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Parent | City of Tucson |
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Founded | 1969 |
Headquarters | 3920 N. Sun Tran Blvd |
Locale | Tucson, Arizona |
Service type | Bus Streetcar Paratransit |
Routes | 42 bus routes (29 regular & 13 express) 1 streetcar line |
Stops | 2,200+ |
Stations | 3 |
Fleet | 189 buses 139 cutaway vans 8 streetcars |
Daily ridership | 58,500 (weekdays, Q2 2025) [1] |
Annual ridership | 18,600,500 (2024) [2] |
Fuel type | Biodiesel, Biodiesel-Urea, CNG |
Operator | Fixed-Route, Sun Link: Tucson Transit Management, [3] (RATP Dev)/ [4] Sun Shuttle: Total Transit, Ajo Transportation [5] |
Website | suntran |
Sun Tran is the public transit system serving the city of Tucson, Arizona. In 2024, the system had 18,600,500 rides, or about 58,500 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2025. 100% of the fleet utilizes clean-burning fuels, such as compressed natural gas (CNG), biodiesel, and hybrid technologies. [6] In addition to more than 40 bus routes, the system also includes the Sun Link modern streetcar line.
According to David Leighton, historian for the Arizona Daily Star newspaper, Sun Tran's history began in 1897 with the organization of the Tucson Street Railway, which by the following year was providing Tucsonans with regular mule-powered streetcar service. Streetcar tracks existed in parts of present-day downtown and to the University of Arizona. Within a few years, lack of profit caused the company to be sold and it was reorganized as Tucson Rapid Transit Co. (TRT). It shortly came under common ownership with Tucson Gas, Electric Light and Power Co. [7]
By 1906, mules were replaced by electricity as the driving force behind the streetcars in Tucson. Four years later, TRT published its intent to increase the amount of track for its electric cars but insufficient money prevented this from occurring. In 1910, TRT owner United States Light and Traction was acquired by the newly formed Federal Light and Traction. [8]
In October 1925, Tucson Rapid Transit Co., having realized that buses were more flexible and economical to run than streetcars and were the future of public transportation in the Old Pueblo, bought the White Star Bus Line. This small bus company would become the basis for TRT's bus service in town. Also around the same time, Roy Laos Sr., noting the lack of transit service to the south and west sides of town founded the Occidental Bus Line to serve these areas. Laos' bus service would later be called Old Pueblo Transit.
In 1930, control of Federal Light and Traction was acquired by Cities Service. [9] On January 1, 1931, Tucson Rapid Transit formally ended all electric streetcar service in town. From this day forward it became strictly a bus company. Five years later, Jacob M. Bingham established the Mountain View Bus Line with one bus. His goal was to provide service to outlying areas that TRT didn't serve but turning a profit or even just paying his bills was difficult and soon enough TRT bought his small enterprise.
During World War II, ridership increased to a large degree, in part due to tire and fuel rationing that was carried out to support the war effort. The secondary reason for the surge was the need for public transportation for workers in the growing defense industry.
After the passage of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, Federal Light and Traction/Cities Service was forced to sell most of their operations. TRT was sold to W. Culver White, John B. Tigrett, A.V. Lindseth and L.A. Tanner. [10] Tucson Gas & Electric was sold in a public offering.
In late 1951, the Hughes Missile Plant (now called Raytheon Missiles & Defense) was finished and was operating with a small number of employees. Competition for ridership to the new factory between Old Pueblo Transit and Tucson Rapid Transit became heated and OPT filed an injunction in court to prevent TRT from providing service for employees. Early the following year, the Arizona Corporation Commission decided against OPT and allowed TRT to also provide bus service to the plant. [11]
The 1950s and 1960s saw a steady decline in riders for Tucson Rapid Transit. Even a change in ownership in 1965 to American Transit Corp. (and a name change to Tucson Transit Corp.) and the installation of air conditioners seemed to do little for the failing bus service. As a result, in 1969, the City of Tucson acquired TTC, changing the name to the City of Tucson Transit System. [12]
In 1975, a contest was held to give a new name to the bus system, with Benjamin Rios, a 25-year-old University of Arizona architecture student from Mexico, submitting the winning entry: “Sun Tran.” His prize was a $150 portable television.
