Free and Low-Cost Transportation in Phoenix: Bus Passes, Medical Rides, and Getting to Appointments

By Common Ladder · July 5, 2026 · 6 min read

Getting there is half the battle. A shelter bed, a job interview, a court date, a dialysis chair — none of it helps if you can't cross the Valley to reach it. In a metro area this spread out, and in this heat, walking isn't a real answer. The good news is that Phoenix and Maricopa County have several ways to move around for free or nearly free, whether you need a single bus ride today or a standing ride to a weekly appointment. If you're not sure where to start, dial 2-1-1 from any phone (free, confidential, 24/7) and tell the operator where you are and where you need to go.

The fastest route to a bus pass: ask an agency

Valley Metro runs a Social Services Fare Program that lets approved nonprofits, schools, and government agencies buy 1-day, 7-day, and 31-day passes at half price and distribute them to people who are experiencing homelessness. You don't apply for this yourself — the organization does. That means the quickest way to a pass is often to ask the people already helping you:

• Your case manager or the intake desk at a shelter or day center
• The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and many local churches keep bus passes on hand for people who ask — call St. Vincent de Paul at (602) 254-3338 to find the nearest help
• The Human Services Campus near downtown, where several agencies serving people experiencing homelessness are co-located
• 2-1-1 Arizona — dial 2-1-1 or call (877) 211-8661 for a current list of organizations giving out passes or transit tokens near you

Passes tend to come and go depending on an agency's supply, so if the first place is out, ask the next. A staff member with access to the program can put a pass in your hand the same day.

Reduced fares on the bus and light rail

If you fall into one of Valley Metro's reduced-fare categories, your everyday bus and light rail rides cost about half of the standard fare. You qualify if you are:

• A youth ages 6–18
• A senior age 65 or older
• A person with a disability
• A Medicare cardholder

To use the discount you'll need a Valley Metro Reduced Fare ID. You can apply online or through the Valley Metro Reduced Fare mobile app, or call for a paper application.

• Phone: (602) 253-5000 (Valley Metro customer service)
• Apply / learn more: valleymetro.org/fares/reduced-fare-program

Free rides to medical appointments

If you have AHCCCS (Arizona's Medicaid), you have a right to free non-emergency medical transportation — often called NEMT — to and from covered care. That includes regular doctor visits, dialysis, physical therapy, behavioral health appointments, and pharmacy trips to pick up medication. This is a benefit you've already earned by being enrolled; it costs you nothing.

To set it up, call the customer service number printed on your AHCCCS health plan card and ask to schedule a ride. A few things make it go smoothly:

• Call ahead — plan on scheduling at least three business days before the appointment when you can
• Have your details ready: your AHCCCS ID number, the date and time of the appointment, the clinic's address, and any needs such as a wheelchair-accessible vehicle
• If a ride falls through or is denied, call the AHCCCS Clinical Resolution Unit at (602) 364-4558 or (800) 867-5308

Not sure whether you have AHCCCS, or think you might qualify? Our benefit screener can help you check in a few minutes.

Door-to-door rides for seniors and people with disabilities

If a disability or age makes the regular bus hard or impossible to use, Valley Metro offers two door-to-door options. Both generally require ADA paratransit certification, which Valley Metro processes — call (602) 716-2100 to start that.

RideChoice

An on-demand service — closer to an app-based ride than a fixed bus route. You call and a car comes to you.

• Cost: about $3 for the first eight miles, then roughly $2 per additional mile; wheelchair-accessible service is available at no extra charge
• Limit: up to 20 trips per month (more may be approved for work, school, or medical needs)
• Schedule a ride: (602) 716-2111, any time, day or night

Dial-a-Ride

Shared, scheduled paratransit service across much of the Valley. Some Maricopa County cities also open Dial-a-Ride to seniors 65 and older, with proof of age and residency.

• Reservations: (602) 253-4000 or toll-free (800) 775-7295, 6 a.m.–7 p.m., seven days a week
• ADA certification: (602) 716-2100

Veterans

The Phoenix VA operates a Veterans Transportation Service and volunteer-driver network that can get eligible veterans to VA medical appointments, often at no cost. Ask at your VA clinic, or start with our Phoenix veteran services guide, which covers transportation alongside housing and benefits help.

What to have ready when you call

Whether you're arranging a medical ride or asking an agency for a bus pass, a little preparation speeds things up:

• A photo ID if you have one — though you can still get a bus pass or a 211 referral without one
• Your AHCCCS ID number, if you're booking a medical ride
• The exact address and time you need to be somewhere, plus a callback number if you have one
• Any mobility needs (wheelchair, walker, service animal) so the right vehicle is sent

Don't have an ID yet? Several Phoenix organizations can help you replace one — see our ID recovery guide. And you can save the phone numbers on this page to your My Ladder plan so they're in one place when you need them.

Start with 2-1-1, then work down the list by what you need. A single ride, a monthly pass, or a standing medical trip — there's a door for each.

Verify before you go / call ahead. Phone numbers, fares, trip limits, and eligibility rules change. Call before traveling to any office. If a number is out of service, dial 211 for a current referral.

Have a correction or an update? Contact us — we verify and update this information when changes are reported.