By
Irene Hsiao
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Tucson city council vote on Sun Tran plan today
UA President Peter Likins last week proposed spending $20,000 to continue using the Tucson bus service for transporting university football fans, which would help pull the Sun Tran out of debt.
However, Likins said his proposal depends on Tucson councilmembers - if they agree to also spend $20,000 for the city bus service at their 9:30 a.m. meeting today.
Likins and Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup discussed Thursday night that each side would contribute the money so Sun Tran could continue providing for UA football fans.
"There is no agreement, the mayor has no position to negotiate for the city," Likins said. "Until the city council speaks, there is no agreement."
Half of the $20,000 will come from the UA athletic department, while "the university will scratch through resources" for the other $10,000, Likins explained.
"I will provide financial backing for Sun Tran to find a fare to break even," Likins said.
Finding the break-even price may take several years, he added.
The plan also includes raising the fare by one dollar to $4 and getting rid of two stops.
The bus service is trying to make up for a $2.25 million loss.
Walkup said he and Likins came to an"understanding," after their discussion.
"But we do have an agreement on what we're taking to the city council," Walkup said. "We were essentially saying the same thing."
If the city bus is unable to continue, a private company could be contracted to do the service, Likins said.
The UA would not set up its own transportation, Likins said.
"It's ridiculously expensive for the university to have a service to shuttle football fans," Likins said.
