Sun Metro expanding services after explosion
Update (February 19, 2025): Sun Metro is announcing expanded service starting Sunday, February 23, 2025. Officials say they are adding more routes and extending hours and frequency.
"Regular Sunday service starts Sunday, February 23, and Monday, February 24, 2025, Sun Metro will introduce a Modified Weekday and Saturday Schedule, gradually increasing service levels:"
- Sunday, February 23, 2025 – Regular Sunday schedule resumes
- February 24 - 28, 2025 – Modified Weekday Schedule starts
- Saturday, March 1, 2025 – Modified Saturday Schedule starts
Routes Returning on February 24, 2025
Modified Weekday Schedule (Effective Monday, February 24)
Please note: Routes 2, 16, 25, and 60 will not operate under this schedule.
| Route | Service Area | Operating Hours | Frequency |
| Route 4 | Union Plaza Circulator | 6:15 AM – 7:13 PM | 60 min |
| Route 7 | Northeast/Cielo Vista TC | 4:25 AM – 7:30 PM | 50 min |
| Route 10 | Sunset Heights/UTEP | 5:45 AM – 7:20 PM | 50 min |
| Route 14 | Westwind | 5:35 AM – 7:40 PM | 50 min |
| Route 15 | Mesa | 4:55 AM – 8:30 PM | 70 min |
| Route 19 | Resler Circulator | 5:00 AM – 8:05 PM | 65 min |
| Route 21 | Chelmont Via Raynolds | 5:15 AM – 6:45 PM | 70 min |
| Route 24 | Delta Via Second Ward | 5:00 AM – 8:10 PM | 80 min |
| Route 32 | 5 Points/Piedras/Ft Bliss | 5:30 AM – 7:28 PM | 45 min |
| Route 33 | Government Hill Via Bassett | 4:35 AM – 7:50 PM | 80 min |
| Route 34 | Medical Center Via Cliff | 5:05 AM – 7:05 PM | 90 min |
| Route 35 | 5 Points via Dyer | 5:05 AM – 8:40 PM | 55 min |
| Route 36 | Beaumont Hospital/Highland | 5:52 AM – 7:40 PM | 110 min |
| Route 43 | Montalvo Park Via Dyer | 4:30 AM – 7:30 PM | 60 min |
| Route 44 | Sean Haggerty Via McCombs | 5:20 AM – 7:17 PM | 80 min |
| Route 46 | North Hills Circulator/Rushing | 5:08 AM – 7:38 PM | 60 min |
| Route 50 | Montana | 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM | 60 min |
| Route 51 | RC Poe Via Edgemere | 5:45 AM – 7:00 PM | 100 min |
| Route 52 | RC Poe Via Pebble Hills | 6:00 AM – 6:40 PM | 120 min |
| Route 53 | Bob Mitchell via Montwood | 5:30 AM – 8:38 PM | 70 min |
| Route 58 | Route 58 Montana/Turner | 4:40 AM – 7:35 PM | 65 min |
| Route 59 | Eastside Connector | 4:45 AM – 8:01 PM | 15 min |
| Route 61 | Route 61 DTC Via Alameda | 4:10 AM – 7:23 PM | 75 min |
| Route 62 | Govt District Via Lakeside | 5:52 AM – 7:58 PM | 90 min |
| Route 63 | Mission Valley via Eastside Terminal | 5:28 AM – 7:28 PM | 60 min |
| Route 65 | Valle Verde via Paisano | 5:10 AM – 8:07 PM | 45 min |
| Route 66 | Valle Verde via North Loop | 5:00 AM – 7:16 PM | 90 min |
| Route 67 | Yarbrough | 5:29 AM – 8:09 PM | 77 min |
| Route 68 | Lee Trevino | 5:21 AM – 7:35 PM | 90 min |
| Route 69 | George Dieter | 5:10 AM – 8:45 PM | 90 min |
| Route 72 | Vista Del Sol | 6:45 AM – 8:10 PM | 90 min |
| Route 74 | Pellicano/Rojas | 5:30 AM – 8:28 PM | 90 min |
| Route 86 | Bordeaux via North Loop | 5:45 AM – 7:43 PM | 60 min |
| Route 89 | Zaragoza Bridge Circulator | 4:40 AM – 8:00 PM | 30 min |
| Route 205 | Mesa BRIO | 5:00 AM – 7:55 PM | 20 min |
| Route 206 | Alameda BRIO | 5:00 AM – 7:55 PM | 30 min |
| Route 207 | Dyer BRIO | 5:00 AM – 7:55 PM | 30 min |
| Route 208 | Montana BRIO | 5:00 AM – 7:43 PM | 30 min |
Amistad Routes (Regular Weekday Schedule Continuing)
| Route | Service Area | Operating Hours | Frequency |
| Route 5 | Far East/Eastside Terminal Express | 5:00 AM – 8:55 PM | 80 min |
| Route 6 | Far East/Mission Valley Express | 5:30 AM – 8:33 PM | 80 min |
| Route 8 | Gateway Circulator | 5:30 AM – 8:05 PM | 60 min |
| Route 11 | Mesita via Kern Place | 8:00 AM – 4:55 PM | 45 min |
| Route 12 | Doniphan Circulator | 5:00 AM – 8:03 PM | 55 min |
| Route 13 | Coronado Hills Circulator | 5:55 AM – 7:48 PM | 50 min |
| Route 26 | Five Points/Alameda Express | 6:00 AM – 6:56 PM | 30 min |
| Route 54 | RC Poe via Montwood | 5:25 AM – 8:45 PM | 50 min |
| Route 56 | RC Poe/Far East Circulator | 6:20 AM – 7:02 PM | 45 min |
| Route 90 | Westside/Eastside Express | 5:50 AM – 7:30 PM | 45 min |
Modified Saturday Schedule (Effective Saturday, March 1)
Routes 14, 15, 19, 35, 43, 44, 50, 51, 52, 53, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68 and 89 will run on a modified schedule. Please note: Routes 2, 25, and 60, will not operate under this schedule.
