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El Paso County approves five-year transit services agreement with EPATS and First Transit
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Summary
El Paso County commissioners on Oct. 27 approved a public transportation services agreement with the El Paso Area Transportation Services local government corporation and First Transit Inc. to provide fixed-route, ADA paratransit and dial-a-ride services through Aug. 31, 2030, with renewal options.
El Paso County commissioners on Oct. 27 approved a public transportation services agreement between El Paso County, the El Paso Area Transportation Services local government corporation (EPATS) and First Transit Inc. to operate fixed-route, ADA paratransit and dial-a-ride services for the rural transit district service area through Aug. 31, 2030, with five one-year renewal options.
The motion to approve the agreement was made by County Judge Ricardo Samaniego and seconded by Commissioner (second recorded as Commissioner Butler). The court voted to authorize the county judge to sign the contract after staff confirmed minor clarifications and updated cost exhibits. The vote was announced as "motion carries."
Why it matters: County transit staff said negotiations and the revised exhibits reduce the county—s long-term costs. John Ando, executive director of transit operations, told the court the negotiated terms and changes to exhibits will save the county approximately $1,100,000 over five years compared with prior pricing. Ando also described clarifying edits to the agreement—s order of precedence and to equipment-ownership language.
Details: The approved agreement covers fixed-route service, ADA paratransit and dial-a-ride service in the rural transit district; it begins Nov. 1, 2025, and runs through Aug. 31, 2030, with the stated renewal options. Assistant County Attorney Eric Rosales noted a final edit clarifying that equipment purchased by the contractor would be owned by the county unless the contract were later assigned to EPATS, at which point ownership would transfer to EPATS.
Process and next steps: EPATS—s board had earlier approved the contract and recommended county approval. County staff will finalize contract documents per the clarifying edits and return any ministerial paperwork for signature. The court recorded no roll-call tally in the public minutes beyond the announced approval.
Evidence and provenance: County staff presented the item after the consent agenda pull for item 4T; John Ando described the edits and the estimated $1.1 million savings during the Oct. 27 meeting. The EPATS board—s approval was also noted in the staff presentation.
