Economic Development

Ground Transportation

Transportation services and other commercial vehicles picking up passengers at Tucson International Airport (TUS) are required to have a permit from the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA). The airport uses proximity permit cards or GPS for access and tracking ground transportation.

This page offers information on current rates and the necessary forms to apply for and maintain a permit.

Ground transportation pickup locations at Tucson International Airport (TUS) changed as of March 17, 2021. Read more here.

Fees and Charges

For taxis, shuttles and other car service, charges are applied each time a provider accesses the TUS commercial ground transportation roadway using the provider’s TAA-issued proximity card to enter the ground transportation roadway. When the gate arm is lifted, each entry is recorded. At the beginning of each month, providers are billed for the previous month’s activity.

Each vehicle accessing the ground transportation roadway must have its own proximity card. The one-time charge to acquire a proximity card for use at TUS is $25.00 and to reassign an existing card to another vehicle is $15.00.

Current rates to use the proximity card are:

1-8 Passenger Vehicle: $3.00 per gate arm use
9-23 Passenger Vehicle: $4.00 per gate arm use
24+ Passenger Vehicle: $8.00 per gate arm use

If a provider’s proximity card is not in a driver’s possession because it cannot be found at the time of desired entry to the commercial roadway, the driver may be given remote access and then use a credit card to pay a TAA Public Service Officer for the entry fee plus an additional charge for a new proximity card. The driver will receive a receipt and temporary vehicle permit that allows access through the gate arm for up to two (2) business days after first entry. Each entry using the temporary permit will require validation by a Public Service Officer. A permanent replacement proximity card will be available for pickup within those two (2) business days at the front desk of the TAA Administration Offices on the 3rd floor of the main terminal. Current charges for this are:

1-8 Passenger Vehicle: $30.00
9–23 Passenger Vehicle: $40.00
24+ Passenger Vehicle: $60.00

There will be an additional fee of $150.00 in cases where a provider is given access to the commercial roadway but the driver leaves before meeting and paying a Public Service Officer.

Important: Ground service drivers may not solicit riders anywhere on Tucson International Airport property. Other information, including TAA rules and regulations, a map of the commercial roadway and the location of the waiting area for Lyft and Uber drivers is at the bottom of this page.

Applications and Forms

Below are links to the necessary forms to obtain a permit for ground transportation providers at Tucson International Airport. There are four forms requiring information. You have the option to either complete the online form (which is automatically submitted) or you can download printable versions of the forms, complete them and return them to the Tucson Airport Authority Ground Transportation Office, 7250 S. Tucson Blvd., Suite 300, Tucson, AZ 85756. The information requested on these forms must be kept current.

Please choose to fill out either the online form or the printable forms in each of the following four categories:

Contact and Invoicing Information

Permit Application

Certificate of Insurance

Please note the Certificate of Insurance (ACORD Form) requires additional insured endorsements, which can be different depending on the insurance carrier. This form is usually provided by your insurance carrier but if necessary a blank form is below. Examples of how the form should be filled out and samples of endorsements are here.

Certificate of Insurance/ACORD Form

Website Listing Information

Additional Information for Providers

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Natasha Barden, Ground Transportation and Concessions Coordinator, by email here.

Bids / RFPs

The Tucson Airport Authority wants to make sure businesses know of opportunities to work on projects at Tucson International Airport (TUS) and Ryan Airfield (RYN). The TAA Procurement Department keeps this page updated with the current information on Bid opportunities, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) and Statements of Qualifications (SOQs). If your business would like to be notified of future opportunities, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page.

Doing Business with TAA

Monthly Activity Overview

Tucson International Airport (TUS) Activity

A 10-year history of TUS passenger statistics for fiscal years 2015-2024 is here.

Environmental Programs

The Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) is actively involved in monitoring and reducing the impact the airport has on the surrounding community. Several programs are in place in accordance with guidelines set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that the airport and its tenants are operating as “green” as possible.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

The Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) has identified a series of recommended projects that, if implemented, would improve safety at TUS. Implementing the projects would improve safety by reducing the number of airfield incursions, or occurrences involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the area designated for landing and take-off of aircraft. TAA submitted the Proposed Airfield Safety Enhancement Project to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for review and approval. FAA is now preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed project in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Click here to view the TUS EIS website.

Noise

Recognizing that noise is an unavoidable side effect of aviation, in 1991, the TAA initiated a FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program Update for Tucson International Airport (TUS) that limits the impact of aircraft noise on the Tucson community. Since the program’s adoption, numerous policies, abatement, and mitigation strategies have been implemented successfully. In 2012, the TAA adopted an updated Part 150 Study for Tucson International Airport.

Click the link below for more information on noise at TUS or to make a noise complaint.

TAA Noise Information

Recycling

In 1990, the TAA initiated an airport-wide recycling program for white and newspaper throughout the airport complex, and in 1992, Tucson airlines instituted a cardboard and aluminum collection program.