Three years later, Sun Tran bought its competition the Old Pueblo Transit Co. and the city had but one bus service for riders. The year 1987 saw the opening of the Roy Laos Transit Center at 205 W Irvington Road, and in 1991, the Ronstadt Transit Center opened in downtown.
On January 22, 2009, a regional seamless transit system was unveiled [13] that helps to better unify the various public transit services in and around the Tucson metropolitan area. One change was the renaming of several of the services under the "Sun" moniker: the Sun Tran express bus routes become Sun Express; Van Tran (paratransit) becomes Sun Van, circulator routes in outlying areas become Sun Connect, and RideShare (carpooling) becomes Sun RideShare. Along with this name change comes a new logo and color scheme, replacing the old red, yellow, and white with a blue, yellow, silver, and white livery. The new livery was introduced into service on February 16, 2009, with the addition of 47 new Sun Tran buses and 42 Sun Van (formerly Van Tran) paratransit vehicles to the fleet.
Sun Connect service started on May 4, 2009, under the name Sun Shuttle, with routes that serve the communities of Casas Adobes, Tucson Estates, Ajo, Oro Valley, Rita Ranch, Marana, Avra Valley, Tohono O'odham Nation, Green Valley, and Sahuarita.These transit services are operated by the Regional Transportation Authority of Pima County (RTA).
In 2010, Sun Tran received shipment of its first bus using hybrid technology and two years later Sun Tran's Northwest Bus Facility located at 3920 N. Sun Tran Blvd was completed. [14] [6]
In summer of 2023, Sun Tran released their Comprehensive Operational Analysis, a pseudo bus network redesign that would increase frequency, realigning and extending routes and improving access and quality of service. [15]
Sun Tran operates 29 regular fixed bus routes. [16] Most routes provide service from 6 am to 11 pm. A few routes provide service until midnight. Sun Tran does not provide overnight service.
Route No. | Route Name | Termini | Major Streets/Areas Serviced | Notes | ||
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1 | Glenn/Swan | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | ↔ | Swan Road/29th Street | Downtown, Main Gate Square, University of Arizona, Park Avenue, Glenn Street, Swan Road. |
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2 | Tucson Marketplace | Banner University Medical Center-Southern Campus | ↔ | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | Irvington Road, Country Club Road, Campbell Avenue, 36th Street, Pueblo Gardens, Downtown. | |
3 | 6th St./Wilmot | Pima Community College (PCC) East | ↔ | Pima Community College (PCC) West | Stella Road, Wilmot Road, 5th Street, 6th Street, University of Arizona, Downtown, St Mary's Road, Anklam Road. | |
4 | Speedway | Broadway/Houghton Park & Ride (1st segment) Golf Links/Kolb Park & Ride (2nd segment) | ↔ | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | Speedway Boulevard, Harrison Road, Kolb Road, University of Arizona, Downtown. | |
5 | Pima/W. Speedway | Udall Transit Station | ↔ | Pima Community College (PCC) West | West Speedway Boulevard, University of Arizona, Pima Street, Tanque Verde Road, Udall Park. | |
6 | Euclid Ave./N. 1st Ave. | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | ↔ | Tohono Tadai Transit Center | Downtown, Main Gate Square, University of Arizona, Euclid Avenue, 1st Avenue. |
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7 | 22nd St. | Broadway/Houghton Park & Ride | ↔ | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | Downtown, 22nd Street | |
8 | Broadway | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | ↔ | Broadway/Houghton Park & Ride (1st segment) Udall Station at Tanque Verde/Sabino Canyon (2nd segment) | Downtown, Broadway Boulevard, Wilmot Road, Tanque Verde Road. |
