New Transit Schedules and Routes for Sun Shuttle

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and Sun Tran have made time and route adjustments to some Sun Shuttle neighborhood transit system routes in the greater Tucson area.

Shuttle, which is funded by the RTA as part of the 2006 voter-approved, 20-year regional transportation plan, provides neighborhood transit services to outlying communities and neighborhoods that allow riders to connect with mass transit services offered by Sun Tran, Sun Express and the Sun Link streetcar.

Sun Shuttle fixed-route services operate in Marana, Casa Adobes, Oro Valley/Catalina, Green Valley/Sahuarita, Tucson Estates, Drexel Heights, the San Xavier District, Rita Ranch and Ajo.

The service changes were made based on the ridership analysis conducted by the Pima Association of Governments (PAG) and Sun Tran. PAG, the region’s metropolitan planning organization, manages the RTA. Public input on Sun Shuttle services gathered through surveys and at a series of open houses also contributed to the analysis.

Service changes will go into effect on Monday. Nov. 27. The changed routes include:

  • Route 401 – Retimed schedule, Rooney Ranch stop moved to Oracle Road/First Avenue; northbound stop at Oracle Road/La Reserve Drive added to route; southbound stop at Oracle Road/Hanley Boulevard added to route.
  • Route 412 – Additional stops added at the intersection of Thornydale Road and Hardy Road and near the intersection of Thornydale Road and Costco Drive.
  • Route 413 – Retimed schedule, Interstate 10 segment has been rerouted between Downtown Marana and Tucson Premium Outlets; Rillito stop removed.
  • Route 414P – Picture Rocks pilot study concluded for this temporary route.
  • Route 430 – Retimed schedule, Western Way Circle stop moved to intersection of Kinney Road and Western Way.
  • Marana Avra Valley Dial-a-Ride – Rillito community now served by this service.

For complete details and Sun Shuttle route schedules, visit https://www.suntran.com/routes-services/sun-shuttle-routes/

The RTA funds additional evening, weekend and express bus services. RTA funds also go toward special needs transit for the elderly and people with disabilities, and park-and-ride transit centers.

The Regional Transportation Authority is the fiscal manager of a $2.1 billion, 20-year regional transportation plan and half-cent sales tax approved by Pima County voters on May 16, 2006. The RTA Board is comprised of representatives from the local jurisdictions in Pima County, including the cities of Tucson and South Tucson, Pima County, the towns of Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Tohono O’odham Nation. A representative of the Arizona State Transportation Board also serves on the board. For more information about the RTA plan, visit RTAmobility.com or call (520) 792-1093.

34th Annual All Soul’s Procession on Sunday, November 5, 2023. 

The annual All Souls Procession Weekend returns for its 34th year tomorrow, Nov. 3, through Sunday, Nov. 5. Organized by Many Mouths One Stomach, the weekend of public events is meant to deepen connections with the community and lost loved ones. The main procession and ceremony will begin Sunday at 6 p.m. (gather starting at 4 p.m.) on Grande Avenue, south of Speedway Boulevard, turning east on Congress Street, then south onto Avenida del Convento toward the finale site. Those participating in the procession can access parking garages in the downtown area and ride the free Sun Link streetcar. The streetcar will be in service until 10:30 p.m. Those traveling through the area can expect delays and should watch for increased pedestrian presence. There are also several road closures, Sun Tran detours and extensions as well as Sun Link streetcar service. 

Event website: https://allsoulsprocession.org/

Route Detours and service information for buses and the streetcar to/from the event

Sun Tran

Route 3 will be on detour from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Stops from St. Mary’s/ I-10 to St. Mary’s/ Silverbell Rd. will be closed. Passengers can board at stops along Silverbell Road and Speedway Blvd. Bus will service all stops on detour. 

Route 21 will be on detour from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Stops on Congress/I-10 to Congress/Grande Ave., Westmoreland Ave., Fresno St. will not be serviced. Riders can board at Ronstadt Transit Center, Alameda St., Broadway Blvd., Silverbell Rd., Saint Mary’s Hospital, Speedway Blvd. Bus will service all stops on detour.

Route 22 will have an extension from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pick up will be from 6th Ave. by Ronstadt Transit Center and drop off will be Speedway

Sun Link 
Streetcar service will be available until 10:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Picture Rocks Sun Shuttle Pilot Program Ends November 2023

Sun Shuttle, a neighborhood pilot transit service for outlying areas of greater Tucson, will end on Nov. 25 in the Picture Rocks area.

The pilot program, Route 414P Picture Rocks, began in October 2022. The timeframe established to operate and analyze the pilot program was one year.

The Regional Transportation Authority, which is funding the pilot program, determined that transit demand was lower than expected based on ridership numbers. A ridership target of 300 riders per month was set for the pilot program, or an average of 75 riders per week. To date, however, the service has averaged 22 riders per week.

