Arizona Snowbowl is providing a new shuttle bus option and carpool program to encourage skiers and snowboarders to share rides, reduce carbon emissions, decrease traffic and save money.
This winter season, incentives are being given to all who ride the shuttle from Flagstaff to Snowbowl or carpool on designated days.
Bus passengers and carpoolers with a minimum of four people will be issued a $5 Snowbowl voucher per person. Vouchers are valid for the day they are issued at Snowbowl’s rental and retail shops, restaurants, Ski & Snowboard School or Ticket Office.
Mountain Express shuttles skiers between downtown Flagstaff and the Hart Prairie Lodge on weekends through the end of February. During the winter holiday season, Martin Luther King, Jr., weekend in January and Presidents’ Day weekend in February, buses run every 30 minutes. During regular weekends, buses run every 60 minutes. The first bus departs the Downtown Connection Center at 7 a.m. and the last bus leaves Hart Prairie Lodge at 5 p.m.
A free Park-n-Ride service at Flagstaff High School has been added this year. Skiers and snowboarders may leave their vehicles in the FHS east parking lots and take the shuttle. “Snowbowl is excited about this year’s program with more frequent and scheduled bus service,” said Arizona Snowbowl General Manager J.R. Murray.
“With a new Park-n-Ride at Flagstaff High School, I hope more local skiers and snowboarders will take advantage of the free bus.
Our long-term objective is to have seven-day bus service in the future, and continued ridership will help reach that goal.”
On the same days that Mountain Express operates, guests who carpool have the option of parking at the ski resort or at the base of the mountain in the Fort Valley parking lot and catching a shuttle up to the base area. Eligible carpoolers may pick up their vouchers at Fort Valley. Shuttle riders will receive vouchers on the bus.
“This is a great new program that encourages ride sharing when skiing at Snowbowl,” added Murray. “It’s truly a win-win program and we believe people will take advantage of it.” Arizona Snowbowl also offers an employee carpool and bus incentive program for its staff.
The Snowbowl-funded Mountain Express, now in its fourth year, is operated through NAIPTA’s Mountain Line bus system to help ease traffic congestion on Highway 180 with the influx of winter visitors.
“We appreciate Snowbowl’s engagement around transit expansion,” said Coconino County Supervisor for District 1 and Board Chair Art Babbott, who has been bringing groups together in an effort to better manage and mitigate peak winter recreation congestion.
“No one strategy is going to solve this problem, but the community, businesses, neighborhoods, NAIPTA, the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, ADOT and public land managers are bringing forward resources to address one of the longest-standing congestion issues in town,” he said.
Mountain Express Service Dates and Times Include:
January 1-6, January 19-20, February 16-17
♦First bus departs the Downtown Connection Center at 7 a.m. and buses depart every 30 minutes until 4:30 p.m., stopping at Flagstaff High School, Pioneer Museum, Fort Valley Parking Area and Hart Prairie Lodge.
♦First bus departs Hart Prairie Lodge at 8 a.m. and buses depart every 30 minutes until 5:30 p.m., stopping at the Fort Valley Parking Area, Highway 180 and Stevanna, Flagstaff High School and the Downtown Connection Center.
January 12-13, January 26-27, February 2-3, February 9-10, February 23-24
♦First bus departs the Downtown Connection Center at 7 a.m. and buses depart every 60 minutes until 4 p.m., stopping at Flagstaff High School, Pioneer Museum, Fort Valley Parking Area, and Hart Prairie Lodge.
♦ First bus departs Hart Prairie Lodge at 8 a.m. and buses depart every 60 minutes until 5 p.m., stopping at the Fort Valley Parking Area, Highway 180 and Stevanna, Flagstaff High School and the Downtown Connection Center.
“Strong and reliable transit service is an essential component of managing winter congestion on the Highway 180 corridor,” said NAIPTA CEO and General Manager Erika Mazza. “The addition of all-day service and a free Park-n-Ride will make Mountain Express a much more reliable and convenient alternative to driving personal vehicles for residents and visitors.”
FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
For more information, visit Snowbowl.ski