Sun Metro
{{Short description|Public transportation provider that serves El Paso, Texas}}
{{for|the "Metro" product formerly from 'Sun Microsystems', Sun Metro|Eclipse Metro}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Refimprove|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = Sun Metro
| logo = Sun Metro logo.svg
| logo_size =
| image = Sun_Metro_Brio.jpg
| image_caption = A bus at the downtown transit center
| company_slogan = "Save money, Save energy, Save the planet
| parent = City of El Paso
| founded = 1977
| headquarters = 10151 Montana
El Paso, Texas
| locale = El Paso, Texas, US
| service_area = El Paso County
| service_type = bus, paratransit
| alliance = Project Amistad, El Paso County Route Transit
| routes = 63
| destinations =
| stops = 2,858
| hubs = 8
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet = 171
| ridership = {{American transit ridership|TX El Paso total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|TX El Paso total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| fuel_type = Compressed natural gas
| operator = City of El Paso
| ceo =
| website = {{URL|http://www.sunmetro.net/|sunmetro.net}}
}}
Sun Metro Mass Transit Department, simply known as Sun Metro, is the public transportation provider that serves El Paso, Texas. Consisting of buses and paratransit service, it is a department of the City of El Paso, and the agency also serves the rest of El Paso County. The major hub is located at the Bert Williams Downtown Santa Fe Transfer Center in the surrounding block areas in Downtown El Paso. In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|TX El Paso total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|TX El Paso total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}.
History
Until 1987, Sun Metro was called Sun City Area Transit (SCAT).
The agency was headquartered at the historic Union Depot in downtown El Paso until 2014, when it opened a new {{convert|37.5|acre|adj=mid}} facility along Montana Avenue southeast of El Paso International Airport.{{cite news |last=Gray |first=Robert |date=April 6, 2014 |title=Sun Metro Eastside headquarters to open in May |url=http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/local_news/article_2f5b826a-bcff-11e3-8e2f-001a4bcf6878.html |work=El Paso Inc. |accessdate=January 17, 2017}}
Facilities
- Bert Williams Downtown Santa Fe Transfer Center, 601 Santa Fe St.
- Al Jefferson Westside Transfer Center, 7535 Remcon Cir.
- Arturo Tury Benavides Cielo Vista Transit Center, 1165 Sunmount Dr.
- Rorbert E. McKee Five Points Transit Center, 2830 Montana Ave.
- Transit Operations Center, 10151 Montana Ave.
- LIFT Facility, 5081 Fred Wilson Ave.
- Arves E. Jones Sr. Northgate Transit Center, 9348 Dyer St.
- Union Plaza Transit Terminal, 400 W. San Antonio Ave.
- Nestor A. Valencia Mission Valley Transit Center, 9065 Alameda Ave.
- Glory Road Transit Center, 100 E. Glory Road
Services
= Brio =
{{Main|Sun Metro Brio}}
Sun Metro began operating its express bus service, named Brio, on October 27, 2014,{{cite news |last=Arias |first=Pilar |date=October 27, 2014 |title=Sun Metro's rapid transit system Brio launches |url=http://www.kvia.com/news/sun-metros-rapid-transit-system-brio-launches/29375380 |publisher=KVIA-TV |accessdate=December 29, 2015}} serving the Mesa Street corridor (part of State Highway 20) between Downtown El Paso and the Westside Transfer Center in Northwest El Paso. The frequency of Brio buses range from 10 minutes during weekday rush hours to 15 minutes mid-day from Monday to Friday, and 20 minutes on Saturdays; buses do not run on Sundays or holidays. The line uses 22 purpose-built curbside stations with shelters, ticket vending machines for pre-boarding payment, and real-time arrival information. The {{convert|8.6|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} route runs in mixed traffic, but does use transit signal priority. The Brio fleet consists of {{convert|60|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} branded New Flyer Xcelsior articulated buses powered by compressed natural gas, able to carry 72 total passengers and feature on-board WiFi, interior bike racks, and passenger information monitors.