Despite marketing efforts, including a direct mailing campaign, ridership for the services has not increased over the pilot service period.

With ridership at low levels, the costs to operate the route would far exceed that of other Sun Shuttle routes. Similar rural routes average about $31 per person to operate, while 414P averaged about $142 per person.

The Sun Shuttle pilot route through Picture Rocks was initiated by the RTA to determine if there is any transit demand to reach destinations such as a park-and-ride, grocery stores, retail shopping, or connections to additional transit routes via Sun Tran, the region’s mass transit service.

The Regional Transportation Authority operates Sun Shuttle services in other outlying areas, including in Marana, Oro Valley, Green Valley/Sahuarita, funded through the RTA’s voter-approved, 20-year regional transportation plan and sales tax, which are effective through June 2026.

The Regional Transportation Authority is the fiscal manager of a $2.1 billion, 20-year regional transportation plan and half-cent sales tax approved by Pima County voters on May 16, 2006. The RTA Board is comprised of representatives from the local jurisdictions in Pima County, including the cities of Tucson and South Tucson, Pima County, the towns of Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Tohono O’odham Nation. A representative of the Arizona State Transportation Board also serves on the board. For more information about the RTA plan, visit RTAmobility.com or call (520) 792-1093.

Fall Transit Schedules For Sun Tran, Sun Express, Sun Link And Sun Shuttle

Sun Tran is rolling into fall with new route schedule updates. Beginning Monday August 14, Sun Link will be extending hours until 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The following Sun Tran, Sun Express and Sun Shuttle routes will have adjustments effective Monday August 20.
Sun Tran/Sun Express routes:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 34, 50, 61, 101X, 103X, 104X, 105X, 108X, 109X, 110X, 201X, 203X, 204X

· Route 25 will remain on Park Avenue and will not deviate to Innovation Tech High School/ JTED Innovative Learning Center

Sun Shuttle routes:

401, 412, 413, 421, 430, 440, 486

Rt. 401 – time-point stops have changed and schedule changes

Rt. 412 – New service route

o Route shift from River to Orange Grove between La Cañada and Shannon and schedule changes

Rt. 413 – New service route, time-point stops have changed and schedule changes

o Route shift from I-10 to Bald Eagle, Camino de Oeste and Oldfather

o Discontinued stop at Arizona Pavilion

o Extended route to Shannon, now serving Pima Community College Northwest, Nanini Library, Northwest YMCA, Tucson North MVD

Rt. 421 – Added additional stops

o VA – 6th and Veterans

o South Tucson Municipal Center – 6th Ave & 26th St.

o Flag Zone– La Cañada from Duval Mine to Trader· Rt. 440 – time-point stops have changed and schedule changes

Rt. 430-Neighborhood labels

Rt. 440-Timepoint and schedule changes

Rt. 486 – Route information is now in Sun Shuttle booklet and several stops have been renamed

o Quijotoa -> Maish Vaya (Trading Post)

o Robles Junction (Three Points) -> Three Points (Robles Junction)

o Tucson -> Tucson (Laos Transit Center)

Sun Express schedules are now located in the Sun Tran Rider Guide! 

There are three ways to check your schedule: 

1. Visit Suntran.com/how-to-ride/ride-guides-booklets/ 

2. Contact Customer Service to trip plan or to request an emailed or mailed copy of the schedules for your route(s)  

3. Pick up a Rider Guide at a Transit Center or onboard your bus 

Customer Service representatives are available weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff can be reached by phone at (520)792-9222 (TDD: (520)628-1565) or by sending an email to SunTranInfo@tucsonaz.gov. 

Customer Service representatives are available weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff can be reached by phone at (520)792-9222 (TDD: (520)628-1565) or by sending an email to SunTranInfo@tucsonaz.gov.

Low or No Emission Grant Award 

The City of Tucson was awarded $21.4 million from the Low or No Emission Grant Program from the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA). 

Funding from this grant will allow Sun Tran to replace the remaining high emissions producing diesel-fuel buses with 39, 40-ft Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses. 

The USDOT FTA Region 9 Deputy Regional Administrator Amy Changchien, and the City of Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, would like to invite you to celebrate the acceptance of this award. 

Download Invite

Low or No Emission Grant Award Press Conference 

  • Monday, July 10, 2023 
  • 8 a.m. – Refreshments 
  • 8:30 a.m. – Program to begin 
  • 3920 North Sun Tran Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85705 

Speakers:
  • Regina Romero, Tucson Mayor 
  • Amy Changchein, Federal Transit Administration 
  • Samuel Credio, City of Tucson 
  • Steve Spade, Sun Tran General Manager 

Parking:

Guests are encouraged to drive through the gate on the south side of the administration building and park in the employee lot. The pedestrian entrance to the event will be located near the northeast corner of the parking lot.

