Tag Archives: crrma

After more than two years of work, the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA) has completed its construction activities on the El Paso Streetcar Project.

These activities included the construction of a maintenance and storage facility, 4.8 miles of track, various street reconstructions, system fixtures, traction power substations, overhead contact system lines/poles and communication systems. Construction was managed by the CRRMA and performed by Paso del Norte Trackworks which is a joint venture of Granite Construction Company and RailWorks Track Systems, Inc.

“Turning over this newly constructed project infrastructure to the City of El Paso is a key way marker on the decades-long road to bring streetcar service back to El Paso,” said Raymond Telles, executive director of the CRRMA. “As the CRRMA’s role in this project nears its end, I would like to commend the dedicated men and women who worked so hard to get us to this point. I would also like to sincerely thank residents, businesses and institutions along the route who endured a lengthy construction project which was in many cases right in their front yard. I believe that this system and the long term positive impact it will have on our community will be well worth it.”

With construction completed and the shift to operations well underway, the CRRMA is turning over most communication responsibilities to the City of El Paso including the El Paso Streetcar Facebook page and Instagram profile, e-newsletter and project hotline. The CRRMA will continue to provide updates on the remaining streetcar delivery, testing and restoration work.

The movement to restore streetcar service began in the mid-1970s, shortly after El Paso City Lines cancelled its final streetcar service between El Paso and Juárez.

Since then, numerous community activists, city leaders and state officials have worked on various initiatives to bring the streetcar service back. These activities eventually led to the completion of a feasibility study in 2010 which paved the way for then-City Representative Steve Ortega to lead an initiative of the El Paso City Council to fund the design plans for the program in 2012 and then-Chairman Ted Houghton of the Texas Transportation Commission to allocate $97 million to this project in 2014.

The CRRMA is a regional mobility authority (RMA) whose mission is to assist in the establishment of a comprehensive transportation system to directly benefit the traveling public within the El Paso region through the development of additional transportation alternatives.

Other projects involving the CRRMA include the Sun Cycle bike share program, the I-10/Loop 375 Americas Interchange Project in East El Paso, the aesthetic improvements at I-10 and Airway and El Paso County’s 2013 Comprehensive Mobility Plan which includes more than a dozen transportation projects around the county.

“Unique projects like this one are why the CRRMA exists,” Telles said. “When the Texas legislature passed laws allowing for the creation of RMAs, it was with the clear understanding that meeting Texas’ mobility challenges necessitated innovative solutions and a regional approach.”

The CRRMA’s work on the vehicles will continue. Streetcar restoration work is being performed by Brookville Equipment Corporation. To date, three of six restored vintage PCC streetcars have been accepted by the City with two additional vehicles currently undergoing final testing in El Paso. The remaining vehicle is scheduled to return to the City before the end of the year.

While this project was managed by the CRRMA, streetcar operations and maintenance activities will be managed by the City of El Paso’s Sun Metro Mass Transit Department.

As part of the testing phase for the El Paso Streetcar Project, the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA) will soon energize the Overhead Contact System (OCS) along the Uptown Loop.

Beginning on Monday, June 18, 2018, OCS wires along the Uptown Loop — including Franklin Avenue, Stanton Street, Baltimore Drive, Glory Road and Oregon Street — will be fully energized with up to 650-volts DC.

CRMMA officials warn, “From this point forward, all streetcar lines should always be considered to be energized. Never touch the wires or anything touching the wires.”

During testing next week, motorists may also notice specially outfitted trucks which will ride the route with a police escort testing the wires. OCS system testing is expected to have a minimal impact on motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

OCS wires along the Downtown Loop, including Franklin Avenue, Kansas Street, Father Rahm Avenue and Santa Fe Street remain fully energized as well.

Before the City of El Paso begins operating the service for the public, the CRRMA will undertake several months of rigorous testing of the El Paso Streetcar Project to ensure the system is safe and operating as expected. That includes testing elements of the OCS such as power substations and overhead lines which will power the streetcars.

An investigation by law enforcement and the City of El Paso uncovered a “phishing scam” that resulted in the loss – and subsequent recovery of – just over $3millon dollars, and a change in the way the city pays vendors.

The City of El Paso has temporarily changed its vendor payment process and is issuing paper checks to those who do business with the City.

The immediate action was instituted upon the Comptroller’s Office discovering irregularities with the electronic vendor payment process. Issuing paper checks was an immediate and necessary step to deter additional incidents and safeguard City resources.

To date, the sum of $292,000 of the approximately $300,000 in misdirected funds have been recovered and nearly $1.6 million of the approximate $2.9 million has been recovered.

