Planes, Trains, Bikes, and the Mountain Line

Soaring above Arizona’s dramatic landscape, air travelers will take note of the world’s largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest stretching out in all directions like a lush green carpet as flights pass above the Mogollon Rim, head toward the majestic San Francisco Peaks and on into Flagstaff’s Pulliam Airport.

With five to six commercial flights a day on 70-seat CRJ700s – one to two to Denver on United Airlines as United Express, two to three to Phoenix and two to Dallas on American Airlines as American Eagle – air travel for business or pleasure has significantly increased in recent years, nearly doubling from 140,000 passengers in 2018 to 250,000 in 2019. Air travel in and out of the Flagstaff Airport was on another record-setting path in early 2020, and despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, finished the year above the national average for year-over-year passenger boarding at the airport.

“This tells us our market continues to value the service, as many travelers prefer to fly rather than drive to major cities, especially Phoenix, where they can make further connections,” said City of Flagstaff Economic Vitality Director Heidi Hansen.

In an effort to keep Flagstaff’s dark skies dark, exterior lighting around the outlying buildings is being retrofitted for dark-sky standards. “Our runway lights are on a control system,” said Pulliam Airport Director Barney Helmick. “If there’s no one talking on the radio after sundown, the lights remain off until a pilot approaches.”

“One of the reasons why people choose to visit, discover and grow in Flagstaff is because of the abundant accessibility to outlying areas,” Hansen said. “You feel like you can get away from it all while you’re here, but through our many transportation options, it’s easy to connect to your next destination when you’re ready to go.”

Highway travel to and from Flagstaff, located at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Interstate 17, is convenient for businesses and travelers within the state and beyond.

The romance of the rails has added to the adventure of the West since the late 1880s and Amtrak continues the scenic tradition with service from Los Angeles to Chicago aboard the Amtrak Chief, which stops in Flagstaff three times a week from both directions. The Flagstaff Train Depot in the center of town includes an Amtrak ticket office, the Flagstaff Visitor Center and a well-stocked gift shop with one-of-a-kind souvenirs.

The BNSF Flagstaff railway provides an important transportation system for businesses shipping products and cargo out of the area.

Groome Transportation is a family-owned shuttle business that prides itself on easy, safe, comfortable, economical and reliable airport-to-city service on board 10- and 14- passenger vans. The shuttle service is popular among business travelers, vacationers and students from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon and Phoenix. Complimentary parking is available for Groome customers for up to two weeks at 2646 E. Huntington Dr. For reservations, pickup sites and more information, call (928) 350-8466.

FlixBus, providing traditional coach buses, Wi-Fi and power outlets at every seat, meets passengers at the Flagstaff Visitor Center and provides service to Phoenix, Tempe and Kingman. Buses run two times a day, five days a week, including stops at or near the three state universities.

“We work with wonderful local bus partners,” said FlixBus Public Relations Manager Albert Aydin. “In Arizona, it’s Gray Line out of Tucson, a family-owned business that’s been operating for 100 years.”

For schedules, reservations, safety guidelines and more information, visit www.Flixbus.com/bus/flagstaff-az

For commuting around town, Flagstaff’s state and national award-winning public transportation system, Mountain Line, operates 29 hybrid-electric buses serving 164 stops across nine routes every day. Residents, visitors and students enjoy the convenience of catching a ride for running errands, exploring local attractions or getting to and from educational institutions like Northern Arizona University and Coconino Community College.

Mountain Express – a free shuttle service sponsored by Arizona Snowbowl – takes skiers and snowboarders to the mountain resort on winter weekends and through the holiday break from pickup locations at the Mountain Line Downtown Connection Center on Phoenix Avenue and the park-n-ride stop at Flagstaff High School. For more information call (928) 779-6624 or visit www.mountainline.az.gov

Greyhound Lines operates bus service out of the Flagstaff Bus Station at 880 E. Butler Ave., with travel to and from Phoenix three times a day. For more information, call (928) 774-4573.

On The Path to Carbon Neutrality

With $29 million earmarked for pedestrian and bike projects, the City of Flagstaff Master Plan is calling for a future with less reliance on gasoline-fueled vehicles. Included in the roll-out are more bike lanes, sidewalks, foot trails and crossings to facilitate the movement of people around town. The popular Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS or “foots”) offers a network of 56 miles of non-motorized pathways that connect the community while rewarding cyclists, runners, walkers and hikers with stunning natural areas and scenic views.

~Destination Flagstaff @7000ft, 2021 Official Relocation & Visitor’s Guide, A Publication of the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce.  www.FlagstaffChamber.com