If you ever considered using transit as part of your daily commute, or are thinking about reducing vehicle trips a few times a week, now might be the right time to give it a try.
Transit in the greater Tucson region remains free through June as part of the City of Tucson’s COVID-19 safety precautions.
Want to get started? Read on for some helpful options.
SunTran.com has numerous resources to help new bus riders. Right on the home page, the “Plan A Trip” tool allows you to plug in information such as starting and ending locations, arrival or departure times and the date you wish to travel. The tool shows all the potential routes offered, how long the trip will take and, in some cases, links to amenities near your destination.
Sun Tran also provides resources to learn the differences between various transit services, how to ride the bus and the current route schedules.
The Sun Tran site features six transit services, which make up the seamless transit system in Tucson and surrounding areas.
Sun Tran is the traditional mass transit service for the public. Sun Tran operates 29 regular fixed routes with daily service in Tucson, South Tucson, the Tohono O’odham Nation, Pasqua Yaqui Tribe and Pima County. Use the find a ride tool to plan your trip.
Sun Express is a commuter option that may make sense for those looking to use transit to get to work faster. Express routes makes limited stops from outlying areas to major destinations. Sun Express operates 12 routes on weekdays during peak commute hours.
Riders can use other transit options to get to and from the express stops. In addition to the regular Sun Tran routes, many park and ride options have places to lock up a bike for those who want to incorporate active transportation to their commute.
For those working in the downtown area, such as at Banner Medical Center or near the University of Arizona, Sun Link may be your transit choice. The Sun Link streetcar is 3.9-mile loop with 23 stops that serve the San Augustin Mercado District, Downtown Tucson, 4th Avenue, Main Gate Square and the University of Arizona. About 100,000 people live and work within a half-mile of the streetcar and it provides easy access to the Ronstadt Transit Center in central Tucson to connect to other transit options.
Sun on Demand or the Sun Shuttle can help riders reach Sun Tran stops or even provide full transportation service within specific sections of the community. Sun Shuttle operates 12 neighborhood circulator routes in Oro Valley, Catalina, Marana, Sahuarita, Green Valley, Tucson Estates, San Xavier, Rita Ranch and an Ajo-to-Tucson option. Services are available to anyone. All routes provide connections to regular Sun Tran routes.
For those with special needs in Tucson, Tohono O’odham Nation, Pasqua Yaqui Tribe, South Tucson and parts of Pima County, Sun Van is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit service. It provides transportation to individuals whose disability prevents them from using fixed-route transit services. Riders must meet certain criteria to be eligible for services.
Sun Shuttle Dial-a-Ride provides curb-to-curb paratransit service to persons with disabilities living outside Tucson city limits, including Green Valley and Oro Valley, or City of Tucson residents who need to reach destinations outside city limits. The Regional Transportation Authority contracts with Total Ride to operate this service. Shuttle Dial-a-Ride service is available to persons with disabilities who are certified as ADA-paratransit eligible by the ADA Paratransit Eligibility Office. To be eligible, you must also be a resident of Pima County, six years of age or older, living within the service area.
For information on eligibility for Sun Van and Sun Shuttle Dial-a-Ride, please call the City of Tucson ADA Paratransit Eligibility Office at (520) 791-5409 or TDD at (520) 791-5452.
