Valley Metro Bus Schedule: Routes, Times & Stops

by
Metro Phoenix Bus Planning Guide

Plan a Valley Metro Bus Trip Without Guessing the Route, Time or Stop

Valley Metro operates a large regional transit network across metro Phoenix, with local buses, Express and RAPID commuter routes, neighborhood circulators, school trips and rural service. The useful schedule depends on your route number, direction, travel date and exact stop.

This guide explains how to find the right bus, read Valley Metro’s schedule tools, check live arrivals, understand fares, avoid common stop mistakes and prepare for service changes before you leave.

Find Official Bus Schedule Open Trip Planner Get Live Arrival Tools Check Rider Alerts
Bus network 100+ routes
Local 1-Ride $2 full fare
Local daily cap $4 Smart Fare
Real-time refresh About every 5 seconds
Customer service 602-253-5000
Verified
60-second schedule lookup

How to Find Your Valley Metro Bus Time

Do not begin by searching only for “Valley Metro bus schedule.” First identify the route that serves your origin and destination, then open that route’s current service day and direction.

Find the route Enter the route number or route name in Valley Metro’s Maps & Schedules directory.
Select travel day Choose the date or the correct weekday, Saturday or Sunday schedule.
Choose direction Match eastbound, westbound, northbound, southbound, inbound, outbound or another published direction.
Locate your stop Use the stop name or StopID rather than assuming every intersection uses the same boarding location.
Check live status Confirm whether the vehicle is scheduled, on time, early, delayed or cancelled.
Best practice: arrive at the stop about five minutes before the scheduled departure. Valley Metro also recommends staying visible and signaling the operator when possible.

Valley Metro Bus Schedule Guide

Bus Types Read the Schedule Live Arrival Status Route Examples Bus Fares Smart Fare Stops & StopIDs Airport Bus Connections Holiday Service Accessibility Maps & PDFs Service Changes October Proposal Alerts & Tracking Troubleshooting FAQs
Choose the right service family

Valley Metro Bus Routes Are Not All the Same

The official Maps & Schedules directory separates bus service into several categories. Knowing the category prevents fare, service-day and timetable mistakes.

Local Bus

Regular streets $2 local fare

Local routes form the everyday bus network across participating Valley communities. They normally serve frequent intersections, transit centers and major activity corridors.

Hours and frequencies are route-specific; there is no single systemwide first or last bus time.

Browse Local Routes

Express & RAPID Bus

Commuter service $3.25 ride

Express and RAPID routes are designed around longer-distance commuter travel and use a different fare structure from local buses.

Some commuter services operate primarily on weekdays or during commute periods, so check the actual route instead of assuming all-day service.

Find Express & RAPID

Neighborhood Circulators

Local circulation Free

Neighborhood circulators connect smaller districts, downtown areas, activity centers and larger transit routes.

Valley Metro states that neighborhood circulators are free. Their schedules and operating days still vary by route.

View Circulators

Local Bus School Trips

Special trip pattern School-oriented

Valley Metro separately lists school-trip variants such as 7s, 16s, 17s, 32s, 52s, 59s, 61s, 62s, 81s and Tempe Orbit Mars school trips.

A school-trip suffix matters. Do not assume a route marked “s” follows every trip or stop of its parent route.

Check School Trips

Rural Route 685 — Ajo/Gila Bend

Rural service Cash fare

Route 685 uses a separate rural fare structure. Valley Metro requires cash and charges according to whether the trip remains within the same city or travels between cities.

Do not apply local Smart Fare pricing to this rural route.

Find Route 685

Bus + Rail / Streetcar Connections

Multimodal Tap every boarding

Many bus trips connect with Valley Metro Rail or Tempe Streetcar. Smart Fare riders must still tap a Copper card or scan mobile fare every time they board or transfer.

The trip planner can filter bus, rail and streetcar travel modes.

Plan a Transfer
Original schedule-reading diagram

How a Valley Metro Schedule Becomes Your Actual Bus Trip

A route number by itself is not enough. The useful departure appears only after you match route, service day, direction and stop.

Valley Metro bus schedule decision path A diagram showing a rider moving from choosing a route to choosing a travel date, direction, StopID, live departure status and boarding. ROUTE name / # DATE service day DIRECTION destination STOP StopID LIVE departure Example: 66 Wednesday Northbound Exact corner On time? ROUTE → DAY → DIRECTION → STOP → REAL-TIME CHECK
What a blank timetable cell can mean: a particular trip may not serve that timepoint or branch. Do not automatically interpret a blank as a website error.
Real-time schedule language

Scheduled, On Time, Early, Delayed or Cancelled?

