Tag Archives: el paso streetcars

On Friday morning, the City of El Paso will inaugurate the long-awaited El Paso Streetcar service.

The launch ceremony will feature three different color schemes of the newly restored Presidents Conference Committee (PCC) Streetcars and the inaugural first dignitary ride.

“This is a step towards a historic transformation for El Paso,” Sun Metro Director Jay Banasiak said. “The city will be seeing a new mode of transportation system as the El Paso Streetcar adds another viable transit option for residents and visitors.”

The public will be able to ride starting at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 9. The service will be free on grand opening weekend (November 9, 10 & 11) and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until January 6^th.

Monday through Thursday Streetcar fares will mirror Sun Metro’s current fare structure. Visit the Streetcar website for full fare details or call (915) 212-3333.

During grand opening weekend, the Streetcars will only service six stops:

• Santa Fe at Fourth
• Franklin at El Paso
• Stanton at Cincinnati
• Glory Road Transfer Center
• Oregon at Missouri
• Kansas at Mills

Beginning Monday, November 12, 2018, the El Paso Streetcar will service all 27 stops along its 4.8 mile route. A listing of all stops along the Downtown and Uptown loops is available online or by calling (915) 212-3333.

City officials added, “The El Paso Streetcar route highlights all the wonderful things that make El Paso downtown and uptown a unique place to visit.”

The 4.8 mile-route will run in two loops through El Paso’s uptown and downtown areas. Both loops will interconnect through a single-tracked corridor an international bridge, an array of businesses, restaurants, government buildings, convention center, downtown ballpark, and the University of Texas at El Paso among many other prominent locations.

Streetcar Amenities

The El Paso Streetcar amenities feature:

• Seating for approximately 35 people and additional space for standing riders
• Free Wi-Fi
• ADA accessibility
• Bike racks
• Air conditioning
• Heating
• Upgrades for safety
• Modern propulsion
• Streetcar branding along the route and signage at designated stops
• Pavement, sidewalk and driveway improvements at designated stops

Ceremony details for Friday:

WHO:            City of El Paso and Sun Metro

WHAT:          Streetcar Inauguration Ceremony

WHEN:          11:00 a.m. Friday, November 9, 2018

WHERE:        Franklin Street, between Santa Fe and Oregon

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 the El Paso Streetcar Project rolls closer to completion, the second vintage streetcar sporting a green-on-green paint scheme is set for arrival and testing continues along Stanton and Oregon streets requiring closures later this week.

The fourth newly renovated streetcar will complete its 1,800-mile trip from Pennsylvania to El Paso Tuesday morning, according to Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority officials.

Car No. 1514 will bear the same green-on-green paint scheme as Car No. 1504 which recently returned to El Paso.

The truck that is carrying Car No. 1514 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 Monday, September 24, 2018, the night prior to its arrival.

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.

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

Contractors working for the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority will close Stanton and Oregon streets between Crosby and Montana avenues beginning at approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday, September 26, 2018. All cross streets will be closed at Stanton and Oregon streets, as well.

Testing is scheduled to be complete and all barricades are scheduled to be removed by 5 a.m. Thursday, September 27, 2018.

The testing process will repeat along the same route at 9 p.m. Thursday, September 27, 2018, and reopen by 5 a.m. Friday, September 28, 2018.

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

Starting next week, Sun Metro has scheduled three community meetings to raise awareness about Streetcar Safety.

The El Paso Streetcar project is in its testing and training phase. To ensure the system can operate safely for the public, Sun Metro encourages the public to obey traffic laws and cross safely at designated locations when driving, cycling or walking near the 4.8 mile streetcar route.

The route runs in two loops known as Downtown and Uptown. The Downtown Loop includes Santa Fe Street, Franklin Avenue, Kansas Street and Father Rahm Avenue. The Uptown Loop includes Franklin Avenue, Stanton Street, Glory Road, Baltimore Drive and Oregon Street.

Sun Metro officials share the following tips to remember when approaching a Streetcar:

Pedestrians

• Look both ways and listen for the streetcar before you step into the crosswalk. Streetcars run on electricity and are extremely quiet when approaching a station.
• Remove headphones or reduce volume so you can hear streetcar warning bells and horns. Streetcars will provide warning sounds before coming to a stop.
• There are new signals all along the streetcar route. Cross only at a crosswalk when the walk signal is on.
• Never try to beat a moving streetcar by walking or running in front of it while it’s in motion. Streetcars cannot make sudden stops. Never try to beat a moving streetcar by walking or running in front of it while it’s in motion. Streetcars cannot make sudden stops.

