Jump to content

Sun Tran


A. Wong

Recommended Posts

  • Board Admin

January 27, 2012

Industry News

Sun Tran opens new bus facility

M-admin-Media.jpgThe City of Tucson, Ariz. and Sun Tran celebrated the opening of Sun Tran's Northwest Bus Facility. The 25-acre facility will store and maintain Sun Tran's expanding fleet of buses, and allows the continued expansion of transit service in the region.

Sun Tran's Northwest Bus Facility now has the capacity to operate and maintain 250 buses for the entire Tucson region. Although the $56 million facility is complete, Sun Tran will continue to operate approximately one-third of the service from another location.

Phase I was completed in 2005 and included the construction of Sun Tran Boulevard and the City fueling facility, with $8 million of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds and 1994 City of Tucson bonds.

Phase II was completed in 2009. It included the operations building and a portion of the maintenance facility and was funded with $29 million of Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and FTA. The second phase, built to accommodate operation of up to 150 buses, included 17 bus bays to repair and maintain the fleet, a fare retrieval area, bus wash and dispatch center.

M-ST-GO-event.jpgPhase III was completed in December 2011 and includes expansion of the maintenance building, a new administration building for regional transit operations and more bus parking. The third phase was funded with more than $16 million from FTA's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus program and $3 million in funding from the RTA. During its peak month of final phase construction, 186 local full-time jobs were created.

Copyright ©

2012

Metro Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

Source: http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2012/01/Sun-Tran-opens-new-bus-facility.aspx?ref=Express-Tuesday-20120131&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
  • 7 months later...

I was in Tucson a couple weeks ago so I have some photos to share. The bus fleet isn't especially interesting as there's only two models: Gillig Advantages and Nova RTS. They're also building a new streetcar line which is much more interesting for me.

3115 at the Ronstadt Transit Center:

13017731135_b8ae33cea1_b.jpg

SunTran Gillig Advantage #3115 by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

3131 Turning into the Ronstadt TC with a strange bike up front:

13018119394_6cb72295a0_b.jpg

SunTran Gillig Advantage #3131 by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

2023 at Ronstadt TC:

13017730845_edea899e36_b.jpg

SunTran Nova Bus RTS-WFD #2023 by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

United Streetcar 200 #103 at the streetcar maintenance facility:

13019229324_6d68a8d5d4_b.jpg

SunLink United Streetcar 200 #103 by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The fleet was much more interesting until 2007. Prior to then, they had 1991/1993/1994 Neoplan AN440s, 1997/1997 New Flyer C40HFs, the 2001 Nova RTSs, and 2005/2006/2007 Gillig LFs. They've now replaced everything except for the RTSs with Gilligs, although they do have a nice fleet of 2009 Gillig BRTs for their Sun Express service.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...
  • 3 months later...
  • 6 months later...
  • 2 years later...

So I think this thread as well as the Wiki page could use some information and TLC.

The 1993/1994 Neoplan AN440A's were mostly all retired by 2012 and slowly auctioned off between 2009 and 2016.

The majority of the 2001 Nova WFD's are retired and many have been scrapped. Some may still remain as part of the contingency or training fleet.

SunTran's 2017 Marketing Plan shows some interesting information. During the FY2016 SunTran experiences a drop in ridership due to a 42-day work stoppage strike.

Also, SunTran plans to purchase 37 new 40ft CNG buses for the 2018 fiscal year. These would likely replace the remaining Nova's(if any remain) and the majority of the 2005 Gillig fleet.

A Fleet Maintenance Plan released in September 2011 was able to shed some light on the active fleet as of August 2011 as well as VINS and License plates for all the buses in active revenue. 

Active buses included: (9443, 9445-9447, 9449, 9451, 9455, 9463, 9469), (9676-9685, 9687-9694), (9701-9721, 9723-9725), (2001-2045), (2501-2538), (2601-2612), (2701-2718), (2801-2811), (2901-2936), (2937-2950), (3000-3010), & (3011).

Contingency Fleet included: 9329-9330, 9332, 9334-9337, 9339, 9441-9442, 9444, 9448, 9452-9453, 9456, 9458-9461, 9465-9468, & 9686.

Buses awaiting disposal: 9326, 9338, 9450, 9457, & 9722.

Also, 2601-2612 are actually 2007 models, 2701-2718, 2801-2811, & 2904-2936 are 2008 models, 2937-2949, 2950 & 3000-3010 are 2010s but are 2009 models(based on the Vins), & 3011 is a 2011 model.

I'm not going to list all the Vins because that would be ridiculous, so here is a shortened version:

2001: 4RKMWTJA5YR835231

2002-2025: 4RKE2TJA01R835308 - 4RKEWTJA61R835331

2026-2045: 4RKEWTJA21R835362 - 4RKEWTJAX1R835381

2501-2538: 15GGD201651075189 - 15GGD201151075226

2601-2612: 15GGD211271077486 - 15GGD211771077497

2701-2718: 15GGD211981078751 - 15GGD211481078768

2801-2811: 15GGD211581176000 - 15GGD211881176010

2901-2936: 15GGD211881176332 - 15GGD211581176367

2937-2949: 15GGD271291178909 - 15GGD271391178921

2950: 15GGD271XA1178922

3000: 15GGD3012A1177327

3001-3010: 15GGD2718A1178899 - 15GGD2715A1178908

3011: 15GGD2717B1178572

All this information can be seen on the PDFs linked below.

