Tag Archives: el paso pcc cars

El Paso is the final stop for the 2019 Electric Railroaders’ Association (ERA) annual convention.

The ERA Annual Convention wrapping up today, September 3, 2019, in El Paso is a great opportunity for transit professionals to come together and visit new light rail and streetcar systems that have opened since the turn of the millennium. During this convention they visited three transit hotspots in the nation’s Southwest — Tucson, Phoenix, and El Paso.

“It is an honor to host the upcoming 2019 ERA convention,” Sun Metro Director Jay Banasiak said. “A great event that brings together transit rail professionals to learn about the latest streetcar systems, challenges, and visionary solutions for the future.”

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to ride the El Paso Streetcar and visit all the great restaurants, retail shopping district and galleries along the route.

Their visit will begin in the original El Paso Union Station (also the Amtrak depot) all while visiting the restored Locomotive No. 1, where eight railroads operated into El Paso in the 19th century.

The convention will conclude with ERA’s Annual Banquet at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown. The ERA Convention is estimated to attract an estimated 70 worldwide rail professionals from their respective countries in professions, such as Canada, Japan, Germany, and Australia.

For more information about Sun Metro, visit sunmetro.net or call (915) 212-3333, like their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter @SunMetro.

Following the success of the first El Paso Streetcar Read-Along this summer, officials with the El Paso Public Library and El Paso Streetcar announced that they will host another Read-Along in July and another in August.

“Reading to children is a wonderful way to create a life time love of books. We had a tremendous response to our first Streetcar Read Along, that we wanted to expand the program this summer,” said Tracey Jerome, Managing Director of Museums and Cultural Affairs, Libraries and Tourism.

The Read-Along will take place during the Main Library’s regularly scheduled story time in July and August. Participants should meet at the Main Library, 501 Oregon, at 10:30 a.m. on the Read-Along day to get tickets to ride, as seating is limited.

Lea, the Library’s mascot, will lead the group outside to the El Paso Streetcar stop at El Paso and Franklin in across from Cleveland Square Park where they will board the El Paso Streetcar.

Parents and children are encouraged to dress as their favorite storybook characters.

People are encouraged to download the new El Paso Streetcar app to stay current of events happening in conjunction with the streetcar. It is free and available from Google Play and the Apple App store.

For more information about the Read-Along or the Library’s Summer Reading Program, call 212-0365.

WHO:             El Paso Public Library and El Paso Streetcar host Read-Alongs in July and August.

WHEN:           10:30 a.m. on July 20 and on August 17

WHERE:         Main Library, 501 Oregon

WHAT:           El Paso Streetcar Read-Along

El Paso will celebrate Sun City Pride on June 22 in downtown El Paso, and the El Paso Streetcar is offering a special ‘Ride with Pride’ to the festival.

Officials with the El Paso Streetcar wanted to remind attendees and participants of the ease and convenience of the streetcars during Sun City Pride, which is the largest Pride Celebration in West Texas, Southern New Mexico and Northern Mexico.

Riders can join the Sun City Divas drag performers for a special Rainbow Pride Ride at 7 p.m.

Those riders interested in joining the Sun City Divas should board the streetcar at Franklin and El Paso Street.

The El Paso Streetcar will take riders right to the festival and provide service from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.

All rides this summer are free courtesy of the Downtown Management District, El Paso Chamber of Commerce and Doubletree Hotel.

Additionally, riders can download the El Paso Streetcar app to plan their streetcar trip.  Download for Apple devices are available here, and the download for Android here.

For more information and a list of stops, visit the EP Streetcar website.

On Monday, city officials announced adjustments to the El Paso Streetcar service hours starting next week as part of summer programming, which invites residents and visitors to explore downtown and uptown by taking a ride on these historic vehicles.

“We want to modify our schedule to be aligned with summer activities to enable riders to experience everything the streetcar route has to offer, particularly in the downtown area,” Sun Metro Director Jay Banasiak said.

The updated service hours will allow the streetcars to start later in the day to accommodate late evening events and activities along the 4.8 mile-route.

The updated service will go into effect Monday, April 15, 2019.

The streetcar offers 27 stops connecting Downtown El Paso to Glory Road Transit Center. The route features two loops that interconnect an international bridge, an array of museums and restaurants, the baseball park, historic neighborhoods, and the University of Texas at El Paso among many other prominent locations.

Current Streetcar service hours through April 14, 2019

• Monday: 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• Tuesday: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday: 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• Fridays: 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
• Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
• Sundays: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Streetcar service hours beginning April 15, 2019 and throughout the summer

• Sunday through Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. – Midnight (12:00 a.m.)
• Thursday through Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Tickets can be purchased using the farebox inside any streetcar (exact change of $1.50 per ride required) or at any of the ticket vending locations throughout the route and Sun Metro transit centers.

