Now app puts the power in the hands of our riders,” said Mountain Line CEO and General Manager Heather Dalmolin. “Safety is Mountain Line’s number one priority, and it is a team effort, so if you see something, we encourage you to say something.”
Mountain Line is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating fixed route bus service on nine routes, paratransit service, vanpool, and seasonal Mountain Express service to Arizona Snowbowl.
ELERTS is a Massachusetts-based software company that provides a mobile reporting platform for airports, mass transit, cities and other organizations. The company was founded in 2010 on the belief that while “See Something, Say Something” is easy to understand, it is not so easy to report a concern. ELERTS delivers a communication platform that lets Operations Centers receive and respond to incident reports in a timely and efficient manner. By deploying mobile technology that enables crowd-sourced incident reporting, ELERTS is putting safety and security in the hands of smartphone users everywhere.
Mountain Line Requires Face Coverings on All Vehicles and At All Facilities
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (June 19, 2020) – On June 17 the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) Board of Directors voted to require all Mountain Line bus and paratransit riders to wear face coverings while on vehicles and at stops and connection centers.
Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans also issued an Emergency Declaration on June 18 making masks mandatory in public places. The Declaration stipulated that face coverings must be worn in public places where social distancing is not possible, which includes public transit.
Mountain Line’s face covering requirement will go into effect at the start of service on Sunday, June 21. Riders must wear a face covering that covers both the nose and the mouth, and it must remain in place while on a vehicle or at a stop. Mountain Line will have masks available for individuals who do not have one.
Per the Declaration, cloth face coverings are not required in a public place:
- When that person cannot wear a face covering because of a medical condition, mental health condition, or developmental disability, or is unable to remove the face covering without assistance.
- When a person’s religious beliefs prevent the person from wearing a face covering.
- When a child is under five years of age.
“The NAIPTA Board recognized that COVID-19 cases in Arizona are on the rise and if public transit must continue to operate for essential trips, it is our duty to protect the Mountain Line employees and riders,” said NAIPTA Board Chair and Flagstaff City Councilmember Jamie Whelan.
Many transit systems across the country have made the decision to require face coverings based on the recommendations of health experts.
In addition to requiring face coverings, Mountain Line is also operating fare-free and only allowing riders to board through the rear door. Additionally, all buses are fully sanitized each day, and high-touch surfaces are disinfected throughout the day.
Mountain Line continues to operate reduced service levels and is available for essential trips only. Visit www.mountainline.az.gov/health for full details on the agency’s COVID-19 response.
Mountain Line is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating fixed route bus service on nine routes, paratransit service, vanpool, and seasonal Mountain Express service to Arizona Snowbowl.
Mountain Line to Resume Fare Collection and Front Door Boarding on Oct 21
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (October 19, 2020) – Mountain Line will resume fare collection and front door boarding on all fixed route and paratransit vehicles on October 21, 2020.
Due to COVID-19, Mountain Line halted fare collection on March 21 and asked riders to board through the rear door. With the implementation of new safety measures, these activities will resume as normal on Oct. 21. Plastic barriers have been installed on all buses to keep drivers and riders separated, and all Mountain Line employees and riders are required to wear face coverings while on vehicles and at stops and connection centers.
The Mountain Line Headquarters building (3773 N. Kaspar Dr.) reopened on Oct. 14 and is available by appointment only. Customers can call 928-779-6624 to schedule an appointment.
Details about Mountain Line’s commitment to health and safety can be found at www.mountainline.az.gov/health. In addition to requiring face coverings, the following safety measures will also continue:
- All Mountain Line buses are fully sanitized each day and high-touch surfaces are disinfected throughout the day.
- Buses will be marked with suggested seating arrangements to maintain six feet of social distance and will be stocked with hand sanitizer.
Mountain Line is running on a regular schedule with the following exceptions:
- The Route 2 deviation to BASIS, Route 3 deviation to NPA and Route 5 supplemental bus to FALA will not operate until students return to in-person instruction.
