Sedona and Cottonwood will seem closer once the new Verde Lynx Transit system starts its regular service between the two communities Monday, Nov. 9.

The number of miles will not decrease, but the number of commuter trips north and south on State Route 89A will increase.

The eight trips a day will offer commuters a variety of times to make the trip and leave the car at home, according to Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority Operations Senior Manager Jim Wagner.

“The thought out there is we need to offer more frequency to and from Sedona and Cottonwood. We have the RoadRunner shuttle, but we wanted to increase trips. Thanks to some stimulus money we can bring people the Verde Lynx connection service,” Wagner said.

The Verde Lynx will link Sedona’s RoadRunner system with Cottonwood Area Transit. The first Lynx bus of the day will leave Cottonwood’s Garrison Park at 6 a.m. The first of several stops in Sedona begins at Upper Red Rock Loop Road and ends at Poco Diablo Resort.

The last return trip of the day leaves Poco Diablo at 6:15 p.m. The cost will be $2 each way, or $4 for the round-trip. However, 20-ride passes and monthly passes are available.

“This service will provide transportation for people who live in Cottonwood and work in Sedona and vice versa. It will also be great for people who want to shop in Sedona, visit or eat out without having to drive,” Shirley Scott, CAT system director, said.

Riders to Cottonwood will be able to also connect with Verde Villages and parts of Clarkdale via the CAT system.

“If the driver knows a person is going to a certain place, they’ll radio ahead to match up with that Cottonwood line so the person doesn’t have to wait very long,” Wagner said.

Verde Lynx is the product of both the Cottonwood and Sedona transportation commissions’ request to provide public transit.

“With the Lynx a person can arrive in Sedona around

7:30 a.m. and leave around 5:30 p.m. So you can have an 8 to 5 job, and walk or bike to where you work,” Wagner said. “The buses will have bicycle racks on the front.”

The four buses can hold 25 people with two tie-down areas for wheelchairs. They have a low floor with a ramp so

they are Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant. Each is 28-feet long and air conditioned with a 42-inch wide electric door.

The buses were driven from the factory in Goshen, Ind., and expected to arrive in the Verde Valley Thursday or Friday, Nov. 5 or Nov. 6, according to Wagner.

“We’re excited and hope to eventually expand to include all of the Verde Valley communities. So far, we have nothing in the Village of Oak Creek or the Camp Verde area,” he said. “Hooking up with Camp Verde, Rimrock and Lake Montezuma is on our five-year plan.”

The Verde Lynx is part of a larger plan to link Northern Arizona communities. Eventually the plan is to link with Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University.

“Right now we’re concentrating on getting the Lynx up and running,” Wagner said. “We’re seeing more people use our public transportation. The Lynx makes for great intercity connection,” Wagner said.

Call 282-0938, for more information.

Lu Stitt can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 122, or e-mail lu@larsonnewspapers.com