Student, military, senior citizens, and other discounts available.

For more information visit epstreetcar.com

Early Sunday morning, Sun Metro Streetcar Staff, along with City of El Paso first responders, will conduct an El Paso Streetcar Emergency Drill on Franklin Avenue between Oregon Street and Mesa Street to prepare for real-world streetcar operations.

“These drills are important as the streetcar is completely new to the Police and Fire Department, as well as the City of El Paso, and present unique challenges,” says Sun Metro Assistant Director of Streetcar Operations Carl Jackson.

Officials add that the purpose of the exercise is to test operational coordination and preparedness of El Paso Streetcar and first responder personnel in the event of an incident involving a streetcar.

“The exercise will simulate a streetcar accident caused by a collision between an El Paso Streetcar vehicle with passengers and an automobile. Sun Metro Streetcar personnel along with the El Paso Police Department and El Paso Fire Department and EMS will coordinate and practice their evacuation and emergency protocols for dealing with such incident.”

During the drill, there will be significant emergency personnel on-site on Franklin Avenue and residents are advised that this is only a drill and to use caution when traveling along the area of the drill.

This is the first full-scale field exercise for El Paso Streetcar. A minimum of two drills are required annually by the Federal Transit Administration.

The exercise will take place between 6:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.

The first of El Paso’s restored vintage PCC streetcars bearing the iconic orange, green and white will return to El Paso this weekend.

Car No. 1515 will be the fifth car out of six which will be renovated as part of the project.

According to the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority, car 1515 will be unloaded on Sunday, October 14, 2018, following the 1,800-mile trip from Pennsylvania to El Paso.

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

The truck that is carrying Car No. 1515 is expected to 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, October 13, 2018, the night prior to its arrival. On-street parking will be prohibited.

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.

CRRMA officials ask that motorists, pedestrian and cyclists to avoid the area if possibl, and use extreme caution and expect delays if travel in the area cannot be avoided.

As testing for the El Paso Streetcar Project continues, contractors working for the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority will close Stanton Street and Oregon Street between Crosby Avenue and Montana Avenue.

The closures will begin at approximately 9pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2018. Cross streets in this area will be closed at Stanton and Oregon as well.

Testing is scheduled to be complete and all barricades are scheduled to be removed by 5am on Thursday, August 16, 2018.

Below are some important tips to remember as we begin seeing the streetcars out-and-about more often:

• 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.

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

For more information on testing, please contact the CRRMA’s Streetcar Project at (844) 252-RAIL. For more information on streetcar service, please contact Sun Metro at (915) 212-3333.

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.

On Thursday morning City of El Paso and Sun Metro are inviting the public to the El Paso Streetcar unveiling event to get a first-hand look at the future of transit and behind-the-scenes access to the new streetcar maintenance facility.

“This is a chance to be among the first El Pasoans to view the El Paso Streetcar,” Sun Metro Director Jay Banasiak said. “The historic streetcar, once a staple of the Sun City’s public transportation system, will be riding through city streets again thanks in part to a collaboration between the City of El Paso and the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority.”

Two of the six vehicles have arrived in El Paso from Brookville, Pennsylvania, where they were restored. The remaining four vehicles will be delivered in the coming months.

All six vehicles will undergo a four-to-six-month safety approval process that includes on-street testing at night and during the daytime hours.

Streetcar officials add, “The community is asked to please follow safety guidelines for pedestrians, motorists, and bicyclists during testing phases.”

Service is expected to start in late 2018.

The El Paso Streetcar amenities will feature:

• Streetcar branding along the route and signage at designated stops
• Pavement, sidewalk and driveway improvements at designated stops
• Free Wi-Fi on the streetcars
• Modern controls housed in an old-fashioned console
• Upgrades for safety, air conditioning, and ADA provisions
• Modern propulsion

WHO:             City of El Paso Mass Transit Department – Sun Metro

WHAT:          Streetcar Unveiling Event

WHEN:          10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 21, 2018

WHERE:        Maintenance and Storage Facility at 601-A Santa Fe

Officials with the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority say motorists, pedestrians and cyclists should expect intermittent lane and sidewalk closures along the El Paso Streetcar route over the next several weeks.

On Wednesday, June 6, 2018, crews from Paso del Norte Trackworks will be stringing wire along Glory Road and Baltimore Drive across Mesa Street. This work will only require intermittent lane closures throughout the day and will include a police escort.