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9 | Grant | Udall Transit Station | ↔ | Pima Community College (PCC) West | Grant Road |
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10 | Ruthrauff | Davis Avenue/Ruthrauff Rd | ↔ | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | Ruthrauff Rd, Romero Rd, River Road, Miracle Mile, Oracle Road, Downtown. | |
11 | Alvernon/Ajo | Ajo Way/Mission Road (1st segment) Tucson International Airport (2nd segment) | ↔ | Dodge Boulevard/River Road | Alvernon Way, Palo Verde Road, Ajo Way, Corona Road, Valencia Road, Tucson Airport. |
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12 | S. 12th Avenue | Los Reales Road/Nogales Highway | ↔ | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | 12th Avenue, 10th Avenue, South Tucson, Tucson Convention Center, Downtown. |
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15 | Campbell | Banner University Medical Center-Southern Campus | ↔ | Tohono Tadai Transit Center | Roger Road, Campbell Avenue, University of Arizona, Eastland Street. | |
16 | Oracle/S. 6th Avenue | Laos Transit Center | ↔ | Tohono Tadai Transit Center | Downtown, Oracle Road, 6th Avenue |
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17 | Country Club/29th St. | Broadway/Houghton Park & Ride | ↔ | Tohono Transit Center | Harrison Road, Golf Links Road, 29th Street, Country Club Road, Prince Road, Flowing Wells Rd | |
19 | Stone | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | ↔ | Tohono Tadai Transit Center | Stone Avenue, Downtown | |
21 | W. Congress/Silverbell | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | ↔ | West Goret Road/Dales Crossing Drive | Silverbell Road, Congress Street, Downtown. | |
22 | Grande | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | ↔ | Grant/Silverbell roads | Downtown, Congress Street, Bonita Avenue, Commerce Park Loop, Grande Avenue, Riverview Boulevard, El Rio Drive. | |
23 | Mission | Laos Transit Center | ↔ | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | Irvington Road, Mission Road, 36th Street, Silverlake Road/29th Street, 4th Avenue, South Tucson, Downtown. | |
24 | 12th Avenue | Laos Transit Center | ↔ | Laos Transit Center | 12th Avenue, Los Reales Road. | |
25 | S. Park Avenue | Tucson International Airport | ↔ | Ronstadt Transit Center, Downtown | Downtown, Park Avenue, Irvington Road, Tucson Airport. | |
26 | Benson Highway | Craycroft Road/Benson Highway | ↔ | Laos Transit Center | Valencia Road, Benson Highway, Drexel Road, Campbell Avenue, Irvington Road. | |
27 | Midvale/Valencia | Valencia Road/Camino De Oeste | ↔ | Laos Transit Center | Valencia Road, Cardinal Avenue, Drexel Road, Midvale Park Road, Santa Clara Avenue, 12th Avenue. |
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29 | Pasqua Yacui/UMC Banner South | Banner University Medical Center-Southern Campus | ↔ | Casino del Sol, AVA Amphitheater Park & Ride | 6th Avenue, Valencia Road, Los Reales Road, Tetakusim Road, Pasqua Yaqui Pueblo. | |
34 | Craycroft/Ft. Lowell | Davis Monthan Air Force Base Visitor Center | ↔ | Tohono Tadai Transit Center | Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Craycroft Road, East Fort Lowell Road, North Stone Avenue. | |
37 | Pantano | Pima College (PCC) East Amazon (Kolb Road/Valencia Road) | ↔ | Udall Transit Station | Pantano Road, Tanque Verde Road. |
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61 | La Cholla | Tohono Tadai Transit Center | ↔ | Foothills Mall Drive at La Cholla (in front of Walmart) | Wetmore Road, Auto Mall Drive, La Cholla Boulevard, Ina Road, Shannon Road. | |
62 | Ina Road | Tohono Tadai Transit Center | ↔ | Thornydale/Ina Roads (parking lot of Lowe's at Ina) | Ina Road |
Sun Trans operates 12 Sun Express routes, which offer limited-stop service on weekdays during peak commute hours. [16]