Premio de Subvencion Low or No Emission  

La Ciudad de Tucson recibió $21.4 millones del Programa de Subsidios de Bajas o No Emisiones de la Administración Federal de Tránsito (FTA) del Departamento de Transporte de los Estados Unidos (USDOT).

Los fondos de esta subvención permitirán que Sun Tran reemplace los autobuses diésel que producen altas emisiones restantes con 39 autobuses de gas natural comprimido (GNC) de 40 pies.

La Administradora Regional Adjunta de la Región 9 de USDOT FTA, Amy Changchien, y la Alcaldesa de la Ciudad de Tucson, Regina Romero, desean invitarlo a celebrar la aceptación de este premio.

baje la invitacion

Conferencia de prensa de Low or No Emission Grant Award

  • lunes, 10 de julio de 2023
  • 8 am – Refrescos
  • 8:30 am – Programa para comenzar
  • 3920 North Sun Tran Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85705

Presentadores:
  • Regina Romero, alcaldesa de Tucson
  • Amy Changchein, Administración Federal de Tránsito
  • Samuel Credio, Ciudad de Tucson
  • Steve Spade, gerente general de Sun Tran

Estacionamiento:

Se alienta a los invitados a cruzar la puerta en el lado sur del edificio de administración y estacionarse en el estacionamiento para empleados. La entrada peatonal al evento estará ubicada cerca de la esquina noreste del estacionamiento.

4th of July Transit Info

Sun Link Streetcar Providing Rides to Fireworks Show Transit will follow holiday service hours on Tuesday, July 4. Streetcar service begins at 8 a.m. and will run until approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the fireworks show at “A” Mountain. Families making plans to watch the show are invited to enjoy free streetcar rides with convenient access to the popular fireworks viewing area at the Tucson Convention Center. Streetcar riders can hop off at the Cushing Street / Granada Avenue stops, or ride to the Avenida del Convento and Cushing Street / Convento stops for access to the Mercado District.

Sun Tran buses and Sun Van will run on a Sunday schedule. Riders can check route information and Sunday hours online at SunTran.com or by calling (520) 792-9222. Bus riders: please note bus service to most routes will end before 9 p.m. on the holiday. Transit riders are encouraged to utilize the streetcar to ensure transportation following the fireworks show.

Sun Express and Sun Shuttle will not be in operation on July 4. Sun Shuttle ADA Dial-a-Ride service provided by Total Ride and Oro Valley Sun Shuttle Dial-a-Ride will offer service from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Americans with Disabilities Act-qualified passengers only. Sun Express routes 104X and 204X riders will not have access to the Crossroads parking lot in Marana on Monday July 3rd and Tuesday, July 4th. Commuters can park at the Leman Academy school parking for service on Monday.

Información de Tránsito del 4 de julio

El tranvía de Sun Link que ofrece viajes al espectáculo de fuegos artificiales y seguirá el horario de servicio de vacaciones el martes 4 de julio. El servicio de tranvía comienza a las 8 AM y funcionará hasta aproximadamente 30 minutos después de la conclusión del espectáculo de fuegos artificiales en la montaña “A”. Las familias que hacen planes para ver el espectáculo están invitadas a disfrutar de viajes gratuitos en tranvía con acceso conveniente a la popular área de observación de fuegos artificiales en el Centro de Convenciones de Tucson (TCC). Los pasajeros del tranvía pueden bajarse en las paradas de Cushing Street/Granada Avenue, o viajar hasta las paradas de Avenida del Convento y Cushing Street/Convento para acceder al Distrito Mercado.

Los autobuses Sun Tran y Sun Van funcionarán en horario de domingo. Los pasajeros pueden consultar la información de la ruta y el horario de los domingos en línea en SunTran.com o llamando al (520) 792-9222. Usuarios de autobús: tenga en cuenta que el servicio de autobús a la mayoría de las rutas finalizará antes de las 9 PM en las vacaciones. Se sugiere a los pasajeros de transporte público a utilizar el tranvía para garantizar el transporte después del espectáculo de fuegos artificiales.

Sun Express y Sun Shuttle no estarán en funcionamiento el 4 de julio. El servicio Sun Shuttle ADA Dial-a-Ride proporcionado por Total Ride y Oro Valley Sun Shuttle Dial-a-Ride ofrecerá servicio de 9 AM a 6 PM solo para pasajeros calificados según la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA). Los pasajeros de las Rutas 104X y 204X de Sun Express no tendrán acceso al estacionamiento de Crossroads en Marana el lunes 3 y martes 4 de julio. Los pasajeros pueden estacionarse en el estacionamiento de la escuela Leman Academy para el servicio el lunes.

