El Paso’s Sun Metro Receives National Award; Offers Free Rides

El Paso’s public transportation agency has been named Outstanding Public Transit System of the Year.

The award, bestowed by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recognized Sun Metro in the medium-size category, providing between 4 and 20 million rides each year.

Sun Metro will hold a ceremony Thursday, June 30, at 10 a.m. at the Bert Williams Downtown Transfer Center at 601 Santa Fe.

APTA President Bill Millar will be there, along with Mayor John Cook and Congressman Silvestre Reyes.

That day, Sun Metro will offer its customers free rides all day long within the city limits.

APTA judges transportation systems on their performance over a 3-year period. The agency examined Sun Metro’s safety record, operating procedures, customer service, financial management, marketing and community involvement, among other criteria, according to a news release by the city of El Paso.

“Being acknowledged by our peers is a huge honor,” said Sun Metro Director Jay Banasiak in a statement. “This recognition is an awesome tribute to the tireless efforts of our employees who have continuously worked to improve and make Sun Metro all that it can be,” he said.

Since 2005, the city has spent $81 million dollars to improve the system, and this year it committed an additional $55 million to fund a Bus Rapid Transit System. The BRT routes cover Mesa, Montana, Alameda and Dyer streets. Federal and state funds will help the BRT investment balloon to $136 million.

So far, that has yielded a 21 percent increase in ridership.

Link:Sun Metro Website