Route No. | Route Name | Termini | Areas/corridors served | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Express Routes to and from Downtown | ||||||
101X | Golf Links-Downtown Express | 22nd Street/Harrison Road | → AM ---- ← PM | Downtown Tucson | Golf Links Road, Downtown Tucson | |
102X | Northwest-UA Express | CDO Riverfront Park at Lambert Lane | → AM ---- ← PM | Banner-University Medical Center | La Canada Drive, Ina Road, Downtown Tucson, Speedway Boulevard, University of Arizona. | |
103X | Northwest-Downtown Express | Ina Road/Camino de las Capas | → AM ---- ← PM | Downtown Tucson | Ina Road, Oracle Road, River Road, Campbell Avenue, Speedway Boulevard, University of Arizona, Downtown Tucson. | |
104X | Marana-Downtown Express | Crossroads Park at Silverbell Road | → AM ---- ← PM | Downtown Tucson | Marana, Downtown Tucson. | |
105X | Foothills-Downtown Express | Sunrise/Kolb Roads | → AM ---- ← PM | Downtown Tucson | Catalina Foothills, Swan Road, Speedway Boulevard, University of Arizona, Downtown Tucson. | |
107X | Oro Valley-Downtown Express | Rancho Vistoso Park & Ride | ↔ | Downtown Tucson | Oro Valley, Oracle Road, Downtown Tucson. | |
108X | Broadway-Downtown Express | Broadway/Houghton Park & Ride | → AM ---- ← PM | Downtown Tucson | Broadway Boulevard, Downtown Tucson. | |
109X | Catalina Highway-Downtown Express | Catalina Highway/Tanque Verde Road | → AM ---- ← PM | Downtown Tucson | Tanque Verde Road, 5th Street, University of Arizona, Downtown Tucson. | |
110X | Rita Ranch-Downtown Express | Downtown Tucson | ↔ | Old Vail Road Park & Ride | Downtown Tucson, University of Arizona Science & Technology Park, Rita Ranch. | |
Express Routes to and from Aero Park | ||||||
201X | Eastside-Aero Park Express | Harrison/Golf Links Roads | → AM ---- ← PM | Aero Park, Raytheon | Tucson East side, Harrison Road, Speedway Boulevard, Alvernon Way, Palo Verde Road, Aero Park Area, Raytheon. | |
203X | Oro Valley-Aero Park Express | Rancho Vistoso Park & Ride | → AM ---- ← PM | Aero Park, Raytheon | Oro Valley, Laos Transit Center, Aero Park Area, Raytheon. | |
204X | Northwest-Aero Park Express | Crossroads Park at Silverbell Road | → AM ---- ← PM | Aero Park, Raytheon | Marana, Laos Transit Center, Aero Park Area, Raytheon. | |
Sun Link is a 3.9 mi (6.28 km) modern streetcar system that travels through the downtown area, connecting the main University of Arizona campus with the Mercado District on the western edge of downtown. Construction began in April 2012, with revenue service beginning in July 2014. [17] The rolling stock is manufactured by Oregon-based United Streetcar. [18]
Sun Link is double-tracked, replacing a single-track configuration previously used by Old Pueblo Trolley (OPT), a volunteer-run heritage streetcar operation, begun in 1993, mainly used by tourists and local patrons (including University of Arizona students) of the numerous small shops, bars and restaurants along the line.[ citation needed ] The maintenance facility is located just west of the OPT car barn and yard on 8th Street west of 4th Avenue. OPT last ran on October 31, 2011, when service was suspended for Sun Link construction; the plan was for Old Pueblo Trolley to share operations, trackage and stations with Sun Link, but no date has yet been set for OPT service to resume. [19]
Sun Tran operates 10 Sun Shuttle routes, which connect outlying neighborhoods to Sun Tran and Sun Express service. [20] As of 2024, service in Ajo is operated by Ajo Transportation. [21]
Sun Van is a paratransit service that offers alternative transportation for riders that are unable to use fixed-route buses because of a disability. Trips must be reserved 1-7 days in advance. [22] In 2022, Sun Tran launched an app that allows riders to track their reserved shuttle in real time. [23]
NOTE: all fares are free since late March 2020 ever since the COVID-19 outbreak.
