EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Sun Metro will be expanding services as part of ongoing efforts to restore bus services following a fire at its East El Paso Transit Operations Center, which resulted in seven employees injured and one dead.
The expanded service will begin on Sunday, Feb. 23 to add more routes, extend hours and increase frequency, Sun Metro said.
The current modified service schedule will remain in effect until Saturday, Feb. 22.
Since the fire, the following schedules were followed:
- All Brio routes on a modified schedule
- Most fixed routes on a Sunday/Holiday schedule
- Amistad routes on their regular schedule
“The restoration of these additional routes increase current service from 11 routes to 48 routes out of the 52 routes Sun Metro normally operates during weekdays,” Sun Metro Director Anthony DeKeyzer said. “This expansion will improve access to jobs, schools, medical care, and other essential services. We appreciate our passengers’ patience and understanding as we continue working toward full-service restoration.”
Sun Metro has set up temporary maintenance operations at the Union Depot in Downtown to service vehicles, according to the City.
Sun Metro will introduce a modified weekday schedule that will begin Feb. 24 – 28.
Here are the routes and operating hours for the modified weekday schedule:
According to the City, the following routes will be running on a Saturday modified schedule effective on March 1:
- Route 14
- Route 15
- Route 19
- Route 35
- Route 43
- Route 44
- Route 50
- Route 51
- Route 52
- Route 53
- Route 59
- Route 61
- Route 62
- Route 63
- Route 65
- Route 68
- Route 89
Routes 2, 25 and 60 will not be operating under the Saturday schedule.
The following routes will be running on regular Saturday schedules:
- Route 4
- Route 7
- Route 10
- Route 21
- Route 24
- Route 32
- Route 33
- Route 34
- Route 36
- Route 46
- Route 58
- Route 67
- Route 68
- Route 69
- Route 72
- Route 74
- Route 86
- All Brios
Visit Sun Metro’s website for more information on services and routes.
According to a spokesperson with the City of El Paso, the El Paso Fire Department released the following statement regarding the investigation of the fire:
“The City of El Paso Fire Department is committed to a thorough and professional investigation into the recent fire. We understand the public’s interest and the importance of providing accurate information, which is why we want to address any misconceptions about the timeline of this investigation.
“Fire investigations are complex and require time to ensure accuracy. In this case, the building remains structurally unstable, posing a significant risk to our Fire Marshal’s investigative team. For their safety, we are working closely with demolition crews to stabilize the structure before gaining access to conduct a full assessment. Any speculation suggesting unnecessary delays or withheld information is simply not accurate.
“We recognize the urgency of this matter and assure the public that our priority is to conduct a safe, thorough, and factual investigation. We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available, and we encourage responsible sharing of information that reflects the realities of this process.”
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