Press Releases Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Mountain Line

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 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.

Route 10 To Detour Around McConnell Rd. Construction

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (April 8, 2020) – Starting April 13, 2020, Mountain Line’s Route 10 will detour to Milton Rd. due to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) closure of McConnell Dr. at the Interstate 17 on-ramp.

The transit detour is anticipated to last through August 17, 2020 and the following Route 10 stops will be closed:

Stops 7 and 14 at the Social & Behavioral Sciences building
Stops 6 and 15 at Gabaldon Hall

When leaving the Woodlands Village area, Route 10 buses will continue on Beulah Blvd. past McConnell Dr., turning right on Forest Meadows St. and left on Milton Rd. When exiting the NAU campus to return to Woodlands Village, buses will use University Dr. to Milton Rd. See attached map for full routing information. The following temporary stops will be available:

NAU or Downtown-bound Route 10 riders can access the existing Route 14, Stop 15 at Milton Rd. and Interstate 17 (Mobil).
Woodlands Village-bound Route 10 riders can access the existing Route 4, Stop 4 at Milton Rd. and Forest Meadows St.
Temporary east and westbound stops will be established on the NAU campus on University Dr. west of the Knoles Dr. intersection.

Riders who want to access NAU south campus via transit can exit Mountain Line at the University Dr. and Knoles Dr. temporary stop and board the NAU Axe Light route at the Wilson Hall or Gabaldon stops. Riders who typically use an impacted bus stop but would have difficulty accessing the temporary stops due to a disability, can request a reasonable modification by calling 928.679.8911 or emailing transportation@naipta.az.gov.

Mountain Line Revised Schedules and Policies for Pandemic Response

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (March 27, 2020) – Based on the City of Flagstaff’s Proclamation of the Mayor issued on March 16 and updated on March 26, Mountain Line is implementing reduced service levels and several revised policies and procedures, effective indefinitely.

Public transit remains a critical lifeline during crisis events, connecting workers to the jobs that support community needs, and residents to health care and medical needs. In order to balance the need to protect Mountain Line employees while providing a vital public service, the following changes will start on March 21:

Mountain Line bus and paratransit services will operate its weekend schedule seven days a week from March 21 – April 1.
All Mountain Line bus and paratransit services will be fare-free to reduce driver exposure by removing the contact point presented with the exchange and verification of fare.
Current Mountain Line passholders will be able to receive an extension on their pass for the period the system is fare-free. Details will be communicated as the fare-free period ends.
To promote social distancing for Mountain Line drivers, all riders will be asked to board and alight the bus at the rear doors. Anyone requiring the ramp can still board through the front door.
The Mountain Line headquarters facility at 3773 N. Kaspar Dr. will be closed to the public and no guests will be allowed on property. Because the system will be fare-free, this eliminates the need for public pass sales, and alternate plans are being made for all other services provided to the public at the Front Desk. Customer service via phone will still be available on weekdays from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 928-779-6624.
Apart from items of value (cell phones, keys, jewelry, etc.), Lost and Found items will not be kept and will be disposed of daily. Items of value will be turned over to the Flagstaff Police Department daily. The handling, storage, and retrieval of Lost and Found items is another significant point of exposure for Mountain Line staff, and one that is necessary to eliminate during this time period. Riders are highly encouraged to keep track of their belongings and check their seat area before leaving the bus.
Mountain Line is here to serve people who need us to get to essential services and jobs. To promote social distancing, those who have other options or are taking a non-essential trip are asked to not use the bus right now. All riders must have a trip purpose and those who do not have a destination will not be allowed to board.

Additional school-related service reductions:

Due to NAU’s announcement regarding classes being conducted online through the spring semester, Route 10 will remain on a holiday/break schedule with buses running every 20 minutes until the fall semester begins in August 2020.
As long as K-12 schools are closed (through March 27, 2020 as of right now), the deviations on Routes 2 and 3 and the Route 5 supplemental bus will not operate.

Additional internal policy and procedure revisions are being implemented to support Mountain Line staff during this time. Surplus staff will be used to provide a higher level of cleaning and sanitation to all Mountain Line bus and paratransit vehicles throughout the day.

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 Receives Grant to Combat Human Trafficking

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (February 4, 2020) – Mountain Line was one of 24 organizations across the country to receive grant funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Human Trafficking Awareness and Public Safety Initiative.

The grant funding is for projects to help prevent human trafficking and other crimes on public transportation. Mountain Line received more than $87,000 to conduct a human trafficking awareness and public safety campaign, procure an app that allows bus drivers and riders to report suspicious behavior, and provide transit passes for human trafficking survivors involved in workforce training programs.

Mountain Line will partner with Northland Family Help Center (NFHC) to leverage existing efforts of the Flagstaff Initiative Against Trafficking (FIAT), which currently provides trainings, conducts data collection, and supports anti-trafficking efforts with law enforcement.

Flagstaff’s proximity to major interstates and easy travel to and from several large cities makes it a prime spot for human trafficking, and public transit has been identified nationwide as one of the industries most susceptible to transporting victims. This partnership between Mountain Line and FIAT will bring new resources to the community to educate the general public and transit operators on how to identify and report suspicious behavior.

“Human trafficking and the public transit industry continue to have significant crossover and Flagstaff is not immune to these issues,” said Flagstaff City Councilmember and NAIPTA Board Chair Jamie Whelan. “The incredible work that Northland Family Help Center has already done in this arena combined with Mountain Line’s expertise and new funding will be an incredible resource for our community.”

“Human Trafficking has been identified as a pervasive issue in the Flagstaff area, as 297 adults and 40 youth reporting being victims of this horrific crime type since September of 2017,” said NFHC Director of Human Trafficking Services Kate Wyatt. “Northland Family Help Center and Flagstaff Initiative Against Trafficking believe that working with Mountain Line is vital to ending human trafficking in our area.”

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 Interim CEO And General Manager

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (February 19, 2020) – The Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) Board of Directors named Heather Dalmolin the Interim CEO and General Manager of Mountain Line at a meeting today.

Current CEO and General Manager Erika Mazza announced that she was stepping down from the position earlier this month. Dalmolin currently serves 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.

As part of the interim management structure, Mountain Line Development Director Kate Morley will take on the Interim Deputy General Manager role. Morley has been with the agency for more than four years and oversees Planning, Development, and Mobility Management.

The NAIPTA Board will pursue the recruitment of a permanent candidate for the position while Dalmolin and Morley lead the organization during the transition.

“The NAIPTA Board is pleased to have such a qualified internal candidate to lead this agency on an interim basis and keep the strong work of the Mountain Line team moving forward,” said Flagstaff City Councilmember and NAIPTA Board Chair Jamie Whelan. “From keeping the internal operations running smoothly to maintaining positive relationships with external stakeholders, we are confident that Heather and Kate will make this a seamless transition.”

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.