Sun Tran To Receive $15 Million For Electric Fleet Expansion

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced that Sun Tran will receive a $12 million Low or No Emissions Grant for the purchase of 19 electric vehicles and ten charging stations.

The City of Tucson, Tucson Electric Power, Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority are also contributing funds, which brings the total investment in this project to $15 million.

“This represents a major step forward in our efforts to reduce emissions and improve air quality in Southern Arizona. We would like to thank our partners who helped make this happen,” said Sun Tran General Manager Steve Spade.

The Low or No Emissions FTA grant and local match funds will be used to purchase ten electric buses, seven electric vehicles for Sun Van, and two electric vehicles for a new transit route to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. Five dual-sided charging bays will be constructed at the Sun Tran north yard, while four stations will be installed at Sun Van. An additional charging station is dedicated for the new service to Sabino Canyon.

“We are honored and humbled that the FTA and our partners support these efforts for clean transit in Tucson,” said Spade. “This grant will make history by allowing Sun Van to launch its first set of electric vehicles. It also doubles Sun Tran’s electric fleet and makes new service options possible.”

Sun Tran was the first public transportation system in Arizona to launch electric buses in 2021. The feat was proceeded with an electric bus pilot program that started in 2019. The upcoming electric fleet expansion aligns with the current fleet carbon neutral plan, where Sun Tran’s all-diesel buses will be replaced with either electric or compressed natural gas (CNG) buses by 2028.