Routes 4,7,10, 21, 24, 32, 33, 34, 36, 46, 58, 67, 68, 69, 72, 74, 86, and Brios will be running on regular Saturday Schedule.
Sunday Schedule (Effective Sunday, February 23)
Regular Sunday service resumes.
Sun Metro Fixed and Brio routes' schedules have been temporarily changed to their Sunday/Holiday schedule after an explosion this week.
On Wednesday, riders expressed frustration with the delays, causing them to arrive to work and school.
The City of El Paso released an announcement on Tuesday saying that the Sun Metro Fixed and Brio routes will be operating on Sunday/Holiday hours until Feb. 19 due to the explosion at the facility on Monday afternoon.
One rider told ABC-7 that she'd have to take an Uber ride back home every day until buses go back to their regular operations.
"Sun Metro runs over 100 buses daily, this fire has impacted our ability to operate at a full scale operation," said Sun Metro Director Anthony Dekeyzer, at a press briefing with the City of El Paso on Thursday afternoon.
The director said 14 buses were at the bay during the explosion, but that wasn't the reason for the decrease in bus operations.
"So we have to assess the situation, make sure we have maintenance facilities and maintenance personnel," Dekeyzer explained.
Riders ABC-7 spoke with said they haven't experienced delays. But they might have to take an alternative way to get back home since bus schedules are ending earlier.
"Walking, probably Uber. But I still I know the bus route schedule, so I'll make it back on time, especially the Brio," said El Paso resident Michael Brown.
Another rider said she doesn't own a car so she depends solely on public transport to get to places.
"Because taking Uber and Lyft is very expensive and I've tried it and a lot of people don't have the the means or the money to take Uber or Lyft," said bus rider Sylvia Cervantez, who was alsp worried for the elderly who might not have the an alternative transport.
Several others said they think the elderly and people with disabilities will struggle the most to deal with this schedule change for a whole week.
"Some people with disabilities a lot of us are low income, right? And alternatively, they have to use this fixed route, but it's cheaper. But at the same time, that's our only mode of transportation," said George Zavala, co-founder of El Paso VIBE. "You know, I say sometimes it costs more to be poor... We can't take an Uber because we can't afford it as it is. We're taking the bus... So we're kind of stuck."
An update was announced by The City of El Paso on Wednesday afternoon with the following modified Sunday schedule to ensure that commuters can reach schools and workplaces:
Modified Sunday Schedule for Key Routes
- Route 205 (Mesa BRIO) – Service begins at 6 AM with a 20-minute frequency.
- Route 206 (Alameda BRIO) – Service begins at 6 AM with a 25-minute frequency.
- Route 207 (Dyer BRIO) – Service begins at 6 AM with a 25-minute frequency.
- Route 208 (Montana BRIO) – Service begins at 6 AM with a 30-minute frequency.
- Route 59 (Eastside Connector) – First bus departs 6:04 AM from DTC, with a 28-minute frequency.
Amistad Routes
- Rt. 5 – Far East/Eastside Transfer Center Express
- Rt. 6 – Far East/Mission Valley Transfer Center Express
- Rt. 8 – Gateway Circulator
- Rt. 11 – Mesita via Kern Place
- Rt. 12 – Doniphan Circulator
- Rt. 13 – Coronado Hills Circulator
- Rt. 26 – 5 Points/Alameda Express
- Rt. 54 – RC Poe via Montwood
- Rt. 56 – RC Poe/Far East Circulator
- Rt. 90 – Park-N-Ride Westside to Eastside Express
