To ease traffic congestion, free shuttle service will takes visitors to almost all of the shows.

ParkWise and the City of Tucson offer a free local shuttle service, GemRideTM, to Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase sites. GemRideTM operates February 2-17, 2008 to most show locations.

The Tucson Parking Program Coordinator suggests that show visitors park for $5 in one of the three city-owned parking lots downtown to catch a GemRide shuttle ride.

Shuttle Stops & Parking:

GemRideTM Shuttles originate from designated Parking HUBS:

• 22nd Street / I-10 Parking HUB (I-10 frontage road at 22nd Street)
• Congress Street Parking HUB (Congress Street west of I-10)
• Tucson Convention Center Parking HUB (Granada Street Entrance). Note: Limited public parking will be available at the TCC during the AGTA GemFair, Jan. 31-Feb. 5
• Tucson Expo Center Parking HUB (Irvington at I-10)

Parking lots are open from 8 am - 8 pm daily (MST).
Daily fee at most lots is $5.

Additional Parking:

Pennington Street Garage (110 E. Pennington Street at Scott Ave.) and City/State Garage (498 W. Congress, 1 block east of I-10). Free T.I.C.E.T. Shuttles will link the above garages to the downtown parking HUBS and City of Tucson Shuttle, on most days.

GemRide is a free service provided by the city ParkWise program, which operated the city-owned parking garages and lots. This years shuttle has 30 semi-coch seats and TV screens with visitor information.

There are eight color-coded routes with at least one route stopping at every gem show (except for the Swarovski show at Omni Tucson). Several new shows have been added along the GemRide routes.

Shuttle Maps

Shuttle maps will be part of the Gem Show guide are available at the Tucson International Airport, the Visitor Center in La Placita Village at 100 S. Church Avenue and at all shuttle stops by February 2. The maps are distributed at all show locations as part of the official show guide and the shuttle schedule will be printed in the Colored Stone Guide.

Print out Shuttle Map PDF

The cost of the shuttle service is $500,000. While the $5 parking fee is expected to cover expenses and ParkWise's $250,000 share. The Arizona Department of Transportation kicked in $100,000. The remaining costs is covered through the Rio Nueveo funds and Sun Tran's Bus Wrap advertising.

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show is held at Tucson Convention Center Exhibition Hall and the Arena. Dozens of others gem shows are held throughout downtown Tucson and nearby hotels.

For additional GemRideTM information call (866) PARK GEM - (866) 727-5436 - between 8 am - 8 pm (MST) February 1-17, 2008. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available with 24-hour notice, call (866) 727-5436.