The May 2014 third quarter operating report for Sun Metro showed that they reported 12,471,000 riders so for that year. They computed each ride as costing $2.73 and told us that they were recovering 30.34% from the fare box.
This year’s May 2018 third quarter operating report has them reporting 9,928,000 for the same period of time as the 2014 report. Each ride cost $3.63 and they reported fare box recovery of 15.67%.
That means that they have had a 21% drop in ridership, a 33% increase in costs, and are recovering at half of their 2014 percentage.
It is time for them to consider new approaches.
What they are doing is failing and we are paying for it.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
How long will we continue to pay for this little used, perhaps largely unnecessary *service*? What, after all, is the point if nobody uses it? Or, are we supposed to accept this in the same manner we accept the support of “public” golf courses?
LikeLike
Well, a CITY . . .needs . . . a bus service.
So, from there, they need to either raise the rates, or
cut costs, or have smaller buses which cost less to operate.
Not LARGER Brio buses that take twice the fuel.
LikeLike
Absolutely right, a fleet of small buses would make more sense. They could also run more frequently, which might increase usage!
LikeLike
WHO counts all these “Riders”? In Northeast , maybe, every now and then see one person at a bus stop. MOST buses are EMPTY, NOBODY riding. They drive around the big double buses, EMPTY. Especially at night, early evenings, 0-1 person, EMPTY with the lights on. Just another big POLITICAL money flush. But this is just El Paso and the TAX, WASTE, SPEND, TAX MORE, never ends.
LikeLike
I’m convinced the windows are tinted to hide the lack of riders. I just keep wondering how much more money we have to throw away and how many open spaces we have to destroy before the folks that run our city realize that the dynamics that make things work in other cities aren’t present here. We are totally ignoring our strengths in the chase to look like other cities.
LikeLike
If they want revenue, they simply need to convert them to party buses, a hybrid of a food truck and a bar on wheels with giant screen TVs and carpool karaoke. Anything successful in El Paso requires food, alcohol, and entertainment. Getting to your destination would be a secondary benefit. No, I’m not joking.
LikeLike
A bus service is important. I agree that the city should look for ways to cut capacity rather than increase it. Same goes for EPISD but, when you’re elected to office, it’s easier to kick the can down the road for your successor to deal with.
The irony in this is that Wilson said her best accomplishment was the turnaround of the transit company. Yeah, sure.
LikeLike
10 years from now we’ll be saying the same stuff about the street cars, downtown renovation and the ballpark. And some genius will be wanting to redesign half of what was built.
LikeLike
I posted this in the wrong place the first time.
If they want more revenue, they simply need to convert them to party buses, a hybrid of a food truck and a bar on wheels with giant screen TVs and carpool karaoke. Anything successful in El Paso requires food, alcohol, and entertainment. Getting to your destination would be a secondary benefit. No, I’m not joking.
LikeLike
In Las Vegas, party buses drive up, down the Strip. Different Clubs, events, concerts. Over to Laughlin Casinos, restaurants, the River, out to Hoover Dam, various other places. In El Paso WHERE are “Party Buses”, “Partiers” going?? Drive around look at construction? Watch drunk drivers on Friday, Saturday nights? Drive by, look at the baseball field, the pretty lights on the Interstate. What does one have to do to get DRUNK in El Paso, have FUN??
LikeLike
Is there a way to mix sex with this great idea? Lap dances? Pole dances? A VIP room at the back of the bus?
Think of it as the old “zona de tolerencia” on wheels. OMG, on the Trolley to Nowhere no less!
Maybe it would boost ridership and rebrand El Paso as a swinging destination?
LikeLike
That’s due to the City having a management contract with no performance goals. Then when there are goals the City does not assess liquidated damages when they are not met. The City is happy with they’re management contractors as long as they stay out of the limelight.
LikeLike