El Paso County Launches New Mission Trail Bus Route
New route will offer direct service along historic Mission Trail, the Socorro Entertainment Center, the Old El Paso County Jail and the San Elizario Cultural Arts District.
On July 1st, El Paso County launched the new Mission Trail Express bus route. This new line of service is the first of its kind for El Paso County Rural Transit, and will provide circulator connections between the Ysleta, Socorro and San Elizario communities. The Mission Trail Express will be free to the public through the Labor Day Weekend, bringing greater transit access to 85,000 residents as well as providing other El Pasoans and visitors to the community an alternative to driving along the historic Mission Trail.
The eight-mile route will travel from the Sun Metro Nestor Valencia Transfer Center, across from the Ysleta Mission, along Socorro Road to the San Elizario Plazita--other stops include the Socorro Mission, Licon Dairy and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo's Socorro Entertainment Center.
The project is primarily funded by federal transportation funds. The total cost of the route, including operational expenses for the next three years, is $1.3M with approximately $1M coming from federal transportation partners. The funds allowed for the purchase of three new 18-passenger buses, which feature images of the Ysleta & Socorro Missions, the San Elizario Chapel and the Rio Grande.
Media Coverage:
Mission Trail Express bus route spans Lower Valley (El Paso Times)
Mission Trail Express bus route makes its Lower Valley debut(KFOX)
Primer ruta de transporte en zona del Valle (Telemundo)