{{cite news |date=May 27, 2014 |title=Texas agency showcases new station, buses |url=http://www.metro-magazine.com/bus/news/292068/texas-agency-showcases-new-station-buses |work=Metro Magazine |accessdate=December 29, 2015}} The project cost $27.1 million to implement, using local funds and a Federal Transit Administration grant.{{cite web |title=Brio |url=http://www.sunmetro.net/brio.html |publisher=Sun Metro |accessdate=December 29, 2015}}{{cite news |date=October 29, 2014 |title=Sun Metro and LAN Celebrate Opening of Rapid Transit System in El Paso |url=http://www.masstransitmag.com/press_release/12014445/sun-metro-and-lan-celebrate-opening-of-rapid-transit-system-in-el-paso |work=Mass Transit Magazine |accessdate=December 29, 2015}}
Sun Metro opened its second Brio route, extending the system to Mission Valley via Alameda Avenue at a cost of $35.5 million. Further routes on Dyer Street and Montana Avenue are planned, with the former beginning construction as early as 2017.{{cite news |last=Rodriguez |first=Ashlie |date=December 9, 2015 |title=Dyer Rapid Transit System to start construction around late 2017 |url=http://www.kvia.com/news/city-will-unveil-the-dyer-rapid-transit-system-design-tonight-at-6p/36881134 |publisher=KVIA-TV |accessdate=December 29, 2015}}
= El Paso Streetcar =
{{Main|El Paso Streetcar}}
The El Paso Streetcar{{Cite web|title=EP Streetcar|url=http://www.sunmetro.net/streetcar|access-date=2021-06-06|website=www.sunmetro.net}} is a streetcar system in El Paso, Texas, that opened for service on November 9, 2018, and uses a fleet of restored PCC streetcars{{cite news |author= |title=El Paso streetcars make their return after 45-year absence |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2018/11/09/el-paso-streetcars-make-return-after-45-year-absence/1947542002/ |accessdate=2018-11-10 |newspaper=El Paso Times |date=November 9, 2018}} that had served the city's previous system until its closure in 1974.{{cite news |last=Perez |first=Elida S. |title=Downtown El Paso streetcars roll closer to completion; Sun Metro prepares to take over |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/el-paso/2018/03/11/el-paso-streetcar-project-closer-completion-sun-metro/385896002/ |accessdate=2018-11-10 |newspaper=El Paso Times |date=March 11, 2018}} The system covers {{convert|4.8|mi}}{{cite news|last=Ramirez|first=Cindy|title=Streetcar work remains on time, budget|url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/2016/09/23/streetcar-work-remains-time-budget/90869508/|accessdate=2016-12-14|newspaper=El Paso Times|date=September 23, 2016}}{{cite news|title=El Paso streetcar project on schedule, on budget|url=http://www.elpasoproud.com/news/local/el-paso-news/el-paso-streetcar-project-on-schedule-on-budget|accessdate=December 14, 2016|publisher=KTSM-TV|date=October 6, 2016}} (round trip) in two loops from Downtown El Paso to University of Texas at El Paso. The system was constructed under the authority of the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority, but when the major construction was completed, around spring 2018, it was transferred to Sun Metro, for operation and maintenance. {{As of|2016}}, construction of the system was projected to cost $97 million.
Fleet
{{unsourced section|date=September 2018}}
= Active =
| class="wikitable" |
!Make/ !length !Year !Numbers !Engine/ !Fuel Propulsion !Notes |
| New Flyer C35LF !35' !2004 |0401-0425 Retired as of 2024 |
!CNG |These buses were repowered with Cummins-Westport ISL-G 8.9L engines. |
|---|
| NABI 40-LFW !40' !2007 |0601-0635 |
!CNG | |
| NABI 40-LFW !40' !2008 |0901-0940 |
!CNG | |
| NABI 35-LFW Gen-II !35' !2010 |1001–1008 |
!CNG | |
| New Flyer XN60 !60' !2014 |14601-14610 (Brio) 14697-14699 (Fixed Route) (13 buses) |
!CNG |Most of these buses are used in Sun Metro's BRIO BRT service. |
| New Flyer Xcelsior XN40 !40' !2014 |14401-14424 (24 buses) |
!CNG | |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.sunmetro.net|Sun Metro – official website}}