Other work will take place along the 4.8 mile route which includes Franklin Avenue, Kansas Street, Father Rahm Avenue and Santa Fe Street in the coming weeks.

Crews will continue overhead wire work, curb, gutter and sidewalk work. These closures will be completed with minimal disruption to the travelling public.

Those travelling in the area should follow all marked detours and/or instruction from law enforcement who will be directing traffic.

Commuters can expect relief on two major thoroughfares in Downtown El Paso beginning Friday, March 31st.

At the same time, residents of the Kern Place, Rim Road and Alexander neighborhoods can expect to see an uptick in construction activities along the northern stretch of the El Paso Streetcar Project’s 4.8 mile route, according to the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority.

Texas Avenue and San Antonio Avenue will re-open to east-west at Kansas Street on Friday, March 31, 2017. Both streets had been closed for several weeks as crews from Paso del Norte Trackworks fully reconstructed the intersections after laying rail for the El Paso Streetcar project.

With Texas Avenue open, Eastside commuters seeking an alternate route can once again get off of I-10 at Exit 20/Cotton Street and turn right on Texas, travelling east to Downtown destinations.

Commuters can also expect some relief on Kansas Street in the coming weeks. While some lane restrictions must remain in place as crews continue work on curb ramps and other concrete work, Kansas will re-open to three southbound lanes between Main Drive and Texas Avenue and re-open to two southbound lanes between Texas Avenue and Overland Avenue during the week of April 10.

Motorists, pedestrian and cyclists should use extra caution along North Stanton Street next week as crews will be paving Stanton between Baltimore Drive and Crosby Avenue beginning on Monday, April 3, 2017.Police officers will be on-scene to assist drivers as they navigate around machinery.

This paving work will allow crews to reopen North Stanton Street to north-south traffic between Baltimore Drive and Cincinnati Avenue during the week of April 10. Baltimore Drive will temporarily re-open to east-west traffic at this time. Because of street widths and station configurations, Stanton will remain reduced to a single northbound lane south of Cincinnati. Track installation continues on Stanton Street south of Crosby Avenue.

The following cross-streets remain closed to thru traffic between Stanton Street and Mesa Street: Baltimore Drive, Boston Avenue, Blanchard Avenue, Hague Road, Crosby Avenue, Cliff Drive and Rio Grande Avenue.

Franklin Avenue remains reduced to a single eastbound lane in Downtown El Paso as crews lay some of the most complex portions of rail on the entire 4.8 mile route. Franklin Avenue includes two switching mechanisms, which will allow streetcars to connect between the Uptown and Downtown loops.

While most work will be completed within the current lane closures, the following single night closures will be required as crews pour concrete on Franklin Avenue:

• Franklin Avenue will be closed to all traffic between Oregon Street and Stanton Street from 11pm onThursday, March 30, and 6am on Friday, March 31, 2017.
• Franklin Avenue will be closed to all traffic between Mesa Street and Kansas Street from 11pm onTuesday, April 4, and 6am on Wednesday, April 5, 2017.

Stanton Street also remains closed to thru traffic between Main Drive and Franklin Avenue. In the coming weeks, this closure will move north to between Franklin Avenue and Missouri Avenue.

Crews have reschedule work to paint newly installed columns and place atop them in the median of Interstate 10 in Downtown El Paso. While originally planned as overnight lane closures, this work will require a single overnight closure of I-10 beginning at 9pm on Sunday, April 23, 2017. The freeway will re-open to traffic before the morning commute on Monday, April 24, 2017.

Eastbound traffic will detour onto Wyoming Avenue at the Downtown exit while westbound traffic will detour onto Yandell Drive via the Mesa Street exit.

As work continues throughout the 4.8 mile route, the following traffic impacts will remain in place during the week of April 3, 2017:

Complete Closures

• Glory Road between Oregon Street and Mesa Street
• Baltimore Drive between Mesa Street and Stanton Street
• Santa Fe Street between 4^th Avenue and Father Rahm Avenue
• Santa Fe Street between Main Drive and Franklin Avenue (Open to southbound traffic only)

Lane Restrictions

• Oregon Street between Yandell Drive and Nevada Avenue
• Kansas Street between Franklin Avenue and Father Rahm Avenue
• Santa Fe Street between Franklin Avenue and San Antonio Avenue

Other Upcoming Work

Rail must be laid across Interstate 10 on the Stanton Street and Oregon Street overpasses. Because of the specialized material which is being used in this phase, complete simultaneous closures will be necessary. The exact date for this work has not yet been determined.

Rail must also be laid across Mesa Street at Glory Road/Baltimore Drive. While tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-June, exact dates for this work have not been determined.