The basic rate is free to all. Previously, it was $1.75; reduced fare for low-income, persons with disabilities, seniors at least 65 and Medicare cardholders was $0.75 (with a valid SunGO ID & card). The express bus fare was $2.35. No fares apply to kids under 6 with fare-paying rider, limit 3. All fares used to be paid with a SunGo smart card, which can be loaded with cash value or passes. 24-hour passes ($4) & 30-day tickets ($48) were available. The University of Arizona provided discounted passes for eligible students, faculty and staff through the UA's Parking and Transportation Services. [24]
Sun Tran has an active fleet of 126 buses. [25] In 2008, Sun Tran signed a contract with Gillig to purchase 119 biodiesel buses. This was done to avoid the need to expand CNG fueling capacity at its depot. [26] However, Sun Tran plans to replace all diesel buses with CNG buses by FY26. [25]
Image | Builder and Model | Year | Length | Fuel | Number(s) | Quantity | Notes |
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Gillig Low Floor | 2006 | 40' | B5 Biodiesel | 2601-2612 | 12 | These buses have a different seating configuration compared to the 2005 Gillig buses, as seats are all arranged lengthwise (except for the last row of seats). This was done to reduce vandalism that has been caused to bus windows and the interior. | |
![]() | Gillig Low Floor BRT | 2008–2009 | 40' | B5 Biodiesel | 2901-2936 | 36 | These buses, labeled "Sun Express", are used on express routes 101X-312X, and occasionally as shuttles for special events. Features include head rests, reclining seats, and heat resistant windows. |
![]() ![]() | Gillig Low Floor | 2009 | 40' | B5 Biodiesel | 2937-2950, 3001-3010 | 14 | The 29XX buses (known as transition buses) are Low Floor, not BRT, and feature head rests and reclining seats. The rest (3001-3010) are regular Low Floor buses. |
2009 | 40' | B5 Biodiesel-Electric Hybrid | 3000 | 1 | First hybrid bus introduced in 2010. It featured a promotional livery until 2014 when it was painted with the same livery as the other regular buses. | ||
2011–2012 | 40' | B5 Biodiesel-Urea | 3011, 3101-3156 | 57 | These buses run with a blend of Biodiesel-5% Urea. | ||
2012 | 40' | B5 Biodiesel-Electric Hybrid | 4001-4010 | 10 | New hybrid buses placed in service at the end of December 2012. | ||
2014 | 40' | CNG | 3201-3224 | 24 | The majority of the buses will go into service by the end of August. These new buses will eventually replace the 14-year-old Nova buses. [27] | ||
2014 | 35' | CNG | 3225-3229 | 4 | These new CNG buses are smaller (35-foot-long compared to the standard 40 feet) and have a total of 30 seats. These will replace the 14-year-old Nova buses. | ||
2014 | 40' | CNG | 3230-3245 | 16 | New CNG buses placed in service to replace the old CNG buses. | ||
2018 | 40' | CNG | 3301-3323 | 23 | |||
2020 | 40' | CNG | 3401-3420 | 20 | |||
2022 | 40' | CNG | 3501-3518 | 18 | |||
2020 | 40' | CNG | 4011 | 1 | This is a 2019 model | ||
2021 | 40' | 4012-4016 | 5 | ||||
2022 | 40' | 4017-4021 | 5 | ||||
Note that this is by no means a complete listing of retired vehicles that have operated for Sun Tran and/or its predecessors.
Builder | Model | Year | Length | Fuel | Number(s) | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yellow Coach | Model 733 | 1937 | 30' | Gasoline | 14-15 | 2 | These buses were withdrawn after World War II. The engine was located in the front and they sat 21 passengers. |
Yellow Coach | Model 733 | 1938 | 30' | Gasoline | 16-17 | 2 | These buses were identical to the 1937 Model 733 buses. |
Yellow Coach | Model 1204 | 1939 | 30' | Gasoline | 18-22 | 5 | These buses had a rear engine and sat 24 passengers. |
Yellow Coach | Model 1204 | 1940 | 30' | Gasoline | 23-26 | 4 | These buses were identical to the 1939 Model 1204s. |
Ford | Model 69B | 1941 | 30' | Gasoline | 27-31 | 5 | These buses were built for World War II. |
