November 5, 2026 El Paso County Commissioners Court Special Session Meeting

At its November 5, 2026 special session, the El Paso County Commissioners Court approved a motion authorizing the County Judge to ask the Army to designate El Paso County a cooperating agency in the NEPA review of a proposed commercial hyperscale data center on about 1,384 acres at Fort Bliss. The County seeks an early role in assessing impacts and alternatives affecting nearby communities, roads, emergency services, water resources, and county facilities. The county attorney reviewed the letter and suggested legal updates. The court also discussed, in executive session, negotiations with NM Edificios on a Chapter 381 economic development agreement, contract no. 2023-0624; no agreement or award was announced in the transcript.

The El Paso Transportation Authority’s executive director outlined planned transit-service changes and the financial context, including projected municipal contributions of about $2.44 million for FY2027, an additional $2.4 million in federal Section 5307 support, and a $50,000 Uber grant to launch first-/last-mile service. Route 50 is to be reduced during a transition period, with discontinuation on December 31 proposed subject to further ETA board direction; route changes also include new or revised service and expanded microtransit options. The presenter reported ETA board decisions to use fund balance for the FY2023 Route 84 costs and pursue a settlement with Sun Metro covering 50% of paratransit costs for FY2023–25, through $70,000 annual reductions in 5307 funds. These were reported as ETA board actions, not Commissioners Court votes. A pending-litigation item was deferred for reposting before action.