{"id":1766,"date":"2026-06-10T04:09:49","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T04:09:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=1766"},"modified":"2026-06-10T04:09:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T04:09:49","slug":"tucson-discusses-2-15-million-transit-safety-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=1766","title":{"rendered":"Tucson discusses $2.15 million transit safety plan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Tucson city councilmembers discussed a $2.15 million Transit Safety and Security Action Plan on Tuesday, June 9, addressing years of concerns about violence and safety on the city\u2019s public bus system.<\/p>\n

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The draft proposal includes funding for existing programs like special duty deployments, bus stop cleaning crews, and contracted security guards. New additions include expanded lighting at bus stops, added cameras and panic buttons, and barrier improvements for operator safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re aware that there are several challenges out there from a safety perspective for riders, for operators,\u201d said Andy Bemis, deputy director of the Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility. \u201cA lot of the stuff\u2019s not new; some of it\u2019s new, but we have a renewed focus on trying to make that one of the priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Transit ambassadors to connect riders with services<\/b><\/h3>\n

The plan allocates nearly $300,000 for transit ambassadors, a program intended to connect community safety officers with riders in need of social services.<\/p>\n

Bemis said the goal is to offer support for bus riders suffering from mental health or substance abuse issues, in addition to traditional enforcement tactics.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, the goal is to have a group of people who have that as their skill set and can approach people, help connect them with services, and ultimately improve the function of the transit system, but also the people\u2019s lives,\u201d Bemis said.<\/p>\n

Plan comes as operators prepare to strike<\/b><\/h3>\n

The council\u2019s discussion comes days after nearly all of Sun Tran\u2019s operators voted to strike should they not reach a contract deal with Sun Tran management by the end of the month. A union representative said last week they couldn\u2019t share specific negotiation requests made by drivers, but that their focus remains on the safety of their operators.<\/p>\n

Ward 5 Councilmember Miranda Schubert said those were the same concerns operators had the last time they went on strike in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were striking over feeling unsafe,\u201d Schubert said. \u201cPart of what they were responding to was that there were 22 assaults on bus drivers, and that was in 2015.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Since April 5, 2025, 13 News has reported on at least 19 violent crimes connected to public transit in Tucson.<\/p>\n

Schubert said things like new barriers and other operator safety improvements will be key to increasing transit safety all around.<\/p>\n

Following the discussion, a motion was approved 5-2 to increase funding for transit ambassadors and driver safety infrastructure. Bemis said some of those improvements are already in the works, and more will begin once RTA Next funding is approved. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll see these items rolling out over time, but what we heard loud and clear today was prioritizing investments in operator safety and rider safety immediately,\u201d Bemis said.<\/p>\n

The city has been developing the plan since it was adopted last December. Officials said they worked with Tucson Police, the Transit Advisory Committee, Sun Tran management, bus drivers, and other stakeholders to develop the plan. <\/p>\n

Bemis said the Teamsters union has been a part of the plan\u2019s development, but they have not seen the final proposal. He said the city will be sharing it with them at a meeting this upcoming week. <\/p>\n

V<\/b>IOLENT INCIDENTS CONNECTED TO SUN TRAN<\/b><\/h3>\n