Changes are coming to Sun Tran's Sun Shuttle services in the communities surrounding Tucson - though in some instances only few people will notice.
Sun Tran kicked off a series of open houses Monday evening at the Heritage Highlands Clubhouse in Marana's Dove Mountain area to discuss the proposed changes, which would take effect May 23 if approved.
The Marana open house was to be followed by Tuesday open houses in Green Valley and Sahuarita and another open house Wednesday in Oro Valley.
The Marana proposal would eliminate bus service that currently runs between the Dove Mountain Ritz-Carlton resort and Dove Mountain Centre, at West Tangerine Road and North Dove Mountain Boulevard. It's the northern part of bus route 412.
That would shave about 6.6 miles and 12 minutes off the route, according to information on display at the open house.
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In its place, Sun Tran proposes to extend route 412 beyond its current end just south of North Thornydale and West Ina roads, to go all the way down Thornydale and down West River Road, to the Tohono Tadai transit center at 4540 N. Stove Ave. on the east side of the Tucson Mall.
The addition would add 6.2 miles and about 12 minutes to the route.
"It's getting quite expensive to serve the small number of customers we have riding up here," said Jeremy A. Papuga, transit planning and operations manager for the Pima Association of Governments, as he gestured toward the top of route 412 on a display board.
It's "not uncommon" to see less than 10 people per week riding the bus in that area, he said.
Meanwhile, route 402 through Oro Valley would be completely eliminated, Papuga said.
"The 402 hasn't improved over time, which is against the trend of the full system," he said. Ridership of the route has averaged less than one person per service hour.
The Sun Shuttle routes launched in May, with the caveat that they would be given a year to grow, he said.
Overall, the Sun Shuttles have had positive trends month over month, Papuga said.
Contact reporter Shelley Shelton at sshelton@azstarnet.com or 807-8464.
