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The third of El Paso’s newly-renovated streetcars is set to return home to the Sun City this weekend, replete in a very vintage color combination.

Car No. 1504 will arrive at approximately 10am on Sunday, July 15, 2018, according to the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority.  The exact arrival time is subject to change without notice due to weather, traffic and/or other conditions beyond the CRRMA’s control.

1504 is part of the fleet of streetcars which ran in El Paso until 1974, and is the third of six vintage Presidents Conference Committee (PCC) streetcars to be refurbished and modernized as part of the $97 million El Paso Streetcar Project.

Each of the six streetcars will be painted in one of three vintage color schemes from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Car No. 1504 is the first to debut the green-on-green color scheme which was originally used on the El Paso streetcars during the 1960s.

The two streetcars that previously made their way back to El Paso featured a red-on-green color scheme.

The truck that is carrying Car No. 1504 will enter Downtown El Paso accompanied by an escort and travel to Father Rahm Avenue where it will be unloaded. To accommodate that operation, Father Rahm Avenue will be closed between El Paso Street and Santa Fe Street beginning Saturday, July 14, 2018, the night prior to its arrival. It will re-open as soon as the unloading operation is complete.

Once the streetcar has been unloaded, it will be transported into the Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) at 601 South Santa Fe Street to be inspected by the CRRMA and Sun Metro.

Members of the public will not be able to access the streetcar at this time.

Motorists, pedestrian and cyclists are encouraged to avoid the area if possible. Use extreme caution and expect delays if travel in the area cannot be avoided.

The CRRMA will continue testing of the streetcars and the streetcar rail and electrical system to ensure the system is safe before Sun Metro begins operating the service for the public. In the coming weeks, residents will continue to see streetcars running along the 4.8 mile route but  won’t be able to board. Exact dates of testing are not available.

Below are some important tips to remember as we welcome the third streetcar back to El Paso:

• Other than traveling on a fixed route, the streetcars will operate much like other vehicles. They will have a maximum speed of approximately 25 miles per hour, obeying all traffic laws and — in most cases — they will travel with other vehicles in a travel lane.
• The Streetcar is powered by lines running above the street which carry 650 DC volts of electricity. Always consider every line to be fully energized. Never touch the wires or anything touching the wires.
• Don’t ride your bike along the rails your tire can get stuck between the rail and the pavement. When you cross the rails, do so at a 90-degree angle.
• Pedestrians should also use extra caution when crossing the rails or walking near the streetcar line.
• For more information, call (844) 252-RAIL.

Click here to view bilingual safety videos produced by the CRRMA as part of the El Paso Streetcar Project.

Paso del Norte Trackworks will dedicate additional crews toward the completion of construction along Father Rahm Avenue beginning next week, according to the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority which is managing construction of the El Paso Streetcar Project.

This is being done to complete work through the heart of South El Paso before the holiday shopping season.

It also comes as rail work is nearing completion along Kansas Street and making the turn on to Father Rahm Avenue, according to the CRRMA.

To accommodate increased construction activity in the area, beginning on Thursday, September 29, 2016, Mesa Street and Oregon Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between 4^th Avenue and 6^th Avenue.

Lane restrictions will be in place on Santa Fe Street, El Paso Street, and Stanton Street between 4^th Avenue and 6^th Avenue. Father Rahm Avenue and Kansas Street remain closed to vehicular traffic.

Also beginning on Thursday, September 29, 2016, crews will continue work on the foundations for poles which will support the Overhead Contact System (OCS) which will power the streetcars. As a result, moving lane closures will be in place along Kansas Street between Franklin Avenue and Paisano Drive.

Kansas Street will be reduced to a single southbound lane within this area. Also as part of this work, Main Drive will be reduced to one lane in each direction at Kansas Street.

Beginning on Tuesday, September 27, 2016, crews will continue underground utility relocation work along Wyoming Avenue and Oregon Street.

As a result, Wyoming Avenue will be reduced to a single eastbound lane at Oregon Street at that time. This lane restriction will impact motorists using the Exit 19 to access Downtown from eastbound Interstate 10.

Santa Fe Street remains closed to vehicular traffic between San Antonio Avenue and Paisano Drive. Crews are finalizing rail installation there and paving the street as well. Lane restrictions remain in place on Santa Fe between Franklin Avenue and San Antonio Avenue and between Paisano Drive and Montestruc Court.

Overland Avenue, Main Drive, and Sheldon Court remain closed to vehicular traffic at Santa Fe Street.

