El Paso county accepts ETA recommendation to end fixed‑route service in Socorro; paratransit questions remain

El Paso County Commissioners on June 9 accepted the El Paso Transportation Authority (ETA) Local Government Corporation board's recommendation to eliminate fixed‑route public transit service within the City of Socorro effective July 1, following Socorro’s decision not to join the regional LGC and the city's June 5 vote to stand up its own demand‑response system.

The county action follows a March–September 2024 service review by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), commissioned by ETA, that evaluated options if jurisdictions opt out of the regional partnership. The ETA board adopted the option to remove fixed‑route service in Socorro last year; county staff said the board acted after the City of Socorro repeatedly declined to enter the regional interlocal.

Javier Banales of county transit staff summarized the timeline to the court and stressed that federal guidance from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) affects what paratransit services (Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, complementary paratransit) must be provided. County staff said FTA and TxDOT guidance clarifies that ADA paratransit must continue for residents living within three‑quarters of a mile of any active fixed route. Because the county’s board action removes fixed routes in Socorro, staff said ETA will not reduce paratransit coverage in those areas until it receives formal written guidance from the agencies.

County staff also noted that although the City of Socorro voted on June 5 to establish a standalone demand‑response service, the city uses five small vans and plans to accept ride reservations; the county observed that the city does not plan dedicated fixed routes. Commissioners and staff flagged implications for riders who use ETA fixed routes to travel beyond Socorro—to schools, jobs and medical appointments—and for residents in neighboring communities who used routes that pass through Socorro (routes 30, 40 and 50 were listed in the ETA study).

Commissioner Tony Olguin and other court members urged close coordination so riders are not left without service; Commissioner Olguin said the county and ETA had urged Socorro officials to remain in the regional framework and that staff had made numerous outreach attempts. The county asked the court to accept ETA’s recommendation so that ETA can proceed with its operational plan; the motion to accept the recommendation was made by Commissioner Justin Butler and seconded by Commissioner Tony Coronado. The motion passed by recorded vote.

What court accepted and what remains unsettled

- Court action: the county accepted ETA LGC board’s recommendation to eliminate fixed‑route bus service within City of Socorro effective 07/01/2025; the acceptance allows ETA to implement the option adopted by its board. - Paratransit: staff said ADA paratransit reductions will not be implemented in the affected areas until FTA and TxDOT provide definitive written guidance; the county may be required to continue subsidizing paratransit in Socorro even after fixed‑route elimination. - Socorro service model: the city intends a general demand‑response system using existing small vans by appointment; county staff warned this approach may not provide the same geographic coverage or connections to regional transit centers and workforce training.

The court recorded the motion and approved the recommendation; staff and legal counsel indicated they will continue monitoring federal guidance and coordinate with Socorro and ETA to avoid abrupt service interruptions for riders.