Ford | Model 69B | 1942 | 30' | Gasoline | 32-36 | 5 | These buses were built for World War II. |
Ford | Model 69B | 1943 | 30' | Gasoline | 37-41 | 5 | These buses were built for World War II. |
Ford | Model 69B | 1944 | 30' | Gasoline | 42-46 | 5 | These buses were built for World War II. |
Ford | Model 69B | 1945 | 30' | Gasoline | 47-49 | 3 | These buses were built for World War II. |
Ford | Model 69B | 1946 | 30' | Gasoline | 50-55 | 6 | These buses were withdrawn from service in 1955. |
Twin Coach | 41-S "Art Deco" | 1946 | 35' | Gasoline | 101-106 | 6 | These buses were some of the earliest to operate in Tucson. All were withdrawn in 1968. |
Twin Coach | 41-S "Art Deco" | 1947 | 35' | Gasoline | 107-112 | 6 | These buses were identical to the 1946 Twin Coach buses. |
Twin Coach | 34-S "Art Deco" | 1948 | 30' | Gasoline | 113-115 | 3 | These buses were withdrawn in the late-1960s. Some were converted to school buses before that. |
GMC | TDH-4509 "Old Look" | 1951 | 35' | Diesel | 201-206 | 6 | These buses were retrofitted with A/C in the late-1950s. They were withdrawn from service in the 1970s. |
GMC | TGH-3101 "Old Look" | 1951 | 30' | Gasoline | 121-126 | 6 | These buses were operated by the Old Pueblo Transit Company, which was the transit agency for South Tucson. |
GMC | TDH-4509 "Old Look" | 1952 | 35' | Diesel | 207-215 | 9 | These buses were similar to the 1951 TDH-4509 buses. All were withdrawn in the 1970s. |
GMC | TGH-3101 "Old Look" | 1952 | 30' | Gasoline | 127-129 | 3 | These buses were operated by the Old Pueblo Transit Company and were withdrawn in the 1960s. |
GMC | TDH-4512 "Old Look" | 1953 | 35' | Diesel | 216-218 | 3 | These buses were retrofitted with A/C in the late-1950s. |
GMC | TGH-3102 "Old Look" | 1953 | 30' | Gasoline | 130 | 1 | This bus was operated by the Old Pueblo Transit Company. |
GMC | TDH-4512 "Old Look" | 1957 | 35' | Diesel | 220-222 | 3 | These buses were retrofitted with A/C in the late-1950s. |
GMC | TDH-4512 "Old Look" | 1959 | 35' | Diesel | 223-225 | 3 | These buses were retrofitted with A/C in the early-1960s. |
GMC | TGH-3102 "Old Look" | 1959 | 30' | Gasoline | 131-133 | 3 | These buses were operated by the Old Pueblo Transit Company and were withdrawn in the 1970s. |
GMC | TGH-3102 "Old Look" | 1960 | 30' | Gasoline | 134-136 | 3 | These buses were similar to the 1949 TGH-3102 buses but only had a single door. They were withdrawn from service in 1974. |
GMC | TDH-4517 "New Look" | 1962 | 35' | Diesel | 228-231 | 4 | These buses were the first in Tucson to be built with air conditioning, and were also the first GMC "New Look" buses in service. They were withdrawn from service in the early 1980s. |
GMC | TDH-3501 "Old Look" | 1966 | 30' | Diesel | 140 | 1 | Although this bus was built in 1966, it had the "Old Look" design. It was built for Old Pueblo Transit Company and withdrawn from service in the late-1970s. |
GMC | T6H-4523A "New Look" | 1972 | 35' | Diesel | 7201-7211 | 11 | These buses were the first to be ordered by the city of Tucson. |
GMC | T6H-4523A "New Look" | 1973 | 35' | Diesel | 7312-7321 | 10 | These buses were identical to the 1972 GMC New Looks. |
Flxible | 45096 "New Look" | 1973 | 35' | Diesel | 7322-7331 | 10 | These buses were the first Flxible buses to enter service in Tucson. They were withdrawn from service in the 1990s. |
GMC | T6H-4523A "New Look" | 1974 | 35' | Diesel | 7402-7403 | 2 | These buses were ordered by an operator in Texas but ended up in service in Tucson. They were renumbered from 1402 to 1403 and were withdrawn from service in the mid-1990s. |
GMC | T8H-5307A "New Look" | 1974 | 40' | Diesel | 1474-1479, 1481, 1484, 1488 | 9 | These buses were delivered new to Tucson but were actually built for various transit agencies across the United States who did not take up these buses. They were temporarily operated in Tucson from 1974 to 1978, when they were replaced with AM General buses. 1475-1478 were sold to Valley Metro and were withdrawn in 1989, while the rest were sent to other operators. These were the first 40-foot-long (12 m) buses in Tucson. |
