Buses in old Phoenix

Old Phoenix had busses, too — kisses. But as for transit on wheels or intercity travel, it had those, too, spelled right. Click on the photo for a larger image:

The "Hellzapoppin" group arrives in Phoenix by bus for the Rodeo of Rodeos in 1939 (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

The Greyhound Bus Depot at 29 E. Jefferson in the 1940s (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

The Santa Fe Trailways bus depot on Jefferson in 1944 with the Pantry Cafe and Jack's Liquors. The Santa Fe Railway operated this subsidiary to compete against intercity buses, which were cutting into its ridership (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

Bus service to the Arizona State Fair, 1940 (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

The City Bus Terminal in 1942. Note the city was still operating streetcars, too (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

The Menderson Bus Line showing its buses in 1945. It competed against the city owned streetcar system for seven years until the streetcars were shut down (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

Passengers queue up to board a Menderson bus to Tempe and Mesa in the 1940s (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

Sun Valley Bus Lines was another competitor, also linking Tempe and Mesa with Phoenix (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

Wartime workers boarding buses in downtown Phoenix for the Goodyear rubber plant (McCulloch Bros. Collection/ASU Archives).

Greyhound's depot on the southeast corner of First Street and Van Buren in the 1950s. The buses were behind a terminal with a restaurant and Stults drugstore. Continental Trailways' more modest depot was on the northwest corner (Brad Hall collection).

Greyhound's iconic Scenicruiser, built between 1954 and 1956 by General Motors. They operated until the 1970s.

By the 1970s, Phoenix Transit was the city supported bus system, with a minimal map of routes. Popular 1960s Mayor Milt Graham was hostile to transit and things didn't improve under his successors.

A Phoenix Transit bus travels on First Street in the 1970s. It's obviously older than the bus above and lacks the new "Tico" color scheme.

After years of stopping on Washington Street, city buses gained a new downtown terminal in 1976. Yet it caused the greatest act of civic vandalism in Phoenix history: Demolition of the Fox Theater.

Greyhound moved its corporate headquarters to Phoenix in 1968 and by the '70s built a modern depot downtown. Located at Fifth Street and Washington, it lacked the street-friendly urban fabric of its predecessor.

Still kicking in the '70s, Continental Trailways countered with its own downtown station (Bob Redden photo).

By the turn of the 21st century, Phoenix joined with Tempe, Mesa, and other suburbs to form Valley Metro, a regional system that includes light rail. But buses remain important. Here's one on Central Avenue.

Today's Greyhound station is tucked away on Buckeye Road near Sky Harbor. Intercity buses fell out off favor. And Phoenix leaders didn't want a Greyhound bus station downtown near their taxpayer-funded sports and entertainment amenities.

RELATED: Phoenix's historic streetcars.

Tico days.

Ten questions about light rail, answered.

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My book, A Brief History of Phoenix, is available to buy or order at your local independent bookstore, or from Amazon.

Read more Phoenix history in Rogue's Phoenix 101 archive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Kevin in Preskitt]

This post has me reminiscing about the role of buses in my Phoenix life.

The first time I ever rode on a Phoenix city bus was on a field trip in elementary school. We made a round trip from our school in Maryvale to the science museum downtown (the museum was in a different, less conspicuous location in the '80s). After visiting the museum, having lunch, and ascending to the top floor of a "skyscraper" to behold the view of the valley and the nearby mountains, we went to the central bus terminal that is pictured above. I had no clue that a beautiful, historic theater had been demolished to build it. I wonder if our teacher, Mrs. Flores, knew.

Years later, while attending NAU in the mid- and late-90s, I made a decision that saved me thousands of dollars in student loans: I did not have a car. I would sometimes take the Greyhound bus from Flagstaff to Phoenix and back. There was a Greyhound station at the corner of 27th Avenue and Glendale Avenue, which was a (relatively) convenient spot for my relatives on the west side to pick me up and drop me off. Despite the negative perceptions about Greyhound, I don't recall having any problems with anyone at the bus station or on the bus.

After graduating from NAU, I moved back to the valley, and continued my car-free life until I was 26 years old, commuting back and forth to work on Valley Metro buses. I was in at least two crashes while on the city bus, and we once had a new driver on the 1-10 West Express bus, who drove down the wrong ramp at 79th Avenue into oncoming traffic! The freeway had to be shut down so that the driver could turn the bus around.

Ah, the memories!

Now, I live in Prescott, which has nearly non-existent public transportation. By far the worst of any place I have ever lived.

[Kevin in Preskitt]

Actually, the wrong-way Express Bus incident happened after I had a car, since that bus departed from the 79th Avenue and McDowell Park-N-Ride lot. I kept riding the bus most days even after I had a car. So a gold star to me for doing my part to not contribute to the Valley's air pollution and traffic congestion. How's that for virtue signaling?

[KEN buxton]

When I attended ASU in the early 60's, to get home near Glendale, I had to use Sun Valley from Tempe to Phoenix, then Phoenix transit to 35th ave and Glendale and walk the rest of the way home.
In 1963 I rode Greyhound from Phoenix to Chicago and back.
In 1965 I rode Trailways to Huntsville AL, to work at NASA.

[Rogue Columnist]

Ken, when I lived at 36th Street and Campbell in the mid-1970s, I had to take Sun Valley all the way to Scottsdale Road and down to ASU.