Ariz. streetcar line celebrates 1 millionth customer
The passenger was greeted on board by City of Tucson’s Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Sun Link dignitaries and received an annual SunGO pass for unlimited use on the Sun Link streetcar, Sun Tran bus system and select Sun Shuttle routes.
SunLink's one millionth customer with Tucson, Ariz. Mayor Jonathan Rothschild.
Tucson, Ariz.-based Sun Link reached a benchmark milestone when Anna Bjornsen was named its millionth boarding passenger. She is a regular Sun Link passenger that rides to get to school at the University of Arizona.
The lucky millionth passenger was greeted on board by City of Tucson’s Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Sun Link dignitaries and received an annual SunGO pass for unlimited use on the Sun Link streetcar, Sun Tran bus system and select Sun Shuttle routes.
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"The one millionth passenger trip marks a significant milestone for Sun Link," said Mayor Rothschild. "Less than a year after launch, the people of Tucson have made the streetcar a popular mode of transportation, and the streetcar has helped to make downtown a success — spurring economic development all along the line."
Other passengers on board also received Sun Link memorabilia to commemorate the special boarding, which took place 44 days ahead of projected ridership numbers.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.