El Paso’s bus system is about to get a jolt. Sun Metro is rolling out a sweeping network overhaul this summer that will cut some routes, add others, and launch a microtransit test in what the agency describes as a faster, more frequent system. The redesign, part of the Sun Metro Rising study, is slated to take effect on June 14. Riders can expect updated maps and outreach at transit centers in the weeks ahead as the system prepares to switch to the new network.
What Sun Metro Is Changing
Sun Metro’s service summary identifies Routes 59 (Eastside Connector) and 89 (Zaragoza Bridge) as getting schedule-only tweaks while introducing two new fixed lines: 41 (Hondo Pass) and 55 (Zaragoza). The agency is also planning a MicroTransit pilot for District 5 on the Upper East Side. The same summary lists dozens of routes marked for route or schedule adjustments intended to improve connections and frequency. These specifics appear on Sun Metro’s Service Changes page, as outlined by Sun Metro.
Routes Being Deactivated
A City of El Paso Facebook post that shared Sun Metro’s materials spells out which lines are getting the axe: 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13, 21, 24, 26, 36, 54, 56, 58, 66, and 90. The post says other routes will be adjusted to provide corridor coverage and includes a customer service number for riders who need help planning new trips, as posted by the City of El Paso.
Timing And Outreach
The city’s Mass Transit Board reviewed Sun Metro Rising and identified a June 2026 implementation window during recent meetings, according to the Mass Transit Board. Sun Metro also ran a series of pop-up public engagement sessions this winter that listed transit center times and invited riders to review proposed maps in person, as described in a news release from Sun Metro.
Rider Reactions And Next Steps
Local reporting during the planning period captured riders saying the redesign could make commutes harder and pose safety concerns for people forced to walk farther to stops, as reported by KVIA. Advocates and neighborhood groups have urged Sun Metro to monitor equity and access after the switch and to consider adjustments if problems arise. Riders can review the Sun Metro Rising materials and interactive map and may call Sun Metro at 915-212-3333 for trip-planning assistance; study the new maps before June to see how the changes affect your service.
