In 2020, Valley Metro and Mesa studied rail and bus rapid transit for the Fiesta District. As a starter solution, it proposed a new bus circulator for this area named after the former Fiesta Mall. Thus, it was called the “Fiesta Buzz,” expanding Mesa’s “Buzz” circulator brand. As a result, they renamed the existing Buzz line to the Downtown Buzz (DBUZ).

One of the destinations this route serves is Mesa Community College’s (MCC) beautiful Dobson Campus. I found myself there on a Wednesday afternoon in December 2022, making it convenient to check out this route.

Boarding at Southern and Dobson, I joined two other riders and the driver on a brand new 29-foot “baby” bus. Then, someone else joined us at Alma School Road and Southern Avenue. This was in front of the Hibachi Super Buffet. We then headed back north by entering a residential neighborhood. This area is a mix of homes and apartment complexes. We turned left onto 8th Avenue. It quickly became Pueblo Ave. Then, we turned left onto Longmore. Since it was less than 20 days before Christmas, we got to see lights for free!

We returned to the denser commercial area of Southern Avenue afterwards, then went past MCC again. We turned right on Dobson Road, only to deviate to serve more apartments via Emelta Ave and Sycamore.

Upon reaching Broadway Road, we encountered older industrial and commercial properties, all car-centric. But the road signs changed from green to blue and added an Asian District logo, reflecting reinvestment in the area. I then saw more evidence of that in the form of Asian establishments as we turned right onto Main Street. We then passed the transfer point with Valley Metro Rail’s A-Line at Sycamore/Main St.

Turning left at Longmore swapped that for the East Valley Institute of Technology. It also led to older developments. This time, they were housing areas. I then saw that Google was installing fiber near Longmore and Argon St. How strange.

We turned left on University Drive, then right to Dobson to head towards Mesa Riverview. I alighted at the sheltered stop across Home Depot’s sprawling parking lot.

Route: Circulator Fiesta Buzz (FBUZ) (Mesa Riverview <-> Emelta Ave & Bella Vista <-> Alma School Rd and Southern Ave)

Ridership

Based on other rides, more riders use the southbound route than the northbound. Is this a peak-hour route? But I rode in the afternoon, so I don’t know the other hours.

Pros

• A highly convenient bus for the Fiesta and Asian Districts and for Mesa Riverview and Mesa Community College.
• New low-floor buses make the route and the Downtown Buzz more universally accessible. What’s also exciting is that both routes use larger buses, like on the Tempe Orbit, eliminating those minibuses.

Cons

• This route has a chronic lateness issue. It must be the increased car traffic or something.
• It only comes hourly on Saturdays, with zero service on Sundays. Good thing there are plenty of other routes that come at least every 30 minutes.

Special

• It also serves the Asian District well, with many good shopping options, including HMart, Asiana Market, and Mekong Supermarket.
• Hibachi Super Buffet at Alma School and Southern looks distinctive from the outside. I paid a visit here in May 2025, and boy, they sure have a good deal for food!
• For bowling fans, there is a Lucky Strike at Sycamore and Southern.
• Then, there’s the beautiful rose garden at Mesa Community College that I mentioned.

Rating: C

An average circulator who happens to serve many great places. Enough said.