Sun Tran Hosts Community Meetings This Week to Discuss Proposed Route Changes

Sun Tran is set to conduct public meetings this week to gather feedback on potential changes to bus routes in Tucson. Notable proposals include the possible elimination of Route 5 (Pima/West Speedway) and the extension of Route 22 (El Rio/West Speedway).

The proposed changes aim to enhance efficiency within the Sun Tran system, which has not charged any fares since 2020. Sam Credio, the Director of Transportation and Mobility, highlighted these considerations during a City Council meeting on April 8.

Route 5, which runs from the Udall Transit Center through Pima Street to Pima Community College West Campus, has consistently ranked low in ridership. This route overlaps with Routes 9 and 4, which serve Grant Road and Speedway, respectively. Should Route 5 be discontinued, Route 22 would be extended to fill the service gap.

Eliminating Route 5 would save an estimated $1 million annually, as its operational cost is approximately $1.6 million. In contrast, extending Route 22 would reduce costs by just over $550,000.

During the same City Council meeting, officials discussed the possibility of reinstating fares for public transit. This consideration comes after a period of free rides that began in March 2020. Alternatives under consideration include increasing hotel surcharges and other service adjustments to maintain fare-free transit.

In 2019, pre-pandemic fares generated almost $11 million, but the operating costs for the bus system exceeded $58 million, leading to a funding shortfall of $2.7 million addressed through the city budget, grants, and advertising. Recent data shows a promising trend, with February bus ridership up 23% compared to February 2020. Additionally, ridership on the Sun Van disability transit has increased by 5%, while the Sun Link streetcar has seen nearly a 96% rise.

The public meetings will take place at various locations, offering multiple opportunities for community engagement:

• May 13 at 5:30 p.m. – Pima Community College, Downtown Campus, 1255 N. Stone Ave.
• May 15 at 12:00 p.m. – Quincie Douglas Library, 1585 E. 36th St.
• May 16 at 12:00 p.m. – Martha Cooper Library, 1377 N. Catalina Ave.
• May 19 at 5:30 p.m. – Ward 1 Council Office, 940 W. Alameda St.
• May 20 at 10:00 a.m. – Morris K. Udall Park and Recreation Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Rd.
• May 21 at 12:00 p.m. – William M. Clements Center, 8155 E. Poinciana Dr.
• May 22 at 5:30 p.m. – via Zoom.