2017 Fiscal Year Marketing Plan:

https://www.tucsonaz.gov/files/transit/Attachment_F_Regional_Transit_Marketing_Plan_FY2017_8.23.16v.pdf

2011/2012 Fleet Maintenance Plan:

http://www.tucsonprocurement.com/ContractImages/SolicitationAttachmentImg_120358_DOCUMENT G - 1 SUNTRAN FLEET MAINTENANCE PLAN - REVENUE FY2012.pdf

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Sun Tran has introduced an artic bus that is to run on route #18. https://www.suntran.com/hottopic.php?TopicID=327

This bus is numbered #8014 and is an Ex-Valley Metro 2003 New Flyer D60LF. a picture can be seen on their Facebook page.

 

I also noted on Sun Trans bus tracker the following buses that are not listed on the wiki: 3303, 3305-3308, 3313-3323. I assume these are the 2018 CNG buses they ordered as stated in the 2018 Fiscal Year Budget report. On a new report video about the new artic bus, you can catch a quick glimpse of #3303. So these are just standard Gillig LowFloor CNGs. https://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/2018/10/03/sun-tran-rolls-out-accordion-bus-capable-hauling-passengers/

I didn't see any 2500 series Gilligs on the tracker. So they may all have been removed from revenue service.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
On 10/9/2018 at 10:20 AM, alexb320 said:

Sun Tran has introduced an artic bus that is to run on route #18. https://www.suntran.com/hottopic.php?TopicID=327

This bus is numbered #8014 and is an Ex-Valley Metro 2003 New Flyer D60LF. a picture can be seen on their Facebook page.

 

I also noted on Sun Trans bus tracker the following buses that are not listed on the wiki: 3303, 3305-3308, 3313-3323. I assume these are the 2018 CNG buses they ordered as stated in the 2018 Fiscal Year Budget report. On a new report video about the new artic bus, you can catch a quick glimpse of #3303. So these are just standard Gillig LowFloor CNGs. https://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/2018/10/03/sun-tran-rolls-out-accordion-bus-capable-hauling-passengers/

I didn't see any 2500 series Gilligs on the tracker. So they may all have been removed from revenue service.

 

You are correct about the 2018 Gillig Low Floor CNGs for Tucson. They are numbered 3301-3323 and the model designation is G31D102N4. Serial numbers are J3192010-192032.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Hi!  I have paid a visit to Tucson during my December Arizona trip, and the ex-Valley Metro D60LF artic 8014 was nowhere to be seen while fanning on Sun Tran, the local transit agency.  As a result, all heavy duty buses I've spotted during my stay were Gillig LF's or BRT's.  In fact, it is one of fleets most-dominated by a single manufacturer among transit agencies of its size.  Meanwhile, I was unable to capture any high-quality pictures of the Sun Link streetcars.

Now to the pictures:

The 2500-series of 2005 Gillig LF 40ft. diesel buses are believed to be retired, being replaced by the 3300-series of 2018 CNG sister buses.  As a result, similar buses of 2600-series from 2006 are now the oldest buses in Sun Tran's fleet.  Bus 2604 is pictured at the Roy Laos Transit Transit Center (TC) in southern Tucson.  Similar but EPA-2007 buses 2701 and 2808 from 2007 and 2008 are pictured at the downtown Ronstadt TC and the Tohono Tadai TC near Tucson Mall respectively.  Apparently, the older white, red and yellow livery once appearing on these buses is history too.  Finally, buses 3001 and 3007 are 2009 sister buses pictured at the same location as 2808, and the 3000-series of buses (Including hybrid bus 3000) are Sun Tran's final EPA-2007 buses.  Bus 3007 is also my ride from Tohono Tadai TC to downtown Tucson.

STT-r025-2604-1.JPGSTT-r025-2604-2.JPGSTT-r016-2701-1.JPGSTT-r016-2701-3.JPGSTT-r061-2808-1.JPGSTT-r010-3001.JPGSTT-r019-3007.JPG

The 2900-series of 2009 Gillig BRT's are dedicated for commuter routes branded as Sun Express.  They also pioneered the current silver/blue livery.  Bus 2901 is the first of these buses and is pictured near the Church Ave/Pennington St bus stop.  Also featured are buses 2923,2942 and 2944 at/near the Stone Ave/Franklin St express bus stop, the PM staring point for most 100-series express routes from downtown Tucson.  Clearly, there are more than 36 of these express buses in Sun Tran's fleet.

STT-r103X-2901.JPGSTT-r104X-2923-2.JPGSTT-r108X-2942-1.JPGSTT-r108X-2942-2.JPGSTT-r109X-2944-1.JPGSTT-r109X-2944-2.JPG

The 2012 deliveries of 3100-series diesel and 4000-series hybrid Gillig LF's are Sun Tran's first EPA-2010 buses.  Diesel bus 3156 and hybrid bus 4003 are both pictured at the Roy Laos TC.  Remarkably, 3156 is also the agency's final diesel bus for now.

