Sun Tran’s 50th Anniversary

Past, Present & Future

As we celebrate 50 incredible years of serving Tucson, we want to thank you—our riders, employees, and community partners—for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve been with us since our first ride or just hopped on recently, you’re the reason we’ve been able to keep Tucson moving. Here’s to the memories we’ve made together and the road ahead!

Tucson Transit & Sun Tran Journey 🚍

This year, we’re celebrating 50 years of Sun Tran and over 140 years of public transportation in Tucson! From horse-drawn streetcars in the 1880s to our modern electric fleet, Tucson’s transit story is one of innovation, progress, and community. Click the button below to view the entire timeline!


Sun Tran Stories 📝

Behind every milestone is a story, and we’re bringing them to life! Discover people, innovations, and memories that have kept us moving for over a century.


Snapshots Through Time 📸

Take a stroll through Tucson’s transit history with our photo gallery! From vintage buses to snapshots of riders, and special events, these pictures tell the story of how we’ve grown alongside the Tucson community.

1879: Herdic Line

Herdic at San Xavier Hotel zoomed in.

Herdic at San Xavier Hotel (Orginal).

Herdic at the University of Arizona’s Old Main building.

1900 – 1925: Horse & Electric Streetcars

Horse streetcar at Third & Park 1901.

Horse streetcar on Third Street passing by homes.

Horse streetcar Eastbound on Congress St, West of Scott.

Horse streetcar with operator turning onto Stone Ave.

Tucson Rapid Transit streetcar nine 1923

Tucson Rapid Transit streetcar nine at University of Arizona campus 1917.

Woman deboarding Tucson Rapid Transit streetcar.

People deboarding Tucson Rapid Transit streetcar eight.

Tucson Rapid Transit streetcar five on west Congress Street 1920.

Blue Bar Auto & Taxi was a bus company created in 1916.

Roy Laos with Occidental Bus Line bus. Service began 1925.

Passengers boarding Occidental Bus Line bus.

1930 – 1960s: Early Buses

Tucson Rapid Transit 1935 buses on Stone Avenue.

Tucson Rapid Transit bus in a snowy day in 1937.

Buses in 1939 on 5th Street.

Buses loading on 6th Avenue next to Owl Drug Company, 1941.

Bus at the University of Arizona Campus 1944.

Soldiers boarding bus at Davis Monthan, 1943.

New 201 bus, 1951.

Bus 221 at University of Arizona Mall, 1957.

Bus 209 on 10th Street painted as the Holsum Bread Loaf, 1958.

Bus 218 at El Con Shopping Center, 1962.

1960s – 1970s: Sun Tran’s Beginning

City bought the private transporation, but began to lease buses due to shortage, 1974.

Sun Tran “New Look” bus on East Broadway, 1972.

Sun Tran passengers loading at La Placita.

Sun Tran featuring new paint, 1975.

Sun Tran bus 7322 on Broadway, 1980.

Bus 7328 on 22nd Street, 1985.

1980s – 2000: Expanding Service & Modernization

Bus at San Xavier Mission, 1980.

Sun Tran Bus 8624 on Speedway & Harrison, 1986.

Passengers waiting at the bus shelter, 1986.

Sun Tran bus 8617 on route 8 in a snowy day, 1987.

Sun Tran bus 8608 at the Univeristy of Arizona Mall, 1989.

Sun Tran bus 9108 at Laos Transit Center.

One of Sun Tran’s Mini buses at Jacome Plaza, 1994.

Coonstruction of Tohono Tadai Transit Center, 90s.

Grand opening of Tohono Tadai Transit Center, 1994.

Grand opening of Laos Transit Center, 1987.

Sun Tran’s mascot Sunny, 1987.

Mobility expo to introduced Sun Tran’s accessibility buses, 1991.

2001 – Present: Transit Today

Bus turning on 6th St, 2003.

Bus at Ronstadt Transit Center.

New Sun Tran bus look passing by La Placita.

Bus entering Ronstadt Transit Center, 2009.

2002 Stuff the Bus.

New Sun Tran look, 2010.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the Sun Link Streetcar, 2012.

Grand opening of the Sun Link Streetcar, 2014.

Sun Link Grand opening with hundreds celebrating, 2014.

Sun On Demand is launched in 2020.

Sun Tran introduces five electric buses, 2021.

Sun Tran was awarded a $21.4 million grant from the FTA to purchase CNG buses, 2023.


Groove Back to 1975 🎧

What better way to celebrate Sun Tran’s beginnings than with the sounds of the era? Our specially curated Spotify playlist takes you on a musical journey to 1975, featuring the hits that ruled the airwaves when Sun Tran first hit the streets. Press play, take a seat, and let the music transport you back to a time of disco, rock, and everything in between!

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