The Valley Metro app adjusts departures using real-time vehicle locations. Stop departures can display five different states, and Valley Metro says that information is updated approximately every five seconds.

S
Scheduled A published trip exists, but a current live vehicle prediction may not yet be available.
✓
On Time The live information currently places the vehicle close to its scheduled progress.
↑
Early Do not wait until the printed departure minute. Get to the stop early.
+
Delayed The live estimate is later than the scheduled time. Check alerts before assuming normal routing.
×
Cancelled The trip is shown as not running. Find the next departure or an alternate itinerary.
Live map tip: select a departure in the app to center the vehicle on the map and view its updated trip schedule.
Examples of how route pages differ

Valley Metro Route Pages: What to Look For

Individual pages can contain weekday, Saturday and Sunday tabs, direction selectors, stop timepoints, printable schedules and rider-alert notices.

Route 66 — Mill Ave/Kyrene Rd

A conventional northbound/southbound route page. Use it to see how Valley Metro separates the schedule by day and direction.

Open Route 66
Route 80 — Northern Ave/Shea Blvd

The official page also notes that this route travels through the Glendale OnBoard microtransit/paratransit zone, showing why route-page notices matter.

Open Route 80
Route 108 — Elliot Rd/48th St

This page provides weekday, Saturday and Sunday schedules with eastbound and westbound direction choices.

Open Route 108
I-10 East RAPID

A commuter route page uses inbound/outbound directions rather than compass directions and can include proposed-service notices.

Open I-10 East RAPID
Mesa Fiesta BUZZ

A free neighborhood circulator. Valley Metro describes Fiesta BUZZ as operating northbound and southbound with approximately 30-minute service.

Open Fiesta BUZZ
School-trip schedules

Routes carrying an “s” suffix should be checked separately because their school-oriented trips do not necessarily match the parent route.

Browse School Trips
Official fares verified August 12, 2026

Valley Metro Bus Fare: Local, RAPID, Circulator and Rural

The correct fare depends on the service type. A local bus ride and a RAPID commute do not use the same price, while neighborhood circulators are free.

Local Bus 1-Ride $2 $1 reduced fare Local bus fare for one ride. Cash bus payment requires exact change.
Local Daily Maximum $4 $2 reduced Smart Fare Smart Fare daily maximum runs from 3 a.m. through 2:59 a.m. the next day.
Express / RAPID $3.25 1-Ride The published RAPID/Express daily maximum is $6.50 and monthly maximum is $104.
Neighborhood Circulator FREE No local fare required Neighborhood circulators are listed as free service.

Local Smart Fare Maximums

1 Ride Local
$2
Daily Maximum
$4
Weekly Mon–Sun
$20
Monthly Calendar month
$64
Reduced local Smart Fare: the corresponding daily, weekly and monthly maximums are $2, $10 and $32 for eligible riders using approved reduced fare.

Check current Valley Metro fares

Copper Card or App vs Cash: The Important Difference

Payment Method How It Works Transfers / Caps Important Limitation
Copper card Load money, then tap the card on the purple reader every boarding. Eligible for Smart Fare daily, weekly and monthly maximums. You still need to tap every boarding even after reaching a fare maximum.
Valley Metro app Fund the wallet and scan the app QR code at the purple fare reader. Smart Fare automatically tracks qualifying payments. A network connection and usable phone screen are needed for mobile fare.
Cash on local bus Pay $2 for a local 1-Ride at the farebox. No Smart Fare benefit. Exact fare required; no receipt and no transfer from the bus farebox 1-Ride.
Rural Route 685 cash Cash fare varies according to whether travel stays in the same city or crosses between cities. Separate rural fare structure. Do not assume normal local Smart Fare applies.
Rural Route 685: Valley Metro publishes $2 full / $1 reduced for a one-way trip within the same city and $4 full / $2 reduced for a one-way trip between multiple cities.
Farebox details: Valley Metro states that bus fareboxes accept U.S. coins except 50-cent coins and $1, $2 and $5 bills in good condition. Operators and fareboxes do not provide change.
Avoid the wrong-corner problem

How to Find the Correct Valley Metro Bus Stop

Match the route number. Confirm the route on the posted stop information and the approaching bus.
Match the destination sign. Signs on the front and side of the bus display the route number and destination.
Confirm the StopID. Valley Metro defines a StopID as the unique number identifying a bus stop or rail station.
Check the correct side of the street. Opposite-direction stops at the same intersection can have different StopIDs.
Check the rider alert. Construction can temporarily close or relocate stops.
Stay visible. Valley Metro recommends arriving about five minutes early and signaling the operator when possible.
Request your exit. About a block before your destination, pull the stop cord so the operator knows you need to exit.
Wait for a complete stop. Exit after the bus has stopped; Valley Metro directs riders to use the center-right doors when exiting.
Hot-weather practical tip: shade is useful, but do not hide so far behind a shelter or shade structure that the operator cannot see you. Use live arrivals to reduce unnecessary waiting while remaining ready to board.
Phoenix Sky Harbor connections

Which Valley Metro Buses Connect With Phoenix Sky Harbor?

