City of El Paso to reduce fares for riders with serious mental illness, in substance abuse rehab

EL PASO, Texas- In a unanimous vote, the El Paso City council expanded reduced-fare benefits for riders with serious mental illness and those in substance use rehabilitation.

The city worked with Emergence Health Network to introduce the resolution.

"People diagnosed with mental illness are constantly striving to reach their highest level of functioning, and having access to transportation is an important part of that work," said Kristi Daughtery, Emergency CEO.

Sun Metro and Emergence Health Network are working together to develop how the rider will pay the fares.

During the council session, tokens were brought up as a means to pay the bus driver for those in the reduced fare program, but according to Sun Metro and EHN, more planning will be necessary.

According to the Chief of Staff at EHN, Rene Hurtado, the term disability will be broadened in the scope of those needing public transportation.

"We are confident that this initiative will increase ridership for transit providers, while making it more affordable for people with mental disabilities to use safer, reliable, and convenient transportation. By including mental disabilities and substance use disorder on their reduced fare program," Hurtado shared.

According to other El Pasoans, another concern regarding Sun Metro is the elimination of some routes.

An ABC-7 viewer voiced their concerns regarding the possible elimination of specific bus routes in the William Beaumont area near Alabama St.

"It has been brought to my attention that one of the two routes that usually serves the VA Hospital in El Paso is being terminated (route 41)," and "The second route (36)has been altered and will cause veterans to have an unnecessary longer commute. There is no good reason that sun metro has for doing this. Please, if you can, bring light to this story. Hopefully, it will force sun metro to right their wrong," said the emailer.

Sun Metro announced earlier in the week that due to COVID-19 there would be changes coming.

"Due to the impact of the Covid-19 virus on the Sun Metro workforce, we will be working on service modifications to minimize schedule disruptions. As always, Sun Metro encourages riders to check their routes before travel," said the bus service.