Over the years the airport recycling reprogram has expanded to include:

shredding and composting landscape waste material and reusing them on airport property
recycling lamps and ballasts, antifreeze, contaminated fuel, used tires, batteries and scrap material
reuse of concrete and asphalt from horizontal construction projects on road surfaces
re-seeding airport property disturbed by construction
collection of banned liquids by TSA at security checkpoints and donating them to local charities; and installation of beverage disposal containers pre-security
installation of collection containers for recyclables in the public areas of the terminal

Soil and Groundwater

The TAA is involved in an extensive remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated by industrial solvents used during WWII. Since 2007, TAA has been operating a groundwater treatment facility on the west side of TUS, which uses air stripping to remove Volatile Organic Compounds from shallow groundwater. The airport continues to monitor soil, water and air quality and is proactive in protecting these aspects of our environment.

For more information contact:

Becca Cammack, MA, MS

Director, Planning & Environmental Services

bcammack@flytucson.com

520-573-4842

Solar

Tucson is a Solar City. The TAA solar energy projects exemplify our philosophy of promoting environmental responsibility and long-term sustainability. The TAA solar project includes the installation of:

Photovoltaic solar panel array north of the main TUS parking lot
Solar canopies over the Hourly and Daily parking lots
Solar energy powered roadway signs

The two-phase solar solar canopy project was completed in 2017 and produces 2.5 megawatts of power. Benefits of the project include:

Produce renewable energy offsetting more than two-thirds of the airport terminal’s use of energy
Saving the TAA $35,000 per month in power costs
Providing shade over more than 1,300 parking spaces
Reducing the airport’s consumption of fossil-based grid energy
Minimized environmental disturbance by collocating the proposed facility within an existing parking lot

Police and Fire

TAA Police Department

To serve and protect the employees, tenants and users of airport facilities

The Tucson Airport Authority Police Department (TAAPD) is a full-service law enforcement agency with the same responsibility as a county or municipal police agency to enforce the laws of Arizona. TAA Police also enforce Federal Regulations pertaining to airport operations. TAA Police serve as the first professional law enforcement contact to the traveling public.

The department protects all of TAA’s property and buildings. This includes the TUS terminal building, airfield, and tenant buildings. TAA supervises over 10,000 acres that include industrial, residential and unimproved property, as well as general aviation reliever airport Ryan Airfield

TAA police personnel engage in a wide variety of activities to meet their mission. Members of the department include Public Service Officers who have oversight for the roadways in front of the terminal, insuring a smooth flow of traffic into and out of TUS.

Police officers patrol the terminal complex on foot, bicycle, and in vehicles. Police staff respond to narcotics arrests, traffic incidents, first aid calls, DUI arrests, disorderly conduct situations, child custody incidents, runaway juveniles, and escorts for citizens needing assistance.

Training & Accreditation

All TAA Police officers are state certified with the same statewide arrest powers as any other law enforcement agency in Arizona. Police officers undergo continuous training that includes airport specific problems such as aircraft accident investigations, bomb threats and hijackings. In addition to enforcing state and local laws, TAAPD officers comply with FAA rules and guidelines.

The majority of the officers are specially trained for DUI investigations, narcotics interdiction and basic criminal investigation. Some officers are trained in crisis negotiations and tactical deployment for extraordinary circumstances. All of the supervisors and some of the patrol officers are state certified instructors for a variety of topics including firearms, defensive tactics and tactical driving.

The TAAPD is one of the few airport police agencies in the United States that is internationally accredited through the Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The policies and procedures used by a police department are overseen by CALEA. The policies are reviewed in depth by the commission and accepted if all guidelines are followed. By following CALEA standards, TAAPD has taken the challenge of maintaining a professional and accountable organization for public safety.

Crucial to completing that challenge are comments, commendations, and other accounts from the general public about their experience with TAAPD. Available year round, this link is the preferred portal for any information people believe CALEA should consider when it comes to this law enforcement agency.

TAAPD is also a proud member of the Pima County Regional SWAT team.

To view a copy of the TAAPD organizational chart, please click here.

Media Center

Media requests concerning the Tucson Airport Authority, Tucson International Airport and Ryan Airfield should be directed to TAA’s Communications Department which has a public information officer ready to assist media outlets by providing current airport information as quickly as possible. Media representatives are welcome to take airport familiarization tours.

The TAA Media Resource Guide contains information about emergency response and access to the airports.

The TAA Communications Department also should be the first contact for media wishing to cover news events at either Tucson International Airport or Ryan Airfield. The department can assist in getting the most appropriate representative to respond to inquiries regarding any aspect of airport operations, concessions, parking or public safety.

Any requests for public records should be filed through the form on this page.

Contact information for representatives of the TAA Marketing and Communications Department is listed below. Media may also call the Tucson Airport Authority’s main number, (520) 573-8100, during business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, except for holidays.

Austin Wright
Chief Communications Officer
(520) 257-0022

Opportunities

The Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) is an economic engine with more than 16,180 people employed at Tucson International Airport (TUS) and Ryan Airfield (RYN) generating $1.3 million annually in wages.

From major construction projects to maintenance and office supplies, procurement of a tremendous variety of products and services are necessary to support 24/7 airport operations. At more than 10,000 acres between the two airports, land and facility leases are also available for both aviation and non-aviation uses. Passenger-related concessions and ground transportation businesses also operate at TAA’s airports.