El Paso Mass Transit Department Board Meeting – October 13, 2026

The Mass Transit Department (Sun Metro) Board met on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Board Chair Johnson presided with Board members Chavez, Rocha, Trejo, Nino, Fierro, Limon, Canales, and Acevedo (virtual) present. The transcript records the meeting convening at 10:37 a.m., although the agenda listed an 11:30 a.m. start; the meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m. The board unanimously approved the consent agenda and heard an informational update on the September 20, 2026 Sun Metro Rising service modifications.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the Regular Mass Transit Department Board Meeting of September 1, 2026 (Item 26-1089).
• Approved the request to excuse absent Mass Transit Department Board members (Item 26-1090).
• Awarded Solicitation 2026-0118, Grounds Maintenance – Sun Metro, to Mario A. Gonzalez dba MG Evergreen (El Paso, TX) as the highest-ranked bidder under a Best Value procurement. The initial three-year term is estimated at $289,213.65, with a two-year option estimated at $192,811.10, for a total five-year estimated award of $482,024.75. The agenda’s item detail lists the total as $482,027.75, a source discrepancy. Funding is from Sun Metro Operating Funds.
• Awarded Solicitation 2026-0407, Lubricants and Oil Sampling (Re-Bid), to Lab One, Inc. (Phoenix, AZ) as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder under a Low Bid procurement. The initial three-year term is estimated at $161,550.00, with a two-year option estimated at $107,700.00, for a total five-year estimated award of $269,250.00. The agenda also lists the company as One Lab, Inc. in its address line, a source discrepancy. Funding is from Sun Metro Operating Funds.
• Authorized the City Manager to establish funding sources, make necessary budget transfers, execute contract documents, and exercise future options for both awards.
• The consent agenda was approved by one motion made by Board member Fierro and seconded by Board member Limon; the vote passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak, and no public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Staff presented an update on Sun Metro Rising service modifications implemented September 20, 2026, in response to community feedback received after the June 2026 Sun Metro Rising system restructuring. The stated goal of the adjustments was to improve accessibility, reliability, and efficiency across the system.
• Route changes were made to Routes 2 and 65. Route 2 was adjusted to maintain service to the La Faye Clinic and a nearby senior center; Route 65 addressed concerns about service along Paisano serving the Chairman Apartments and the Ill de Plata Senior Center.
• Seven routes that were consistently running behind Sun Metro’s minimum 90% on-time performance target received minor schedule adjustments. These routes were in the central, northeast, far east, and downtown areas; adjustments also addressed construction delays, heavy congestion, and Fort Bliss gate congestion by adding peak-hour service.
• Staff explained that contracted service with Project Amistad was realigned because some routes formerly considered low-ridership had grown, raising capacity concerns with Project Amistad’s smaller vehicles. Three such routes were moved back to Sun Metro’s larger in-house buses, while three lower-ridership routes—Edgmir, Pebble Hills, and Route 62 in the Mission Valley area—were moved to Project Amistad.
• The changes were made outside Sun Metro’s normal six-month evaluation framework because urgent fixes were needed. Staff will continue to evaluate ridership trends, on-time performance, operator/customer service/supervisor input, and direct rider feedback. The next round of public engagement for additional service modifications is planned for early spring 2027.
• Board member Nino asked about Sun Metro’s District 5 microtransit pilot ridership. Staff responded that ridership grew from roughly two to four passengers to 70 or 80 passengers, with Nino noting the previous month’s numbers appeared to exceed 400 riders. Nino expressed strong support for the pilot and for public transportation access to jobs, health care, and groceries.
• Board member Chavez asked for any community feedback on the recent route changes to be sent to her office. Staff cited a service request for a new subdivision/reserve area and another area under review. Chavez raised a concern about Route 14; staff clarified that Route 19 was the route serving that community, and Chavez said she would follow up.

Key Outcomes

• The consent agenda, including both contract awards, was approved unanimously.
• Item 5 was an informational presentation; the board took no action on it.
• Staff will provide the requested route feedback to Board member Chavez’s office and will continue studying ridership and on-time performance before returning for public input around early spring 2027.
• The board voted unanimously to adjourn at 11:50 a.m.; the meeting was followed by a motion to reconvene for a separate meeting.