Sierra Vista's fare-free bus system is helping residents get around the city, and one of its routes now doubles as a way for voters to reach a local vote center.
Vista Transit's Pink Line Westbound stops at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, which is serving as a vote center during the election. The route runs on a 40-minute loop and connects riders directly to the site.
City officials say the service matters for people who have no other way to travel. "Vista Transit serves as a lifeline for the community that otherwise doesn't have transportation," said Bryce Kirkpatrick, the City of Sierra Vista's external operations manager.
Kirkpatrick said the free rides can also remove an obstacle to voting. "Not everybody has mobility or, in that matter, transportation," he said. "This restricts any barriers people might have from voting. So you can hop on the transit system and get to a voting center."
The city dropped bus fares in 2020, and ridership has grown since. In fiscal year 2025, 153,325 people rode Sierra Vista buses. The following fiscal year, the figure rose to more than 162,500 passengers.
Kirkpatrick said the decision also made financial sense. "Going fare free was a fiscally responsible option as we examined the costs that we were investing in our fare system," he said.
The city operates both a Pink Line Eastbound and a Pink Line Westbound. Kirkpatrick described the pink routes as the most popular on the system, and said the westbound line is the one that serves the vote center at St. Andrew's Catholic Church.
Riders can board the westbound route at the transit center or at any Pink Line Westbound stop. Every city bus route includes the transit center as a stop. Residents who want the full Vista Transit schedule can find more information on the City of Sierra Vista's website.
