EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso County Commissioners Court voted Monday, June 9 in support of a recommendation from the El Paso Transportation Authority to end public transit services within the City of Socorro.
As we have previously reported, the El Paso Transportation Authority planned to eliminate transit service inside the city limits of Socorro, starting on July 1.
The County and ETA will finalize this reduction in service by coordinating with the Texas Department of Transportation’s Public Transportation Division over the next several weeks, the County said.
The County said this decision follows actions taken by the Socorro City Council in 2023 and 2024 to decline participation in the ETA, the organization responsible for managing regional public transportation in El Paso County.
ETA provides bus service to communities outside the City of El Paso and includes active participation from each of the County’s municipalities, except for Socorro.
To receive this service, cities and towns must join the transit authority and contribute their proportionate share of the cost for transit services, the County said.
The City of Socorro chose not to join ETA, which means County buses will no longer stop within Socorro city limits after July 1, the County said.
The City of Socorro announced last week that is planning to launch its own “on-demand” microtransit service in July.
“Though we are still committed to fulfilling the El Paso Transportation Authority’s purpose of offering a seamless regional transit system, this reduction in services is discouraging. This change will impact Socorro residents who rely on transit to get to work, school, medical appointments, the grocery store, and other essential destinations, as well as riders from other communities who rely on ETA for transportation into Socorro since our buses will no longer stop there to pick up or drop off passengers,” said County Commissioner Jackie Butler, who is also chair of the El Paso Transportation Authority.
“We strongly encourage residents to begin making alternate transportation plans and continue making your voice heard on our community transit needs,” Butler said.
Public transportation service will continue without interruption in other cities and towns that are members of ETA, including Vinton, Anthony, Horizon City, San Elizario, and Clint, the County said.
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