STT-r12-3156.JPGSTT-r018-4003-1.JPGSTT-r018-4003-2.JPG

Sun Tran then switch back to CNG that once powered its high-floor buses. They have 63 Gillig LF 40ft. buses (40 X 3200-series of 2014 buses and 23 X 3300-series of 2018 buses).  Bus 3244 is next-to-last of the 2014 deliveries, and is pictured at the Roy Laos TC, while buses 3212 and 3305 are both pictured at the Ronstadt TC.  They are my rides back to the Tohono Tadai TC and down to Roy Laos TC respectively.

STT-r050-3244-1.JPGSTT-r050-3244-2.JPGSTT-r019-3212-1.JPGSTT-r018-3305-1.JPG

Inexplicably, Sun Tran has purchased five 35ft. version among the 2014 deliveries, as illustrated by bus 3226 pictured at both the Roy Laos and Ronstadt TC's.

STT-r023-3226-1.JPGSTT-r023-3226-3.JPG

Finally, Sun Tran also operate several neighborhood/rural routes under the Sun Shuttle banner.  Most are operated by Ford E-Series/Starcraft cutaways of varying wheelbases.  Short-wheelbase 763 is pictured at Oracle Rd in Casas Adobes (a northern suburb of Tucson), while intermediate wheelbase 759 is pictured at Marana (another northern suburb of Tucson) .  Long-wheelbase 767 and 777 are pictured at Marana and the Ronstadt TC respectively.  Finally, Freightliner S2C/Startrans large cutaway 782 is pictured at the Roy Laos TC.  It and sister bus 781 are the staple of the two rural routes based there.

STT-r401-763.JPGSTT-r410-759-1.JPGSTT-r413-767-1.JPGSTT-r421-777-2.JPGSTT-r440-782-1.JPGSTT-r440-782-3.JPG

A bonus rear shot of Gillig LF bus 3116 taken at Casas Adobes features the sticker saying "Operated and Maintained by Teamsters of Local 104".  This appears at the rears of all Gillig buses of the agency.  Can anyone find transit buses elsewhere proclaiming union operation this prominently?

STT-r016-3116-2.JPG

Here is my Sun Tran (Tucson) gallery:

Sun Tran (Tucson)

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
  • 1 year later...

The first of the 2005 Gilligs as well as some of the Sun Tran cutaways were up for auction today by Sierra Auction Management. None of the Gilligs were in running condition and didn't sell due to the reserve not being met.

Gilligs: 2503, 2506, 2510, 2514, 2517, 2521, 2523, 2532, & 2537

Cutaways: 401, 403-407, 409-410, 940, 942, 944, & 946

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Hello all!

First post here but long time follower.

The first electric Gillig bus (not the test bus) entered service Thursday, Oct 28 on the Route 3. Source was my looking at Sun Tran's online tracker. In addition, it has also been on route 1. I haven't seen any other of the series out and about.

The bus is number 4012.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

For the electric buses, 4012 actually started running in revenue service the first week of October. Perhaps it wasn't showing on the tracker until this point? Sun Tran currently only has (or had) capacity to charge one unit at a time on a basic charger that was installed at their North Garage during the pilot electric bus demo. Four new Siemens charging stations capable of charging up to 8 buses simultaneously are/were still being installed. I think once those are connected and functioning then the rest of the EV fleet will be running regularly.

Here are some pics I took of the electrics during the MBS' visit to Sun Tran's Ronstadt Transit Center and North Garage:

51652521950_dcc625695d_t.jpg  51651670671_f4989337c1_t.jpg

51660867525_af32d58279_t.jpg  51660672504_17daa19e58_t.jpg  51659992036_d568e121d2_t.jpg  51659186117_f4aaebf811_t.jpg  51659185912_c8ae39909d_t.jpg  51659992241_a990d1df31_t.jpg  51660668219_94f679ba2e_t.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...
On 2/25/2022 at 8:06 PM, doglover44 said:

How many electric buses they getting ?

When I was at the big electric bus reveal last year, the mayor indicated that 5 more electric Gilligs are coming in 2022.

For others on this list, have you seen how active the current 5 are? I have seen one or two on the tracker but they don't seem to be deploying them for all day use. It seems haphazard.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...
On 2/25/2022 at 9:42 AM, PrimeTio said:

3505, 3506, 3507 left for delivery 13 hours ago and should be here. Photos from buddies of mine who are delivering them

F8B05F81-8799-43CB-962F-BF6B494BDB80.jpeg

CDDE11F8-A988-4592-9432-DDA9B85C1779.jpeg

4C1784A7-A39A-411C-B335-504461D58207.jpeg

Most of those 3500 buses have gone into service with the 2007 models (2601-2612) being the oldest active buses in the fleet according the sun tran next bus app. I mostly saw 3100 to 3400 vehicles on the app while internet searching today and no 2700 models.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...