Sun Shuttle Survey and Public Input Meetings 412 & 413

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) will host two public input meetings to gather feedback and ideas from the community on improving and shaping the future of local transportation services. The meetings will provide residents the opportunity to voice their opinions and actively participate in the development of Sun Shuttle routes 412 and 413 serving Marana and Pima County.  

The public input meetings will serve as a platform for community members to share their thoughts, concerns and suggestions on the routes. Residents, commuters, business owners are invited to participate. The meetings will feature open discussions and interactive activities to encourage collaboration. Participants can provide feedback on various aspects, such as route optimization, frequency of service and connectivity.  

For those unable to attend a meeting, an online survey is available to gather feedback and can be accessed here surveymonkey.com/r/SS0623. 

The public is encouraged to take a few minutes to provide comments, to ensure their voices are heard and considered in the decision-making process.  

Details for the upcoming public input meetings are as follows: 

  • Friday, June 9 at 5 p. m. Nanini Library 7900 N. Shannon Road 
  • Thursday, June 15 at 5 p.m. Wheeler Taft Abbett Library 7800 N. Schisler Drive   

Sun Shuttle is committed to ensuring accessibility for all residents. Accommodation for individuals with disabilities and translation services can be provided upon request in advance of the meeting(s) by calling 520-628-1565 or pmclaughlin@pagregion.com.  

sun shuttle vehicle and logo

Sun Shuttle Picture Rocks 414P survey is now live!

Sun Shuttle launched its pilot service in Picture Rocks, and now your feedback and input on the route is needed! There are two ways you can provide your input. Join us in person, April 6th at 5:30p at the Picture Rocks Community Center located at 5615 N. Sanders Rd. or by taking the survey online now until April 23 by clicking the link below. 

Sun Shuttle 414p Survey 

The meeting room is accessible to persons with disabilities. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), those requiring special assistance, such as large-type face print, sign language or other reasonable accommodations, may request those through the administrative offices at: 1. E Broadway Blvd., Suite 401, Tucson, Ariz., 85701, (520) 792-1093, at least 24 hours before the meeting. Si necesita ayuda con traducción, llame por favor al (520) 792-1093 y comuníquese con Zonia Kelly. 

Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) study

UPCOMING ROUTE CHANGES

Route 3, 11, 37, and 50 will have changes beginning February 23, 2025.
Route 3 & 37

Route 37 will serve Stella Road between Pantano Road and Camino Seco instead of Route 3. Camino Seco from Stella Road and Irvington Road will now be served by Route 37. All service on Escalante Road has been discontinued. There are no frequency changes or service changes planned at this time.

View and Download Maps HERE

Route 11 & 50

Route 11 and Route 50 will merge and no longer travel on South 6th Avenue between Ajo Way and Laos Transit Center. Route 11 will now extend west on Ajo Way to Mission Road, discontinuing Route 50. There are no frequency changes or service changes planned at this time.

View and Download Maps HERE

The City of Tucson and Sun Tran, in partnership with the Pima Association of Governments (PAG), evaluated all aspects of Sun Tran, Sun Link, Sun Express, and Sun Shuttle services throughout Tucson, and the greater Tucson area to determine potential improvements through the COA.

Following nearly 11 months of public outreach to gather input on proposed changes to improve transit efficiency, equity, and effectiveness, Sun Tran staff will host six (6) public meetings to discuss the Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) proposed transit changes. The meetings will begin Monday, January 22 through Monday, January 29.

Join us at one of our upcoming events below to learn more about the proposed changes.

The following January meetings are in person:

  • Monday, January 22, 2024 at 5 p.m.
    Fred Archer Recreation Center | 1665 S La Cholla Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85713
  • Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at 12 p.m.
    Tucson City Council Ward 2 Office | 7820 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85710
  • Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 12 p.m.
    Woods Memorial Library | 3455 N 1st Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719
  • Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 12 p.m.
    Pascua Yaqui Tribal Chambers | 7474 S Camino De Oeste, Tucson, AZ 85746
  • Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.
    Miller-Golf Links Library | 9640 E Golf Links Rd, Tucson, AZ 85730 
  • Friday, January 26, 2024 at 12 p.m.
    Quincie Douglas Recreation Center | 1575 E 36th St, Tucson, AZ 85713
  • Monday, January 29, 2024 at 5 p.m.
    Tucson City Council Ward 6 Office | 3202 E 1st St., Tucson, AZ 85716
For those unavailable to attend in person, you can watch this video of the COA project team explaining the recommended changes:
Click here for the final recommended transit changes.
Click here for the COA Comparison Map
Click the link to view Sun Tran’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SunTranTucson/videos