January 5, 2024

Public notice is hereby made that Gila River Indian Community is applying for federal financial assistance to provide public transportation service in all seven districts. 

Public notice is further made that Gila River Indian Community is also applying for federal financial assistance to expand public transportation services. Currently the East Side Shuttle is scheduled to run two days per week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the Central Shuttle is scheduled to run three days per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We hope to run service five days a week on these shuttles with operating funding obtained from the grant application, after a federally-funded transit bus is delivered and staff are hired.

The transportation service will be available to the general public during all hours of operation. The project is expected to be financed by FTA Section 5311 Rural Program public transportation funds, with additional funds provided from Gila River Indian Community tribal funds. The total federal share of operating funds is expected to be approximately $860,000 for the October 2025 through September 2026 period. 

Gila River Indian Community ensures that the level and quality of transportation service is provided with regard to race, color, or national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and with  the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For more information regarding our Title VI/ADA obligations or to file a complaint, please contact Ms. Coomer at the address below.

Comments on the grant application are invited from the general public, private bus and taxi companies, other public transportation providers and human service agencies. Interested parties may comment or obtain more details by writing to: Dawn M. Coomer, Transportation Manager, Gila River Indian Community, Department of Transportation, PO Box 97, Sacaton, AZ 85147. Comments are also taken by sending email to dawn.coomer@gric.nsn.us, or by calling Ms. Coomer at (520) 562-6306.

Human service agencies that receive assistance from other federal agencies for non-emergency transportation services are encouraged to participate and coordinate with Gila River Transit in the planning, design and delivery of transportation services. Agencies may obtain copies of the service description and submit proposals for service coordination. Private bus and taxi operators may request copies of the project service description from the above named person and may submit comments on the service as described.

If you wish to comment on any aspect of the proposed project, submit a proposal, request service coordination, or request a public hearing on this project, you must make your interest known in writing 15 calendar days of the date of this publication and provide your comments within 15 calendar days of your receipt of the project service description. Your requests and/or comments must be sent to Ms. Coomer at the contact information above.