Frequently Asked Questions

SunGO Fare Payment, General Information.

What is SunGO?
SunGO utilizes Smart Card technology to provide a convenient way to pay and transfer throughout the region with ease on Sun Tran, Sun Express, Sun Shuttle and the Sun Link streetcar.

What is a Smart Card?
A Smart Card resembles a credit card in size and shape, but inside has a computer chip instead of a magnetic stripe. For transit, the smart card will serve as the fare payment card and can store cash value or passes for passenger convenience and boarding ease. Just hold the card to the farebox or reader validator on board and go!

How are passes activated?
When a SunGO Card, SunGO ID & Card or SunGO Ticket is tapped on the farebox/reader validator, the first pass in the queue on the card will be activated from that date/time.

Where can card or pass expiration dates be checked?

• Ticket vending machines at transit centers
• On the bus (ask driver for assistance)
• SunGO sales outlets
• www.suntran.com/sungo
• Special Services Office, 35 W. Alameda, Tucson
• Phone, (520) 792-9222 (TDD: 628-1565)
• Sun Tran Administrative Office, 3920 N. Sun Tran Blvd., Tucson.

What CAN be done at the farebox?

• Activates passes
• Checks the expiration date of all SunGO cards and tickets
• Determine how much value or time is remaining on a current active pass
• Accepts bills up to $20. No change given. Although the farebox can accept larger bills, Sun Tran?s policy is for exact change only.
• Validates coins and bills
• When coins and bills are inserted into the farebox, the total inserted will be indicated to the driver on a screen. This will limit the number of passengers paying less than their fare.
• Load a 1-Day Pass on your SunGO Card with a value on the card only (cash payment not accepted to load a 1-Day Pass)

Are there transfer restrictions?
All passengers, regardless of how they pay or whether they pay the full fare or economy fare, receive a free transfer. How a transfer is received will depend on how the fare is paid. For details about transfers, visit: http://www.suntran.com/fares_trans.php.

Are transfers free?
If paying with a SunGO Card or SunGO ID & Card when boarding the bus, a free transfer will be automatically added onto the card.

What are the differences between SunGO Cards & Tickets?

SunGO Card

• Long term use.
  A plastic product much like a credit card, and is designed to last up to 4 years with proper care.
• More product choices (for details, visit: http://www.suntran.com/fares_sungo_options.php) for a detailed list
• There is a $2 surcharge for the card in addition to the pass or cash value added.
• Customers can register the card to protect the balance if the card is lost, stolen or damaged.
• SunGO cards offer more flexibility with a built-in chip that allows you to purchase and store up to two passes plus additional cash value on a card.

SunGO Ticket

• Intended for short-term use.
  A paper product expected to last up to 90 days after first use with proper care.
• ¿ Limited products options, visit http://www.suntran.com/fares_sungo_options.php for details.
• There is a surcharge for the ticket added to the passes purchased.
• ¿ Customers cannot load different passes or cash value on the ticket. If you purchase a 1-Day SunGO Ticket, you may only reload another 1-Day Pass on that ticket.
• All products on the ticket must be used when the card expires on the 90th day.
• No balance protection.

What Product is Right for Me?
A SunGO Card, which is a longer-lasting card, offers flexibility by allowing different passes and cash value to be loaded on the card. The SunGO ticket is a short-term product that will only allow loading of the same pass for up to 90 days. If you purchase a 1-Day SunGO Ticket, you may only reload a 1-Day Pass on that same ticket, and any passes must be fully used by the end of the 90th day.

We recommend the SunGO Card for most passengers because of the flexibility to add different cash values or passes, ability to register the card to protect the balance if lost or stolen, and the card may last up to four years with proper care.

How does the 1-Day Pass work?
The farebox technology allows Sun Tran to offer a day pass that can be used for a full 24 hours, giving customers greater value for their purchase. Once loaded on a SunGO Card or Ticket, a 1-Day Pass is activated when tapped on the farebox for the first time, and is valid for 24 hours from that point.

