Sun Tran Public Meeting Phase 2

Attend an Event!

The City of Tucson with PAG/RTA is proposing transit service changes throughout the greater Tucson region. Attend one of our upcoming online or in-person meetings to learn more and provide feedback. To request a reasonable accommodation, language interpretation, or translated materials, please contact (520) 792-9222 ext. 03, 72 business hours before a meeting.

Video Presentation

Watch our video below to learn more about the proposed transit service changes and then head to the Take Our Survey tab at the top left or the survey button at the top right to share your input though September 8! Looking for more information? Don't forget to view the additional tabs and pages to learn more!

Video – English

English Presentation | English Script

Video – Español

Presentación en Español | Guión de presentación en español

The Process

The Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) will review and evaluate Sun Tran, Sun Link, Sun Express, and Sun Shuttle services to determine potential improvements with the goal of creating a more equitable, effective, and efficient transit network.

Steps of the COA

Click image to expand | Versión en español

The first step in this process was to collect data for the COA and the second involved reviewing that data and the existing Sun Tran, Sun Shuttle, Sun Express, and Sun Link services. An extensive public outreach effort conducted from February to April 2023 collected input from riders and members of the community about their priorities for the transit system in Tucson. Findings from the survey, meetings, and extensive outreach were used to inform the draft plan. The project team is currently collecting feedback on the draft plan, and comments will be incorporated into the final service plan.

Goals of the Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA)

Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of current transit options.

Enhance the transit system to better support the needs of the community.

Propose recommendations for future service changes or expansions.

What We Heard

Through the first phase of public outreach efforts, the project team collected over 500 comments and survey responses related to desired transit improvements. Here’s what we heard:

• Over half of riders (53%) want additional service, with 43% requesting more frequency and 10% specifically requesting more weekend service.
• 60% of riders consider later evening service on weekends to be their top priority for service hours investment.
• Non-riders primarily said more frequent service (37%), closely followed by shorter overall travel times (23%) would encourage them to use Sun Tran service.

Click image to expand | Versión en español

Draft Plan Highlights

Combine and extend routes to provide more direct rides to destinations.

This means fewer transfers and more direct access to places people want to go. For example:

• Routes 16-Oracle/Ina and Route 18-S. 6th Ave will be combined into one route so riders do not have to transfer in Downtown Tucson.
• Route 29-Valencia will be extended to Banner-University Medical Center South, providing continuous service along Irvington Rd.

Invest in high-frequency 15+ minute service on key corridors.

More frequency was the #1 requested service improvement, so the plan focuses on increasing frequency levels on routes that riders use the most. Under the Draft Plan, 34% of current riders will have access to all-day 15-minute service, a 7% increase compared to existing service. Riders on Routes 16-Oracle/Ina and 18-S. 6th Ave will have access to all-day 10-minute service on weekdays.

Extend service hours to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends.

Having service available later at night will make it easier for riders to use transit to get home from work, attend social events, and enjoy local nightlife, especially on weekends. Service spans will increase on 18 weekday routes, 27 Saturday routes, and 29 Sunday routes.

Add frequency on weekends.

Currently, service levels drop in half on weekends, with most routes operating once an hour. Improving frequency will help make public transit more convenient for work, shopping, and recreation activities on the weekends. Under the Draft Plan, Saturday service will increase by 8% and Sunday service by 27%.

Frequency Maps

Click Here to Download as PDF

Explore the Draft Plan

Embedded Remix Map How-to

• To view information about a specific route, either click on the route from the map, select the route from the list on the left, or use the search bar, which can be accessed by clicking on this magnifying glass icon.
• When you click on a route, it will become highlighted in the map. The “Overview” will show you the proposed frequencies by time of day for weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Some routes branch and serve multiple end points. To view and switch between each route pattern, select the pattern letter button to open the menu.

  
• A drop-down box will appear, and you can select the pattern you would like to view, the selected pattern will be marked by a checkmark. The map will highlight the selected pattern.

  
• To open the map in a new tab, click/use this icon.
• To read an overview of the project, use/click on the map title:
• Use the “post comment” button to leave a comment.
  • A comment cursor will pop up, and you will be able to move the map and zoom into the route, stop, or destination you would like to leave a comment about.
  • When you click on the location, a form will open, asking for your comment. Click “Post” to submit the comment.

Jane Tool

The Jane tool shows how far a person can travel to or from a specific point within the proposed network. Jane can be placed anywhere on the map.

• To use the Jane tool, click and drag the Jane icon onto the map at your desired location.
• A “Data layers” window will pop up. Use the filters to choose the time of day, day type, travel time range, and population group. The colors will show how far Jane can travel on the transit network within certain time windows.
• To exit the Jane analysis, click on the Jane icon to reset the map.

Individual Route Changes

Sun Tran Draft Route Recommendations

The City of Tucson (City), in partnership with the Pima Association of Governments (PAG) and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), is evaluating all aspects of the Sun Tran, Sun Link, Sun Express, and Sun Shuttle services to determine potential improvements

Download PDF Versión en español

Sun Tran Individual Route Profiles – Existing

Download PDF

Click image to expand | Versión en español

Share Your Thoughts

Leave a Comment!

View our maps on the “Explore the Draft Plan” tab and share your thoughts directly on the map!

Attend an Event!

View our “Attend an Event” tab to learn more about all of our in-person and virtual opportunities to learn more and share your thoughts.

Next Steps

Following the current phase, the project team will review results and public input, and incorporate comments into a Final Plan. This Final Plan will be shared with City of Tucson Mayor and Council in late 2023.

Steps of the COA

Click image to expand | Versión en español

Thank you!

Stay connected

• Phone: (520) 792-9222
• TDD: (520) 628-1565
• Email: SunTranInfo@tucsonaz.gov
• www.suntran.com

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Title VI

Public transit services are provided without regard to race, color or national origin. If you would like additional information on Sun Tran, Sun Van, Sun Shuttle and/or Sun Link’s nondiscrimination obligations or would like to file a complaint, please call (520) 792-9222 (or TDD: (520) 628-1565) or visit suntran.com/titlevi-ada/.