Mountain Line is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating fixed route bus service on nine routes, paratransit service, vanpool, and seasonal Mountain Express service to Arizona Snowbowl.
Mountain Line Announces Extension to Reduced Weekday Service Through Summer
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (July 1, 2022) – MOUNTAIN LINE EXTENDING REDUCED WEEKDAY SERVICE THROUGH SUMMER
Contact: Jacki Lenners
928.679.8933 or jlenners@mountainline.az.gov
Due to ongoing and unprecedented staffing shortages, Mountain Line is continuing the weekday service reduction through the summer.
All Mountain Line routes will operate on a weekend schedule for frequency, but with the weekday span of service. This means that routes will start and end at approximately the same time they currently do on weekdays, but buses will not run as often. Schedules for individual routes are posted at all bus stop and at https://mountainline.az.gov/routes/.
Full service (with the exception of Route 10) will be restored on August 10 to coincide with the start of the K-12 fall semester. Route 10 will resume regular service with the start of NAU’s fall semester.
Additionally, Mountain Line will operate on a Weekend/Holiday schedule on Monday, July 4 and the Admin Office will be closed for the Independence Day Holiday.
“Like many transit agencies around the nation, Mountain Line is facing extreme staffing shortages, making it impossible to continue safely running full service,” said Mountain Line CEO and General Manager Heather Dalmolin. “Cutting service is a last resort and we are committed to spending the summer recruiting and training new drivers to ensure we are ready for a return to full service in August.”
Mountain Line is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating fixed route bus service on nine routes, paratransit service, vanpool, and seasonal Mountain Express service to Arizona Snowbowl. www.mountainline.az.gov for more information.
Mountain Line Partners with Flagstaff Family Food Center on Deliveries
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (May 6, 2020) – Beginning this week, Mountain Line is partnering with the Flagstaff Family Food Center (FFFC) to deliver food to vulnerable and homebound residents.
Due to decreased demand for paratransit trips, Mountain Line has paratransit vehicles available to help fill FFFC’s increased demand for food delivery. In this new partnership, Mountain Line will provide the vehicle and driver on an as-needed basis, while FFFC will provide a volunteer to ride along and facilitate the deliveries.
“Mountain Line plays many roles in our community, but the most important thing we can do is be a good partner,” said Mountain Line CEO & General Manager Heather Dalmolin. “We are moving fewer people right now, but that doesn’t mean our vehicles have to sit idle and can’t be used for a more relevant purpose during this pandemic event.”
“The best way for people to stay safe right now is to stay home. We are committed to making sure that our community members have the food they need during this time,” said FFFC Executive Director Monica Foos. “Mountain Line is helping us meet the significant increase in home deliveries. This partnership is helping us better serve our community and keep our most vulnerable neighbors safe and healthy.”
Mountain Line continues to operate reduced service levels and is available for essential trips only. Visit www.mountainline.az.gov/health for full details on the agency’s COVID-19 response.
Mountain Line is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating fixed route bus service on nine routes, paratransit service, vanpool, and seasonal Mountain Express service to Arizona Snowbowl.
Mountain Line to Continue Service Reductions and Precautions
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (April 30, 2020) – Mountain Line will continue operating with the service reductions and precautions introduced on March 21 for the foreseeable future.
Gov. Doug Ducey issued an amended Executive Order (2020-33) on April 29, extending some of the restrictions from the original order through May 15, 2020. Due to this extension and the continued Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for social distancing, Mountain Line will continue with the following operational changes indefinitely:
- Weekend service levels seven days a week
- Fare-free service
- Rear door boarding (except for those requiring a ramp)
- Chain separating the driver from the rest of the bus by at least six feet
- Increased disinfecting of vehicles
- Monitoring ridership to ensure riders have enough space for social distancing and deploying larger buses or “shadow” buses behind the first bus to allow for more space when needed.
