Orbit serves neighborhoods and connects people to local destinations such as shopping areas, other neighborhoods, major bus routes, schools and multi-generational centers for free. There are six Orbit routes: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. All routes operate seven days a week, 365 days a year with 15 minute frequency (30 minutes on Sundays) on most routes.

• Map of Orbit Routes Effective October 2025 PDF
• Hours of Operation
  • Mercury PDF
  • Venus PDF
  • Earth PDF
  • Mars PDF
  • Jupiter PDF
  • Saturn PDF
• Orbit Detours

ASU Football Game Enhanced Orbit Service 2025 PDF

Mars and Mercury Expansion Pilot Program 2025

After hearing rider feedback and analyzing passenger data, Tempe piloting a program that adds additional buses at peak times to the most congested sections of the Mars and Mercury routes. The goal of these "Short Trips" will be to reduce wait times and alleviate crowding. This is a one-year pilot program which launched on Jan. 27, 2025. 

The sections with expanded service are:

• Mars – "Short Trips" will run between the Tempe Transportation Center and the intersection of Dorsey Lane and Broadway Road.
• Mercury – "Short Trips" will run between the Tempe Transportation Center and the intersection of 8th Street and McClintock Drive.

Hours and Frequency: Three extra buses will run on these routes Monday – Thursday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. while ASU’s spring and fall semesters are in session.

Riders planning to go past the expanded service zones should pay attention to the overhead signage and make sure they are on a bus that is operating the full route, as the "Short Trip" buses will stop service at the end of the expansion zone.

Public Meetings

• Two public meetings were held on Feb. 18, 2025. Watch the meeting video.
• Public comment was taken from Feb. 18 – March 4, 2025. Read the comments PDF.
• February 18, 2025 Meeting Presentation PDF

__________________________________________________________________________

Orbit routes use “flag zones,” which means that the driver will pick up and drop off passengers in neighborhoods as long as it's safe. In a flag zone passengers should wave at the driver as the bus approaches to let them know that they would like to be picked up. On the downloadable PDF route maps of Orbit routes, flag zones are indicated by a dotted line. In the Valley Metro App, flag zones are located between stops with “Flag Zone” in the stop name (for example: “College Avenue & Encanto Drive [Flag Zone]”. To get off the bus in a flag zone, passengers should pull the cord located near the windows. On major streets like Mill Avenue, University Drive, Broadway Road, Southern Avenue, Baseline Road, and Guadalupe Road only designated bus stops (marked with a bus stop sign) should be used.

No Stop Zone Policy: When 15 mph speed limit signs are posted in a school zone, the Orbit will not stop in between the signs. During all other times, the Orbit may stop within the school zone.

For Orbit complaints or suggestions, please call 602-253-5000 or email Valley Metro at csr@valleymetro.org.