El Paso, Texas-based Sun Metro's Dyer Corridor bus rapid transit project, received Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Small Starts program approval allowing it  to advance into the Project Development phase as a Very Small Starts project.

The Dyer Corridor is estimated to cost about $35.25 million, of which $20.4 million would be FTA funding. The project will consist of a 12-mile Rapid Transit System corridor that would begin at the Bert Williams Downtown Santa Fe Transfer Center, extend northeast through downtown, serve the Five Points Transit Terminal and Fort Bliss, and end at the future Northeast Transfer Center.

The project will include procurement of 10 low-floor branded buses, construction of 12 new RTS stations and the installation of traffic signal priority at 42 intersections.

El Paso residents will see this innovative and effective transportation option beginning in late 2013 with the introduction of the Mesa and Alameda Corridors. Dyer will be the third corridor to come online in 2015 followed by Montana in 2016.

Since 2005, Sun Metro has received over $125 million in federal funding to improve services, including $15 million from the American Recovery Act to construct the Glory Road Transfer Center and the Al Jefferson Westside Transfer Center, and 200 bus shelters.