City officials say that in early October of this year, the Comptroller notified the Internal Auditor that the City was potentially the victim of a phishing scam resulting in the loss of approximately $300,000.

As a result, the following steps were taken:

o   Immediately additional internal controls were put in place to prevent future incidents.

o   Incident reported to law enforcement.

o   Internal investigation commenced.

City officials also stated that they did not immediately inform the public about the phishing scam at the request of law enforcement to “allow for an appropriate investigation and to increase the possibility of recovering the funds.”

By Mid-October officials say that, as a result of the internal investigation the City and the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA) discover an additional misdirection of funds in the amount of approximately $2.9 million.

The City, the CRRMA, local law enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) have taken steps to attempt to recover the misdirected funds and for the apprehension of the responsible parties.

The Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA) has announced that contractors will add additional crews, expand their work zones and institute new street closures next week as utility work associated with the El Paso Streetcar Project kicks into high gear.

Stanton Street at Baltimore Drive

Beginning on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, lane and sidewalk closures will begin on Stanton Street near Baltimore Drive. The intersection will remain open to traffic. Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are encouraged to obey all traffic signs.

Intersection of Franklin Avenue and Kansas Street

Beginning on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, lane shifts will be in place at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Kansas Street. The intersection will remain open to traffic. Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are encouraged to obey all traffic signs.

Stanton Street from Arizona Avenue to Montana

Beginning on Thursday, February 4, 2016, Stanton Street will close from Arizona Avenue to Montana Avenue. Rio Grande Avenue will be closed to all traffic at Stanton. Work at this location will take approximately four weeks. This will allow Stanton Street to re-open adjacent to Cathedral High School.

On Thursday, February 4, and Friday, February 5, 2016, Texas Avenue will close to eastbound and westbound traffic at Kansas Street. Motorists should consider Mills Avenue and San Antonio Avenue as an east-west alternate.

Work Underway at Other Locations

• Father Rahm Avenue from Santa Fe Street to Campbell Street.

Work Planned at Other Locations in the Coming Weeks

• San Antonio Avenue at Kansas Street.
• Santa Fe Street at Franklin Avenue.
• Oregon Street at Glory Road.

Residents, businesses, and schools will maintain access at all times during construction. The CRRMA is coordinating directly with those impacted.

El Paso Electric (EPE) will be providing new service to a building on the corner of Overland and Stanton which will require road closures in the area. Work is tentatively expected to begin on Monday, February 1, 2016, and is projected to last six weeks. Motorists using Stanton should follow marked detours and consider alternate routes.

This work is not related to the El Paso Streetcar project. Please contact EPE for more information.

• Click here to sign-up for regular construction updates delivered to your email inbox.
• Like the El Paso Streetcar on Facebook.
• Call the bilingual project information line: (844) 252-RAIL.

Kansas Street in Downtown El Paso will be closed to all traffic between Main Drive and Texas Avenue beginning on Monday, January 11, 2016. As part of the closure, Mills Avenue will be closed to eastbound and westbound traffic at Kansas.

The closure is necessary to allow crews from Paso del Norte Trackworks to begin relocating utilities related to the El Paso Streetcar project.

Kansas Street carries tens of thousands of vehicles a day from Interstate 10 to downtown destinations including El Paso City Hall, the El Paso County Courthouse, and the Federal Courthouse. Motorists who use Kansas Street are advised to expect delays and follow all marked detours. Additionally, they are encouraged to consider the following alternate routes:

• Westbound traffic can exit I-10 at Cotton Street and accessing Downtown via Texas Avenue.
• Eastbound traffic can exit I-10 at Downtown and turn right at Santa Fe, Oregon, or Mesa Streets.

During all closures, appropriate traffic control measures will be in place in impacted areas. Motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists should also allow additional time to travel in these areas and are asked to observe all signs, barricades, and detours.

Other road closures related to the streetcar project are already in place at the following locations:

• Father Rahm Avenue is closed to westbound traffic from Mesa Street to Santa Fe Street.
• Father Rahm Avenue is closed to eastbound and westbound traffic from Kansas Street to Mesa Street.
• South Stanton Street is closed to northbound and southbound traffic at Father Rahm Avenue.
• North Stanton Street is closed to northbound and southbound traffic between River Avenue and Arizona Avenue.

Closures will last approximately four to six weeks. Other closures along these and other corridors are planned in future phases.

Residents, businesses, and schools will maintain access at all times during construction. The Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority is coordinating directly with those impacted. For more information, the CRRMA has the following resources for residents:

• Click here to sign-up for regular construction updates delivered to your email inbox.
• Like the El Paso Streetcar on Facebook.
• Call the bilingual project information line: (844) 252-RAIL.