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Tucson council reviews transit funding options and hears cost of fare‑free service
Summary
City staff presented near‑term funding options for Sun Tran and related services — partnerships, hotel/motel taxes and a possible public‑utility tax — while councilmembers stressed keeping transit free through FY2026 and asked staff to return after detailed COA review. Sam Bridal said forgone fare revenue is $10–$13 million a year.
Mayor Regina Romero and City Manager Tim Tamir opened a continued study session on Nov. 19 to review funding for Tucson’s mass transit system and to preview findings from a recent comprehensive operational analysis (COA).
Sam Bridal, the city’s director of transportation and mobility, told the council the memorandum groups options into two sets: those that would require state legislative changes and a set that the city could act on now. The near‑term, actionable items identified were partnership agreements with educational institutions, adjustments to the hotel/motel surcharge and bed tax, and changes to the public utility tax. “Those are the ones that you could act on now,” Bridal said.
Councilmembers repeatedly urged the council to ground any policy changes in the COA. Mayor Romero and others stressed equity, climate and poverty‑reduction goals as central to the debate over fare policy. Romero noted that fare‑free transit is currently budgeted through fiscal year 2026 and said the city should consider the COA findings before changing that approach.
Councilmember Richard Fimbres pressed staff for the annual revenue impact of the fare‑free policy. Bridal replied, "By not collecting fares, it represents somewhere between 10 and $13,000,000 per year of revenue." He added that restarting fare collection would require roughly a six‑month implementation window and a Title VI analysis.
Members asked staff to return after a three‑to‑four month review of COA data with refined recommendations for revenue and efficiency options. Several councilmembers also encouraged continued outreach and negotiations with Visit Tucson, the University of Arizona, Pima Community College and school districts about partnership contributions.
The council did not direct immediate policy changes; staff will brief the council again after detailed COA review and follow‑up on partnership negotiations.
The next procedural step is for staff to provide the COA walkthrough and potential revenue scenarios before any decision on fares or tax changes.