Flxible | 45096 "New Look" | 1975 | 35' | Diesel | 7532-7563 | 32 | These buses were the first to be built for Sun Tran (along with the 1975 AM General 9640-8 buses) and featured a different livery from the red and yellow that is featured on buses today. All of these buses were withdrawn in the mid-1990s. |
AM General | 9640-8 "Metropolitan" | 1975 | 40' | Diesel | 5501-5512 | 12 | These buses were the first to be built for Sun Tran (along with the 1975 Flxible 45096 buses), and featured a different livery from the red and yellow that is featured on buses today. All of these buses were withdrawn in the mid-1990s. |
Flxible | 35096 "New Look" | 1976 | 30' | Diesel | 7664-7684 | 21 | These buses were built for Old Pueblo Transit, which served the city of South Tucson. Originally, these buses were numbered 5050-5070 but after OPT was taken over by Sun Tran in 1978, these buses were renumbered to 7664–7684. All of these buses were withdrawn in the mid-1990s. |
AM General | 10235B "Metropolitan" | 1977 | 35' | Diesel | 7764-7775 | 12 | These buses were all withdrawn by 1997. |
AM General | 10240B "Metropolitan" | 1978 | 40' | Diesel | 5713-5724 | 12 | These were the first buses painted in the red and yellow Sun Tran livery. All of these buses were withdrawn by 1997. |
GMC | T8J-204 "RTS-04" | 1981 | 40' | Diesel | 8101-8119 | 19 | These were Tucson's first RTS buses. They featured rollsigns and frameless windows. All were withdrawn from service in 2000. |
GMC | T8J-204 "RTS-04" | 1986 | 40' | Diesel | 8601-8613 | 13 | All of these buses were withdrawn from service in 2000. |
GMC | T8J-206 "RTS-06" | 1986 | 40' | Diesel | 8614-8629 | 16 | These buses were similar to the earlier 1986 GMC buses but were built as RTS-06 models rather than RTS-04 models. All were withdrawn from service in 2000. |
Orion Bus Industries | 02.501 | 1994 | 25' | CNG | 9470-9475 | 6 | These buses were powered by CNG and were withdrawn in the early 2000s. |
TMC | T80-206 "RTS-06" | 1989 | 40' | Biodiesel | 8930-8984 | 55 | Only 8 buses of various numbers remained in the fleet until May 2008 were mostly used on express routes. Most of this type was retired in the fall of 2005 with the arrival of the 2005 Gilligs. These buses were formerly powered by diesel. |
Neoplan USA | AN440 | 1991 | 40' | Biodiesel | 9101-9125 | 25 | 9123-9125 formerly ran on Diesel/CNG |
Neoplan USA | AN440 | 1993 | 40' | Biodiesel | 9326-9340 | 15 | These buses were formerly dual-fueled and could run on diesel or CNG. They are identical to the 1991 Neoplan buses. |
Neoplan USA | AN440 | 1994 | 40' | Biodiesel | 9441-9469 | 29 | These buses were formerly dual-fueled and could run on diesel or CNG. They have Luminator Mega:MAX flip-dot signs and a different A/C unit compared to the other Neoplan buses. The last ones in service were retired from the active fleet in 2012 with the arrival of the new 2012 Gilligs. |
New Flyer | C40HF | 1996 | 40' | CNG | 9676-9694 | 19 | These buses were the first purely CNG-powered buses in the Sun Tran fleet. They also were the first buses to feature automatic stop announcements and hard seats throughout the entire bus (rather than just in the rear). These were withdrawn in 2011 when the new Gillig 2011 buses arrived. |
New Flyer | C40HF | 1997 | 40' | CNG | 9701-9725 | 25 | These buses are similar to the 1996 New Flyer buses but feature grey interior flooring and sidewalls rather than the orange interior found on the 1996 buses. Retired in Fall 2012 with the arrival of the 2012 Gillig buses. |
Nova Bus | 40102CNG "RTS-WFD" | 2000 | 40' | CNG | 2001-2045 | 16 | These buses originally featured Luminator LEDot front signs, but they were replaced with Luminator Horizon signs in 2005. 24 of these buses were retired from the active fleet in July 2014. The other were withdrawn in 2015. |