Valley Metro’s airport guidance identifies Routes 1, 13, 44 and 70 as bus connections serving Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport access.

Route 1 Washington Street corridor connection.
Route 13 Airport-area bus connection identified by Valley Metro.
Route 44 44th Street corridor access near the airport transportation connection.
Route 70 24th Street/Glendale Avenue route with airport-area connection guidance.
Rail option: riders can also use the Valley Metro Rail A Line to 44th St/Washington and transfer to the free PHX Sky Train for airport terminals.

Open official airport transit instructions

2026 holiday operating rules

Valley Metro Holiday Bus Schedule

Holiday service is not one universal pattern. Some holidays use Sunday bus service, others use weekday service, and Express/RAPID service can be suspended even while local buses continue.

Sunday bus service + no Express/RAPID HOLIDAY PATTERN A
  • New Year’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day observed July 3, 2026
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day
Weekday buses + no Express/RAPID HOLIDAY PATTERN B
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Presidents Day
  • Veterans Day
  • Day after Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Eve
Regular service JUNETEENTH

Valley Metro’s 2026 service-hours page lists regular bus and rail/streetcar service for Juneteenth on June 19.

Commuter rider warning: never assume a weekday holiday includes RAPID or Express service merely because local buses are running.

Reduced Fare, Accessibility, Service Animals and Bikes

Reduced fare eligibility Local reduced fares are available to youth ages 6–18, seniors age 65+, persons with disabilities and Medicare card holders. Proof of eligibility is required.
Reduced Smart Fare A reduced fare Copper card or approved reduced fare access in the Valley Metro app is required to receive reduced Smart Fare pricing.
Children age 5 and under Valley Metro allows children age five and under to ride free when accompanied by a fare-paying caretaker or guardian.
Personal care assistants Valley Metro states that a PCA can ride free with a passenger presenting qualifying Platinum Reduced Fare identification marked “PCA OK.”
Service animals Service animals are allowed for passengers who require them. General pet rules should not be confused with service-animal access.
Bike racks Valley Metro states that buses have bicycle racks. Rack space is first come, first served; when a rack is full, the rider may need to wait for another bus.
ADA / paratransit: riders who cannot independently use fixed-route service may need Valley Metro’s accessibility, eligibility, travel-training or paratransit resources rather than a normal bus timetable.

Reduced Fare Program  |  Accessibility & Paratransit

Official maps and rider documents

Valley Metro System Map, Service Guide and Printable Resources

Valley Metro’s official System Map page currently provides several downloadable resources. Use these documents for network orientation, then return to the individual route page for the current timetable and live notices.

MAP
January 2026 System Map

Best for understanding the regional bus network and how routes relate geographically.

GUIDE
Service Guide

Useful for systemwide service information and rider orientation.

15m
Frequent Service Map

Helps identify corridors Valley Metro classifies within its frequent-service network.

PHX
Downtown Phoenix Map

Useful when several bus routes, RAPID routes and rail connections converge downtown.

TMP
Downtown Tempe Map

Useful for Tempe Transit Center, local buses, Orbit services, rail and streetcar connections.

P+R
Park-and-Rides & Transit Centers

Helpful for commuter routes and trips where the rider begins by driving, biking or transferring.

EXP
East Valley Express Stops

Downtown Phoenix boarding guidance for East Valley commuter services.

EXP
West Valley Express Stops

Downtown Phoenix stop guidance for West Valley commuter services.

XFER
Rail & Streetcar Connections

Useful when a bus itinerary connects with Valley Metro Rail or Tempe Streetcar.

Open Valley Metro Official System Map & Download Hub
Why the official map is linked instead of copied: the system map is agency-controlled content and can be revised. This article uses its own schematic explanations while sending riders to Valley Metro for the authoritative map artwork and current downloads.
Implemented April 27, 2026

2026 Valley Metro Schedule Changes Riders Should Know About

Valley Metro and the City of Phoenix implemented a group of service and schedule adjustments on April 27, 2026.

