Hayden Road/McClintock Drive
Route 81 starts at Chandler Fashion Center in the south, going up to Chandler Blvd, then up McClintock Dr through Tempe, serving ASU Research Park and Tempe Marketplace, then transitioning to Hayden Rd at McKellips Rd, continuing to McDonald Dr, over to Pima Rd and up to Mustang Transit Center.
Existed since: 1993
Operator: Keolis
Annual Ridership: 335,796 (FY 2023)
Full Length: 24 miles
Current Full Route: Chandler Fashion Center Transit Center to Mustang Transit Center
Original Full Route: Dobson Rd & Frye Rd to Hayden Rd & 83rd Pl
Connecting Routes: RAIL 17 29 30 41 45 48 50 61 62 72 77 80 108 140 156 514 68CM EART FLSH JUPI MARS MERC MLHD MSTG STRN
Detailed Route Info
All Trips
Northbound
Regular Route
ASU Research Park to Mustang Transit Center (Everyday)
Chandler Fashion Center to Mustang Transit Center (Weekdays & Saturdays)
ASU Research Park to Tempe Marketplace (Weekdays & Saturdays)
School Trips
McClintock Dr & Campus Dr to Tempe Marketplace (School days only)
Southbound
Mustang Transit Center to ASU Research Park (Everyday)
Tempe Marketplace to ASU Research Park (Everyday)
Mustang Transit Center to Chandler Fashion Center (Weekdays & Saturday)
Mustang Transit Center to McClintock Dr & Apache Blvd (Weekdays only)
Tempe Marketplace to Chandler Fashion Center (Weekdays only)
Schedule
History
Route 81 was originally created in July 1992 from Tempe Trolley Route 1, which served McClintock Dr and University Dr. In June 1996, route 81 combined with route 82 to provide continuous service along McClintock Dr and Hayden Rd. The earliest known exact routing for route 81 is from August 18, 1997, when the route traveled from Dobson Rd & Frye Rd in Chandler, going up to Warner Rd and over to River Pkwy, then down Elliot Rd to McClintock Dr, into Downtown Tempe via University Dr, then back to McClintock Dr and up to Via De Ventura, over to Pima Rd, along Via Linda, then 90th St, then Shea Blvd, with trips ending at Shea Blvd & Scottsdale Rd on weekends and on weekdays trips traveled up Hayden Rd to 83rd Place. At some point between 1998 and 2000, route 81 was rerouted from Shea Blvd to Hayden Rd to instead travel up 92nd St to Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, then down to Hayden Rd & 83rd Place. On July 24, 2006, the northern end loop was slightly adjusted. On July 23, 2007, a diversion was created to serve Tempe Marketplace. On July 28, 2008, the southern end of the route was rerouted from ASU Research Park, along Warner Rd and down McClintock Dr, then over to Chandler Fashion Center. On January 25, 2010, full-route trips were streamlined onto McClintock Dr from ASU Research Park and short trips to ASU Research Park were rerouted via Warner Rd. On July 25, 2011, the northern part of the route was rerouted from 94th St, down Raintree Dr instead of Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. On April 25, 2016, the middle of the route was modified to turn off of Hayden Rd at Indian Bend Rd instead of Via De Ventura, to get to Pima Rd. On April 23, 2018, the route was slightly modified to serve the new Mustang Transit Center, with service north of the new transit center being replaced by the Mustang Trolley on October 22, 2018. On October 28, 2019, the middle of the route was adjusted again, to use McDonald Dr instead of Indian Bend Rd to get to Pima Rd. Finally, on April 25, 2020, the northern end of the route was slightly modified to actually eliminate all stops north of Mustang Transit Center.
Pictures
3/9/2023 - Bus 6862 traveling 81 Southbound @ McClintock Dr & Apache Blvd - Tempe
10/18/2024 - Bus 6819 traveling 81 Northbound @ Hayden Rd & Oak St - Scottsdale
12/17/2024 - Bus 6862 traveling 81 Southbound @ Mustang Transit Center - Scottsdale
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