Awards

• The Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program
• The Safety and Security Grant

• Beacon Groups Community Leadership Award
  • In recognition and appreciation of Sun Van and Sun Tran Drivers or exceptional leadership and commitment to people with disabilities.
• 2020 Go Green Progressive Partner Award
  • For implantation for the electric bus pilot program in Tucson.
• GOHS Summit Award
  • During the annual Summits for Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, Judges and Car Seat Technicians, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) recognized 24 individuals and groups for their dedication and hard work in helping reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries.
    Sun Tran won the award for the “Sober Up” public service announcement, a bus illustration designed to positively impact the lives of our youth by discouraging underage drinking. GOHS reported a 17 percent reduction in roadway fatalities last year.
• Esteemed Partner Award
  • On November 20, 2006 Open Inn presented Sun Tran with it’s Esteemed Partner Award in appreciation of Sun Tran’s commitment to helping youth in crisis through Project Safe Place.
    “Sun Tran has been the foundation of Pima County’s Safe Place program. We are touched by the sincerity and compasion of each administrator, dispatch person and driver at Sun Tran and are honored by their partnership. We look forward to helping many young people in the years to come through this project,” said Jason Thorpe, Director of Community Education & Outreach for Open Inn.
• Sun Tran rewarded for being a Safe Place
  • National Safe Place honored Sun Tran at their annual conference in early October for our efforts here in the Tucson area. Partnering with Open Inn, a nonprofit organization running the Safe Place program in Pima County, Sun Tran officially launched as a Safe Place site in January 2005. The yellow Safe Place sticker placed near the entrance of every bus informs the community that Sun Tran buses are a designated safe place for our local youth to go in a crisis situation.
    “Sun Tran has been a driving force behind implementing and sustaining Project Safe Place in Southern Arizona,” stated Jason Thorpe of Open Inn. “You are a leader in your industry and a vibrant and enthusiastic partner in Safe Place. You’ve invested fully in the communities you serve and see their success as dependent upon the success of your community.”
    Sun Tran is repeatedly recognized for our efforts because of the hard work and dedication of our staff, and the desire to partner in projects that make a difference in our community.
• United Way Partnership Award
  • This award recognizes the efforts of management and labor working on the United Way campaign. During the campaign, representatives from Sun Tran and Teamsters Local 104 form a team to educate employees on the value of contributing to United Way. The combined efforts have led to increased campaign donations over the past several years.

• Best Workplaces for Commuters
  • Sun Tran joined an elite group of organizations in 2004 and 2005, as one of Tucson’s Best Workplaces for Commuters. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation recognize companies each year that offer outstanding commuter benefits at the work site for employees. Participating companies earn the designation “Best Workplaces for Commuters,” a mark of excellence for environmentally and employee-friendly organizations.
    The program highlights the efforts of many employers to help get employees to work safely, on time, and free of commute-related stress. Sun Tran gives employees and dependents unlimited free rides on its public transportation system throughout the year.

• SWTA Spotlight Award
  • Sun Tran was the recipient of the 2015 SWTA Spotlight Award for the U-Pass promotion during the 2014-2015 University of Arizona school year.
  • Sun Tran’s marketing team attended the Southwest Transit Association (SWTA) Summer University Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, from July 28 to August 1. 2024. During the event, Sun Tran won three prestigious “Hit the Spot” awards for excellence in public transportation marketing: Social Media (Answering Common Questions with Gabby), Print Media (The Sun Employee Newsletter), and Event Promotion (Bus Roadeo). 
• ADDY Awards
  • The ADDY Award recognizes creative excellence in the art of advertising, with gold being the highest level awarded. Sun Tran’s television commercial promoting the use of express service for commuters titled, “Marion and Kate,” was awarded a Gold ADDY Award from the Tucson Advertising Federation. This award qualified Sun Tran to compete at one of 14 districts throughout the country, where the commercial was awarded a Silver ADDY Award.
    Developed in collaboration with Scot Litteer of Litteer Films, the award-winning ad, “Marion & Kate” features unscripted testimonials from real Sun Tran riders promoting Sun Express service. This television spot was part of a rebranding campaign funded by the Regional Transportation Authority.
  • 2022 Award: Sun Tran Marketing department nabbed an award for American Advertising Federation Tucson for their Masked Heros campaign. The concept used a catchy call to action presented in an easy-to-understand and memorable way!
  •  2023 Silver Award: Sun Tran’s *Ride with Respect* campaign earned the prestigious Silver American Advertising Award for its innovative and impactful approach to enhancing the transit experience. This integrated campaign demonstrated a commitment to fostering a respectful, positive atmosphere for all riders, making a lasting impact on public transportation in Tucson.
• SWATA Awards
  • Sun Tran was the recipient of three awards at the Southwest Transit Association’s Annual Marketing Conference. The bus pass designs won first prize, while the hybrid bus design and the Northwest Facility Grand Opening won second prize.
  • Sun Tran was recognized by the South West Transit Association (SWTA) as the first place recipient of the 2007 Spotlight Award for the More Sun Less Stress Campaign. This marketing campaign highlighted Route 391, the new Marana Express, encouraging the community to take advantage of a stress-free commute by riding Sun Tran.
• APTA Awards
  • The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced that Sun Tran has won a first place award in the 28th Annual AdWheel Award competition for its “Sober Up” public service announcement in the Illustrated Bus Category.
• AdWheel
  • In partnership with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the City of Tucson Department of Transportation, the bus illustration was designed to positively impact the lives of our youth and discourage underage drinking.
    The AdWheel Awards, which recognize excellence in public transportation marketing and communications, were presented at a gala awards ceremony on October 8 in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of APTA’s 2007 Annual Meeting. More than 750 entries were received in this year’s competition.