The affected list included many heavily used bus corridors and school-trip variants, including Routes 7, 8, 15, 16, 28, 29, 30, 32, 41, 44, 50, 52, 56, 59, 60, 62, 66, 70, 75, 80, 83, 112, 138 and 140, along with Phoenix ALEX and SMART circulators.

Why this matters A bookmarked old departure time may no longer match the current route page after a service change.
What to update Recheck weekday/weekend timepoints, first/last trips, direction and any school-trip schedules.
What controls today Use the individual Valley Metro route page and current rider alerts for the final travel decision.

Review April 2026 service changes

Future watch — not active service

Proposed October 26, 2026 Valley Metro Changes

Valley Metro has published proposed changes that would take effect October 26, 2026 if adopted. These should not be used as today’s bus schedule.

North Phoenix Microtransit Proposed between Union Hills Drive and Happy Valley Road, from 51st Avenue to 16th Street.

Designed to connect with enhanced I-17 RAPID.

West Phoenix Microtransit Proposed between McDowell Road and Camelback Road, from 75th Avenue to 107th Avenue.

Designed to connect with enhanced I-10 West RAPID.

South Phoenix Microtransit Proposed between Dobbins Road and Broadway Road, from 59th Avenue to Central Avenue.

Designed to connect with Valley Metro Rail B Line.

I-10 West RAPID Proposed weekday two-direction operation from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., including reverse-commute and off-peak service.
I-17 RAPID Proposed weekday two-direction operation from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., with reverse-commute and off-peak trips.
Proposed microtransit details: Valley Metro’s proposal describes daily service from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., a target wait of 15–30 minutes and a proposed fare of $2 per rider per trip.
Do not plan an October trip from this proposal alone. Verify whether the changes were formally adopted and open the route page that is effective on your actual date of travel.

View official October 2026 proposed changes

Live travel toolkit

Four Ways to Check Valley Metro Before Leaving

Valley Metro App

Plan a trip, find a stop, see real-time departures, track vehicles, save favorites, receive alerts and manage mobile fare.

Valley Metro App
Online Trip Planner

Enter origin and destination, then choose leaving now, a future departure or an arrive-by time.

Trip Planner
Rider Alerts

Check detours, temporary stop closures and service disruptions before walking to your stop.

Rider Alerts
RideText

Valley Metro also provides SMS subscription tools for route and system alerts through its RideText service.

RideText Instructions
New in 2026: Valley Metro introduced a website chatbot in May 2026 for 24/7 trip-planning help using scheduled and real-time departure information. Valley Metro cautions that automated responses can occasionally be imperfect, so use the route page for critical trip details.

Which Valley Metro Tool Should You Use?

Daily work commute Save your regular stop in the app and enable route-specific alerts. Check the live departure before walking out.
Airport trip Plan the full itinerary before departure, including bus-to-PHX Sky Train or rail connections and enough transfer time.
Weekend outing Do not assume a weekday timetable. Switch the route page to Saturday or Sunday before choosing a departure.
Express commuter trip Verify that Express/RAPID operates that day and confirm the correct commuter fare.
School trip Check whether the trip has an “s” suffix and whether it operates only under a school-day schedule.
Rural Route 685 trip Confirm route-specific times and bring the correct cash fare for the distance category.

Before You Walk to a Valley Metro Bus Stop

  • Confirm the route number or route name.
  • Select the correct travel date.
  • Choose the correct direction.
  • Confirm your exact stop and StopID.
  • Check scheduled departure time.
  • Check the live departure status.
  • Read active rider alerts.
  • Prepare Copper card, mobile fare or exact cash.
  • Check whether Express/RAPID uses a different fare.
  • Arrive about five minutes early.
  • Stay visible to the approaching operator.
  • Leave extra time for an important connection.

Valley Metro Customer Service and Fare Help

Customer Service 602-253-5000
AZ Relay: 711
csr@valleymetro.org
Regular Call Center Hours Monday–Friday: 6 a.m.–8 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Fare Support Monday–Friday: 7 a.m.–6 p.m.
Weekends: closed
Select option 3 when calling for fare support.
Useful information when calling: give the route number, direction, StopID, date, scheduled time and vehicle number if visible. That is more actionable than reporting only that “the bus was late.”

