UA News

The new stops will provide access to downtown businesses and help connect Sun Tran bus riders to campus.

Beginning May 18, The University of Arizona's Cat Tran shuttle will roll into new territory, making stops in the Fourth Avenue shopping district and downtown Tucson for the first time.

The new stops on the Cat Tran USA route will make it easier for UA students and employees to access businesses and services in nearby off-campus areas and may ease the campus commute for some who ride the bus to work or school, said Bill Davidson, marketing manager for Parking and Transportation Services at the UA.  

The new downtown stop, at the Ronstadt Transit Center, will allow UA employees and students travelling via Sun Tran bus to board the free Cat Tran from the downtown bus stop to complete their campus commute. It's a time-saving move, especially for those who wish to take the bus from the far southeast or northwest parts of town, Davidson said. 

In February, Sun Tran initiated two express routes, or "weekday rush hour service" routes, that travel directly downtown – with no additional stops – from park-and-ride lots in Oro Valley in the northwest and Rita Ranch in the southeast. With a Cat Tran stop at Ronstadt, travelers from those locations will be able to take the shuttle from the transit center to campus rather than board another bus.

While many Sun Tran bus routes stop on or near campus, there are no express routes ending on campus.

During the summer months, one Cat Tran shuttle will pick up from Ronstadt stop every 30 minutes, beginning as early as 6:44 a.m., Davidson said. In the fall, there will be two shuttles, with pickups every 15 minutes, he said. No identification is required to ride.

The new Fourth Avenue stop will be located near East Sixth Street and will pick up in both directions, Davidson said.

"It's going to be a great addition to the shuttle system," Davidson said. "It's really going to help speed up service for people coming from some of those further spots, and both students and employees will be able to connect with the Fourth Avenue shops and downtown."

The Cat Tran USA route includes campus stops such as the Student Union Memorial Center, Main Gate, the University Services Annex and more. The last shuttle departs from campus at 5:58 p.m.

Details about Cat Tran routes and summer service, including maps, are available on the PTS Web site.