• Sun Tran Recipient of 2012 Excellence Awards
  • Sun Tran received the 2012 Outstanding Transit Organization and Outstanding Training Program awards from Arizona Transit Association (AzTA) and Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). The awards were presented at the AzTA/ADOT Annual Transit Conference on April 24, 2012, in Flagstaff, Arizona.
• Outstanding Transit Organization
  • Sun Tran has won several awards from AzTA, including the Outstanding Transit Organization award in 2004
  • Despite a down economy, Sun Tran realized enhanced financial performance for the current fiscal year through February 2012 as compared to the same period in fiscal year 2011. Total passenger revenue increased 30 percent, the farebox recovery ratio increased 19 percent, revenue per passenger increased 26 percent and ridership grew by 3.1 percent despite a fare increase in July 2011. Sun Tran unveiled the final phase of the new Northwest Bus Facility, which allows for continued expansion of transit services in the region. Phase II of this facility was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)® Gold certification, which was the City of Tucson’s first “green” transit facility and second transit facility at the time to be built to LEED Gold standard in the State of Arizona. Additionally, Sun Tran secured more than $17 million in grant funds for new buses, staff training, added security for the system and upgraded the CNG fueling facility.
• Outstanding Training Program
  • Sun Tran partnered with Pima County ONESTOP, a federally funded system of organizations that provide career development services and training for individuals and businesses to improve the skills of their workforce. The partnership provided training on various subjects for local vehicle maintenance professionals, with Sun Tran employees specifically receiving training in hybrid technology and biodiesel fuel systems at no cost.
• FTA Annual Award for Success in Enhancing Ridership
  • Sun Tran has been selected as a recipient of the 2008 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Annual Award for Success in Enhancing Ridership. Our system was one of three selected for this award in the 200,000 to 1 million population category. Sun Tran was chosen based on our excellent ridership gains and the broad transferability of our initiatives to other transit agencies.
    Sun Tran launched two initiatives believed to have contributed to an annual ridership increase of 7.1% for the timeframe this award was measuring. We conducted an in-depth telephone survey to identify key factors of overall customer satisfaction and implemented strategies to improve in the areas identified as needing improvement. Sun Tran also moved forward with an initiative to update its aging fleet, which included the acquisition of 38 new biodiesel low-floor replacement buses.
• America’s Best Transit System
  • Sun Tran was selected “America’s Best Transit System” for 2005 by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), a Washington-based nonprofit organization that serves as an advocate for the advancement of public transportation programs and initiatives.
    This national award recognizes Sun Tran for a number of achievements including three years of ridership growth, as well as excellence in customer service, safety, operations, community relations and other key areas. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, Sun Tran provided service for 15.8 million passenger trips, an increase of nearly 13 percent since 2002. Sun Tran also received this honor in 1988.
• Arizona’s Outstanding Transit Organization
  • In 2004, Sun Tran was named Outstanding Transit Organization by Arizona Transit Association (AzTA). At the time of the award, Sun Tran had experienced an annual ridership increase of 6.5% while transit ridership declined nationwide. Sun Tran accomplished the ridership increase without expanding service hours, adding routes, or receiving funding from a dedicated source.

What does ISO 14001 mean?

ISO 14001 is the environmental management system (EMS) standard established by the International Organization for Standardization. Certification of an EMS to this standard demonstrates that an organization has a strong management system in place for continually improving its environmental performance with regards to regulatory compliance and pollution prevention.

Sun Tran’s Accomplishment

Sun Tran’s maintenance facility is the first U.S. transit maintenance facility that is EMS certified as compliant with the ISO 14001 standard.

Sun Tran’s EMS plan addresses controlling and containing coolant, waste water, storm water, and hazardous waste at Sun Tran’s maintenance facility. EMS primarily affects how our Maintenance and Facilities departments function, and every person in these departments receives training on the subject.