During this time of transition, Mountain Line continues to operate for essential trips only, and those who have another means of transportation or are not taking an essential trip are asked to not ride transit at this time. For those who are riding for essential trips, a face mask is recommended, as is appropriate social distancing on vehicles and at stops.
As parts of the economy start to reopen, Mountain Line staff will work with public health officials and constantly monitor ridership levels to determine when partial or full service levels need to be reinstated. All decisions about the timing and scope of increasing service levels and decreasing precautions will be made with the safety of Mountain Line employees and riders as the top priority.
For more information on Mountain Line’s COVID-19 response, visit www.mountainline.az.gov/health.
Mountain Line is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating fixed route bus service on nine routes, paratransit service, vanpool, and seasonal Mountain Express service to Arizona Snowbowl. www.mountainline.az.gov for more information.
Mountain Line Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (April 22, 2020) – On April 21, 2020, Mountain Line received confirmation of a positive test result of COVID-19 for an employee who last worked on April 18, 2020.
Based on guidance from Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS), individuals who rode a Mountain Line the bus between April 1-18 should watch for COVID-19 symptoms for a 14-day period from when they last rode. Symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider or call the Coconino County COVID-19 Information Line at 928.679.7300.
According to CCHHS, individuals who rode the bus are at low risk for potential exposure due to the precautions Mountain Line put into place starting March 21. These precautions include:
- Fare-free service
- Rear door boarding
- Chain separating the driver from the rest of the bus by at least six feet
- Increased disinfecting of vehicles, including between each round at the Downtown Connection Center
- Monitoring ridership to ensure riders have enough space for social distancing and deploying larger buses or “shadow” buses behind the first bus to allow for more space when needed.
Because Coconino County is experiencing community spread of COVID-19, the following actions are recommended to prevent the spread of illness:
- Stay home when you are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue
- Wear a cloth face covering when in public
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Mountain Line continues to coordinate response efforts and receive guidance from public health officials. Based on this guidance, Mountain Line added the following workplace procedures, effective April 22:
- All employees must wear a mask or cloth face covering while on Mountain Line property or operating a Mountain Line vehicle.
- All employees will have their temperature checked when reporting to work and will be asked a series of COVID-19-related health questions. Employees who have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher or who cannot successfully answer the questions will be asked to go home and will be contacted by Human Resources with additional information.
Mountain Line continues to operate for essential trips only, and those who have another means of transportation or are not taking an essential trip are asked to not ride transit at this time. For those who are riding for essential trips, a face mask is recommended, as is appropriate social distancing on vehicles and at stops. For more information on Mountain Line’s COVID-19 response, visit www.mountainline.az.gov/health.
Mountain Line is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating fixed route bus service on nine routes, paratransit service, vanpool, and seasonal Mountain Express service to Arizona Snowbowl.
NAIPTA Board Names Heather Dalmolin Permanent CEO
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (August 21, 2020) – The Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) Board of Directors named Heather Dalmolin the permanent CEO and General Manager of Mountain Line at a meeting on August 19.
Dalmolin has served in an interim capacity since March and previously served as Mountain Line’s Administrative Director, overseeing Budget, Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, and Customer Service. She has been with the agency for more than 18 years.
“Heather assumed the Interim CEO role during the most difficult time in Mountain Line’s history and has expertly guided the organization during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Flagstaff City Councilmember and NAIPTA Board Chair Jamie Whelan. “The NAIPTA Board felt her past experience and diverse skill set make her the ideal candidate to lead Mountain Line through the pandemic recovery and into the future.”
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the organization that I have been fortunate enough to call home for the last 18 years,” said Dalmolin. “I would like to thank the NAIPTA Board for their confidence in me and the Mountain Line team for always stepping up to live our mission of ‘Getting You Where You Want to Go.’”
Mountain Line is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating fixed route bus service on nine routes, paratransit service, vanpool, and seasonal Mountain Express service to Arizona Snowbowl.