Are transfers free?
If paying with a SunGO Card or SunGO ID & Card when boarding the bus, a free transfer will be automatically added onto the card.

What Product is Right for Me?
A SunGO Card, which is a longer-lasting card, offers flexibility by allowing different passes and cash value to be loaded on the card. The SunGO ticket is a short-term product that will only allow loading of the same pass for up to 90 days. If you purchase a 30-day ticket, you may only reload a 30-day pass on that same ticket, and any passes must be fully used by the end of the 90th day.

We recommend the SunGO card for most passengers because of the flexibility to add different cash values or passes, ability to register the card to protect the balance if lost or stolen, and the card may last up to four years with proper care.

We recommend the SunGO ticket for visitors to our community, or individuals with limited travel needs.

Where to buy SunGO Cards and add passes or cash value?

• Online (Allow 10 days for delivery and 48 hours ifloading a pass/cash value to an existing card.)
• Ticket Vending Machine - located at each of the three transit centers
• At SunGO Sales Outlets - located throughout the community
• Sun Tran's Administrative Office, 3920 N. Sun Tran Blvd., Tucson
• By Phone - Call (520) 792-9222 or TDD (520) 628-1565

Where to buy SunGO Tickets and add passes?

• Online (Initial purchase only, cannot re-load tickets online. Allow 48 hours if loading a pass/cash value to an existing card.)
• Ticket Vending Machine - located at each of the three transit centers
• At SunGO Sales Outlets - located throughout the community
• Sun Tran's Administrative Office, 3920 N. Sun Tran Blvd., Tucson
• Special Services Office, 35 W. Alameda, Tucson
• By Phone - Call (520) 792-9222 or TDD (520) 628-1565

Why register a SunGO Card?
There are key benefits to taking the time to register your SunGO Card.

1. Balance Protection
To protect the cash value and/or passes loaded on your SunGO Card, we recommend opening an online account and registering your card. That way, if your card is reported lost or stolen, Sun Tran can replace the cash value or days remaining.

2. Auto Buy
Eliminate the need to track the cash value or days remaining on your SunGO Card. Registered SunGO cardholders can set up an account to automatically add value through a secure funds transfer from your credit or debit card on a regular basis. Auto Buy adds a predetermined cash value when the value on your card is depleted, or a new pass is added once the existing product expires.

Can I automatically add cash value or a pass each month?
Registered SunGO cardholders can set up an account to automatically add value or a pass through a secure funds transfer from your credit or debit card on a regular basis called Auto Buy. Auto Buy adds a predetermined cash value when the value on your card is depleted, or a new pass product is added once the existing product expires.

How long will the SunGO Card and SunGO Ticket last?
A SunGO Card may last up to four years, while SunGO tickets may last up to 90 days. How long a card lasts depends on how well ittaken care of. Washing, bending or cutting the card or ticket will damage the internal chip, making them inoperable. Once inoperable, a new card would need to be purchased.

How many passes can I have on my SunGO Card at one time?
SunGO Cards have a built-in chip that allows you to have one active pass, up to two passes in the queue, and additional cash value on a card at one time. Passes will be used in the order they are purchased.

What happens if my SunGO Card no longer works?
If there is no physical damage to the SunGO Card, then bring it to the Sun Tran Administrative office. If an evaluation of the card indicates the card has a faulty chip, then the SunGO Card will be replaced at no charge. Otherwise, a new card can be purchased online, at pass sales outlets or at a ticket vending machine at the transit centers.

If I have value and a pass on my card, which will be used to pay my transit fare?
When a SunGO Card is tapped, a transfer loaded on the card will always be used first. If no transfer, then the pass will be used (if more than one pass, the one that was purchased first). Last, cash is used to the pay the fare, but cash will be utilized to pay any surcharges for premium service.