June 2025 Update:

On August 6 the Mayor & Council will be discussing possible new sources of funding for transit, INCLUDING FARES; there are several fare systems being proposed. Now is the time to remind them that fare-free transit is better transit. Your experience and your voice matter!

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PREVIOUS UPDATE:

May 2025 Update:

The City of Tucson Mayor & Council are working on the FY 2026 budget, and your advocacy is still needed to keep it fare free! There will be a budget public hearing during their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 6.

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PREVIOUS UPDATES:

Funding for public transit is on the City of Tucson Mayor & Council Study Session agenda on Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025. In the Mayor & Council Memorandum, staff provided three options that the Mayor & Council can act on now to increase funding for transit operations:

• Partnership Agreements: Despite the crucial role that public transit plays in the daily lives of students, the City of Tucson's educational partners in the community have yet to chip in any funding. More recently, the leaders of Tucson Unified School District (TUSD), the University of Arizona (UA), and Pima Community College (PCC) have indicated that they are willing to come back to the table for further discussion.
• Hotel/Motel Surcharge: Transit plays a key role in supporting tourism in the Tucson area. The hotel/motel surcharge could provide up to $2M for every $1/night increase.
• Public Utility Tax (PUT): The Mayor and Council have the authority to increase the PUT and direct the increased revenue to fund transit operations. It is estimated that for every 0.5% increase the PUT will generate approximately $1.7M in additional funding that could be used to fund transit.

In addition to these potential funding sources, staff provided additional options that could be explored if certain caveats were addressed:

• Transportation Utility Fee (TUF): Would require a change to the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS).
• Special Taxing District: Would require a change to the ARS to include transit as an authorized use.
• Impact Fees: Would require a change to the ARS to include transit as an authorized use.
• Rental Car Tax: Would require a change to the ARS. There could be an opportunity for the City, Pima County, and tourism-focused orgs to provide revenues to be reallocated for transit.
• Formation of a Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA): Would require amendments to the ARS to clearly define what type of entity an MPTA is; the scope of the authority to engage in transit operations; and the process for authorization of funding (property taxes, bonds).

Further details about each option are available in the memo.

Zero fares are guaranteed only through June 2025, so our advocacy is still needed! This latest April 2025 memo provides the recommendation that the Mayor & Council direct staff to perform a Title VI Fare Equity Analysis. If they choose to return to any fare collection in the next fiscal year, a Fare Equity Analysis would be legally required for any of the five different fare scenarios. A return to fare collection would still require public outreach, a public hearing, and approval by Mayor and Council. It is now time to contact the Mayor and Council, thank them for their commitment to keeping our transit fare free and exploring other avenues to increase transit funding BUT any consideration on their part to return to fare collection is a step backwards! Feel free to spread the word using the link bit.ly/YesToFreeTransit.

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PREVIOUS UPDATE:

Funding for public transit is on the City of Tucson Mayor & Council Study Session agenda on Tuesday, Nov 19. In the Mayor & Council Memorandum, staff provided three viable options for increasing funding for transit operations:

• Partnership Agreements: Despite the crucial role that public transit plays in the daily lives of students, the City of Tucson's educational partners in the community have yet to chip in any funding. More recently, the leaders of Tucson Unified School District (TUSD), the University of Arizona (UA), and Pima Community College (PCC) have indicated that they are willing to come back to the table for further discussion.
• Hotel/Motel Surcharge: Transit plays a key role in supporting tourism in the Tucson area. The hotel/motel surcharge could provide up to $2M for every $1/night increase.
• Public Utility Tax (PUT): The Mayor and Council have the authority to increase the PUT and direct the increased revenue to fund transit operations. It is estimated that for every 0.5% increase the PUT will generate approximately $1.7M in additional funding that could be used to fund transit.

Further details about each option are available in the memo.

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PREVIOUS UPDATE:

At the March 5, 2024 Study Session, under the leadership of Mayor Romero and Council Member Santa Cruz, the Mayor & Council directed the City Manager to return to the March 19 Study Session with more information about potential sources of funding.  They opted out of beginning the process of reinstating fares, because as Vice Mayor Dahl noted in a local article, "the city council would get 'deluged again and again' by people who Dahl says 'justifiably' think a free transit service is a 'great deal.'"

During the March 5 Study Session, Mayor Romero said that the “incredible growth of our system with our fare-free transit system is absolutely worth the investment" and noted that "the Prosperity Initiative talks about prioritizing transportation options to connect disadvantaged communities to jobs, schools and resources." Council Member Santa Cruz also spoke compellingly in support of treating public transit as a public good.

Please be sure to acknowledge the leadership of these folks as you continue to reach out to the Mayor & Council about the importance of keeping all public transit fare-free! The Transit for All Coalition will continue to share updates and opportunities to take action between now and March 19, so stay tuned!

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PREVIOUS UPDATE:

Since March 2020, residents in the city of Tucson have been able to ride for free on the region’s extensive network of buses and streetcars. Community reliance on fare-free public transit has only continued to grow since then, along with a groundswell of support across local businesses, organizations, non-profits, and grassroots groups. You may have been one of the countless members of the public who wrote emails, signed our petition, and spoke to the Mayor and Council to urge their support for fare-free transit, spearheaded by the organizing efforts of the Transit for All Coalition. All of that advocacy culminated in a unanimous vote at the May 9, 2023 Mayor and Council meeting to commit to fare-free transit indefinitely, or "until there is an affirmative vote from the council to reinstate the fares." Thank you for using your voice on this important issue!

A memorandum from the City Manager was released on February 28 that recommends reinstating fares for Sun Link and Sun Express services. On March 5, Mayor and Council will discuss the future of fare-free transit. Your advocacy made a difference before. The time has come to let Mayor and Council know once again that public transit is a public good and should remain permanently fare-free!

Take action through our letter-writing campaign by typing your comments into the box provided. Your letter will be automatically emailed to the Mayor & Council and appropriate staff at the City of Tucson and Sun Tran.