Valley Metro Bus Schedule Problems and What to Do

The bus is not on the live map It may not yet be reporting a real-time location. Check whether the departure is marked Scheduled, Delayed or Cancelled and review current alerts.
The bus arrived early Valley Metro recommends arriving about five minutes before the schedule. An “Early” live status is another reason not to walk up at the exact printed minute.
The timetable does not show my stop Printed or web schedules often focus on major timepoints. Search the specific StopID in the app for intermediate-stop departures.
The bus passed my location Check whether you were at the correct stop and direction, remained visible and signaled the operator when possible.
The normal stop is closed Read the rider alert for the temporary boarding location. A detour can move the stop to another corner or street.
My app QR code will not scan Valley Metro recommends checking network connectivity, increasing screen brightness, adjusting the phone distance from the reader and reopening the app.
My phone battery died Mobile fare cannot be shown from a dead phone. On a bus, Valley Metro says the fallback is purchasing a cash 1-Ride.
The bike rack is full Bus bike-rack space is first come, first served. Valley Metro advises waiting for another bus with rack capacity.
I missed a transfer Re-run the Trip Planner with a later departure time instead of assuming the next vehicle follows the same connection pattern.
The schedule changed since my last trip Reopen the current route page and service-change notice. Do not rely on an old screenshot or bookmarked departure table.
Understand the transit data

Route, Trip, Pattern, Timepoint and StopID Explained

Term What It Means Why Riders Care
Route A collection of ordered stops presented publicly as a transit line with a route number or name. This is the first identifier you need when opening the schedule.
Direction One of the published directions of travel, such as eastbound/westbound or inbound/outbound. Choosing the wrong direction can put you on the opposite side of the street or on the wrong bus.
StopID Valley Metro’s unique number for an individual bus stop or station. It identifies the exact boarding point for stop-level departures.
Pattern A particular travel path used by one trip through selected stops. Two trips on the same route can have different stop or branch patterns.
Timepoint A selected stop used as a benchmark for whether a trip is operating on schedule. Printed schedules often list timepoints rather than every stop.
Trip One vehicle movement along a given route pattern. A route may have many individual trips during the day.

Valley Metro Bus Schedule FAQs

How do I find my Valley Metro bus schedule?

Open Valley Metro Maps & Schedules, search by route number or route name, select the correct service day and direction, then locate your stop or StopID.

How much is a Valley Metro local bus ride?

The current published local 1-Ride fare is $2 full fare or $1 reduced fare for eligible riders.

What is the Valley Metro daily fare maximum?

For local Smart Fare, the current daily maximum is $4 full fare or $2 reduced fare. The fare day runs from 3 a.m. through 2:59 a.m. the next day.

Can I pay cash on a Valley Metro bus?

Yes. A local bus 1-Ride can be purchased with cash at the farebox. Exact fare is required, the farebox does not provide change, and the cash bus 1-Ride does not include transfers.

Are Valley Metro neighborhood circulators free?

Yes. Valley Metro lists neighborhood bus circulators as free service.

How often does the Valley Metro app update bus information?

Valley Metro states that real-time schedule, trip and vehicle information in the app is updated approximately every five seconds.

What does “Scheduled” mean in the Valley Metro app?

It means a departure exists in the published schedule. When real-time vehicle data is available, the app may instead identify the trip as On Time, Early, Delayed or Cancelled.

How early should I arrive at a Valley Metro bus stop?

Valley Metro recommends arriving about five minutes before the scheduled departure.

Does Valley Metro run on holidays?

Many local routes operate 365 days a year, but the holiday service pattern varies. Several major holidays use Sunday bus service and no Express/RAPID service, while some other holidays use weekday bus service without Express/RAPID.

Which Valley Metro buses connect with Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport?

Valley Metro’s airport guidance identifies Routes 1, 13, 44 and 70. Riders can also connect from the Valley Metro Rail A Line at 44th St/Washington to the free PHX Sky Train.

What is a Valley Metro StopID?

A StopID is the unique number Valley Metro uses to identify an individual bus stop or rail station.

Are the October 26, 2026 Valley Metro changes active now?

No. At the August 12, 2026 review date, Valley Metro describes those microtransit and RAPID changes as proposed changes that would take effect October 26, 2026 if adopted.

Official research record

Valley Metro Sources Used for This Guide

Routes & schedules Valley Metro Maps & Schedules
System maps & documents Valley Metro System Map
Bus riding instructions How to Ride the Bus
Fare pricing Valley Metro Fares
Fare rules Fare Policy
Reduced fares Reduced Fare Program
App & live information Valley Metro App FAQ
Service hours & holidays Hours of Service
Airport connections Airport Transit Guide
April 2026 changes April 2026 Service Changes
October 2026 proposal Proposed October Changes
Official transit data definitions Valley Metro Developer Resources

Official-source review completed August 12, 2026

Independent website disclosure: busschedule.us is an independent informational guide. It does not operate Valley Metro service, sell Valley Metro fare, control detours or guarantee vehicle arrival times.

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