Every early morning a small team is already out on the Tucson streets, doing work that often goes unnoticed but would be impossible to ignore if it stopped.
Sun Tran’s Bus Stop Maintenance team is on the road, spreading out across more than 2,000 bus stops. With just 14 team members, they clean over 500 stops a day – picking up trash, removing graffiti, and restoring order to spaces that serve our daily riders.
Bus stops are more than transit hubs they are a reflection of the community. For this team, stops are also where they see firsthand the environmental challenges. From everyday litter to illegally dumped furniture, the range of waste is staggering, couches, televisions, dishes, blankets are all a part of what they pick up. No matter how the waste gets there, the team removes it day after day, seven days a week, all year long.
The impact of that work is clear in the numbers. In 2022, the team collected over 75,000 pounds of landfill waste. That number grew to about 107,000 pounds in 2023, before more than doubling in 2024 to a little over 240,000 pounds. By 2025, with expanded staffing and more consistent coverage—including the addition of a night crew – the team has noticed a decrease in trash, a sign that getting ahead of the problem can make a real difference.
Trash is one problem but the job also comes with other challenges. Shelters are sometimes destroyed – roofs torn apart, panels shattered, trash cans broken.
“It’s hard to understand why people would destroy something meant to help them,” said Bus Stop Maintenance Manager Marc. “These shelters are there to protect you from the sun, from the weather. Why tear that down?”
With only 14 members responsible for more than 2,000 stops, the work can be overwhelming at times. That’s why this Earth Day, the message from the Bus Stop Maintenance team is simple: keeping Tucson clean is a shared responsibility. Whether it’s properly disposing of trash, avoiding illegal dumping, small actions can add up to a big difference.
“It’s your neighborhood too,” Marc adds. “We take pride in what we do; we just want others to help take pride in it too.”
In the end, Earth Day is not just about awareness, it’s about action. For this team, that action happens every day, one bus stop at a time.
As we celebrate Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, we invite the community to join us at the Ronstadt Transit Center from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. where we will highlight how public transit supports a cleaner, greener future. Whether you’re a daily rider or just curious about sustainable transportation, this is a great opportunity to connect, learn and celebrate Earth Day with us.
If you see a bus stop that needs attention, here how you can let us know:
Call Customer Service (520) 792-9222 (TDD 520-628-1565)
Email SunTranInfo@tucsonaz.gov