The following street closures and lane restrictions will remain in place during the week of September 26, 2016:

Street Closures:

• Oregon Street between Nevada Avenue and Schsuter Avenue (open to northbound traffic only)
• Crosby Avenue, Cliff Drive, California Avenue, and River Avenue immediately west of Oregon Street
• Crosby Avenue between Oregon Street and Stanton Street (excluding intersections)
• Oregon Street between Wyoming Avenue and Missouri Avenue

Lane Restrictions

• Oregon Street between Yandell Drive and Nevada Avenue
• Wyoming Avenue between Santa Fe Street and Kansas Street
• Stanton Street between Franklin Avenue and Missouri Avenue

As crews continue work installing track in Downtown El Paso as part of the El Paso Streetcar project, motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists should expect to encounter the following traffic impacts in the coming days:

• Complete closure of Santa Fe Street between San Antonio and Paisano begins Tuesday, September 20, 2016 to accommodate track work. Temporary crosswalk will be in place at Overland and Santa Fe, while existing crosswalks at Paisano at Santa Fe and San Antonio at Santa Fe will remain pedestrian accessible.
• Thru traffic will continue to flow on Santa Fe Street between Franklin Avenue and Montestruc Court, which is reduced to one lane in each direction.
• Lane restrictions will continue to on Santa Fe Street between 3^rd Avenue and Father Rahm.

As work continues along the 4.8 mile route, the following street closures and lane restrictions will remain in place during the week of September 19:

Oregon Street continues to be open to northbound traffic only between Schuster Avenue and Nevada Avenue beginning. Schuster Avenue continues to be reduced to one lane in each direction at Oregon Street. Crosby Avenue, Cliff Drive, California Avenue, and River Avenue are also be closed to traffic immediately west of Oregon Street.

These closures are necessary as crews perform track installation along this section of Oregon Street. They will remain in place for approximately three months.

Complete Closures

• Father Rahm Avenue remains closed to traffic between Kansas Street and Santa Fe Street.
• Kansas Street remains closed to traffic between Paisano Drive and Father Rahm Avenue.
• Crosby Avenue, Cliff Drive, River Avenue, and California Avenue immediately west of Oregon Street
• Main Drive immediately east of Santa Fe Street
• Oregon Street between Missouri Avenue and Wyoming Avenue

Lane Restrictions

• Schuster Avenue at Oregon Street
• Stanton Street at Father Rahm Avenue
• El Paso Street at Father Rahm Avenue
• Mesa Street at Father Rahm Avenue
• Oregon Street between Nevada Avenue and Yandell Drive
• Intermittent Lane Restrictions on Kansas Street between San Antonio and Paisano to accommodate Overhead Contact System (OCS) drilling.

Weather Impacts

Much of the work associated with the El Paso Streetcar Project cannot be completed during or immediately following heavy rain. As a result, occasional unanticipated changes in scheduled construction activities may be required.

As crews continue work installing new storm drain and sewer systems in South El Paso as part of the El Paso Streetcar project, motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists should expect to encounter the following traffic impacts in the coming days:

• Stanton Street will be closed to thru traffic between 6th Avenue and 4th Avenue from 9pm to 6am on Friday, September 9, and Saturday, September 10, 2016.

• Overnight weekday closures continue on Santa Fe Street between 3rd Avenue and Father Rahm Avenue between 6pm and 4am. These closures are also scheduled to be in place on Saturday, September 10, and Sunday, September 11, 2016.

• El Paso Street will be closed to thru traffic between 6th Avenue and 4th Avenue beginning at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13, and reopening at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14, 2016.

• Father Rahm Avenue remains closed to traffic between Kansas Street and Santa Fe Street while Kansas Street remains closed to traffic between Paisano Drive and Father Rahm Avenue.

Overland Avenue and San Antonio Avenue will be closed to thru traffic at Santa Fe Street beginning on Friday, September 9thru Monday, September 12, 2016. Thru traffic will continue to flow on Santa Fe Street which is reduced to one lane in each direction between Franklin Avenue and Montestruc Court. These closures are necessary to accommodate the installation of track.

During the week of September 12, 2016, Stanton Street will occasionally be reduced to a single lane at Crosby Avenue. Flaggers will be present to direct traffic at these times. At other times, lane restrictions will remain in place on Stanton Street at Crosby Avenue as crews continue working on a power substation which will help power the streetcar system.

As work continues along the 4.8 mile route, the following street closures and lane restrictions will remain in place during the week of September 12:

Complete Closures

• Oregon Street between Nevada Avenue and Schuster Avenue (open to northbound traffic only)
• Crosby Avenue, Cliff Drive, River Avenue, and California Avenue immediately west of Oregon Street
• Crosby Avenue between Oregon Street and Stanton Street (excluding intersections)
• Main Drive immediately east of Santa Fe Street
• Oregon Street between Missouri Avenue and Wyoming Avenue

Lane Restrictions

• Schuster Avenue at Oregon Street
• Stanton Street at Father Rahm Avenue
• El Paso Street at Father Rahm Avenue
• Mesa Street at Father Rahm Avenue
• Oregon Street between Nevada Avenue and Yandell Drive

Much of the work associated with the El Paso Streetcar Project cannot be completed during or immediately following heavy rain. As a result, occasional unanticipated changes in scheduled construction activities may be required.