Motorists

• Pass the streetcar with caution. Never block the tracks while parking or changing lanes.
• Never cut in front of a moving streetcar. Do not attempt a right-hand turn in front of a streetcar. Get behind the streetcar to make any right-hand turns.
• Park only at designated spaces along the streetcar route. Never block the tracks. Cars will be towed.
• Pay attention to new signs, striping & signals all along the streetcar route.

Cyclists

• Avoid riding near streetcar tracks when possible. Track grooves are slightly wider than the typical bike tire, so it’s easy for tires to become caught between the rails. Always cross rails at a 90 degree angle.
• Tracks can be slippery, especially when wet. Try to avoid any wet areas along the route when crossing the tracks.
• Stanton Street (btwn Baltimore & Rio Grande) is now a 2-way bikeway. All cyclist can ride north and south on the same side of the street.
• Never grab the back of a streetcar to be pulled along on your bike.

The meetings will take place:

For more information and videos about El Paso Streetcar safety, visit the website, call (915) 212-3333, like the Facebook page or follow Sun Metro on Twitter @SunMetro.

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.

As part of the El Paso Streetcar Project, the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority will begin on-street testing on the Uptown Loop on the night of Monday, July 9, 2018.

No street closures will be required at this time. However, motorists, pedestrian and cyclists are encouraged to used extra caution and allow extra time if travelling along the route during testing.

Additionally, vehicles blocking the tracks are subject to be towed at their owner’s expense.

The Uptown Loop includes Stanton Street, Baltimore Drive, Glory Road, Oregon Street and Franklin Avenue. Overnight on-street testing will also continue on the Downtown Loop which includes Franklin Avenue, Kansas Street, Father Rahm Avenue and Santa Fe Street as well.

Officials add, “As always, all overhead lines along the streetcar route should always be considered to be energized…residents should never touch the wires or have anything touching the wires.”

To learn more about the testing phase, click here

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

Kansas Street is scheduled to be closed to all traffic between Paisano Drive and Father Rahm Avenue beginning at approximately 10 pm on Tuesday, May 8, and again on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, according to the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority.

Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue will also be closed at Kansas Street.  All streets are scheduled to re-open by 6 am on the following day.

These overnight closures are needed to accommodate testing related to the El Paso Streetcar Project. Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are asked to avoid the area if possible during testing.

Temporarily parking restrictions have been marked along Kansas Street and will remain in effect through Thursday.

The Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority has announced the following traffic impacts for the weekend, related to the delivery of Streetcar No. 1512.

Streetcar No. 1512 will have the same red and green color scheme as Streetcar No. 1506 which was delivered to El Paso a few weeks ago.

As part of the El Paso Streetcar Project, six vintage Presidents Conference Committee (PCC) streetcars are being restored by Brookville Equipment Corporation in Brookville, Pn., before being returned to service in El Paso.

• On-street parking will be prohibited on Father Rahm Avenue between Santa Fe Street and El Paso Street beginning on Friday, April 27, 2018.
• Father Rahm Avenue will be closed to all traffic between Santa Fe Street and El Paso Street beginning on the morning of Sunday, April 29, 2018.
• The street is expected to re-open and all parking restrictions are expected to be lifted by Sunday afternoon.

As crews from Paso del Norte Trackworks turn their focus toward overhead power systems, they’re also finishing up minor street and sidewalk work at various sections along the 4.8 mile route.

That work will require a handful of lane restrictions and street closures over the coming weeks.

On Wednesday, August 30, 2017, Yandell Drive will be reduced to a single westbound lane at Stanton Street so crews can make adjustments to water valves in the street; Also at this time, Stanton Street will be closed to thru traffic between Yandell Drive and Montana Avenue and an eastbound lane on Montana Avenue will be closed at Stanton.

During the morning commute, these closures will impact motorists who use the Mesa Street exit off of I-10 westbound to access Downtown. Motorists should consider using Cotton Street to Texas Avenue to access downtown.

In the evening commute, these closures will impact motorists who use Yandell Drive to access I-10 westbound and those who use northbound Stanton Street to leave the Downtown area.

Motorists should consider Santa Fe Street or Campbell Street as alternate routes out of Downtown.

These closures will be in effect for 24 hours only meaning impacted streets will re-open on Thursday, August 31, 2017.

Stanton Street and Oregon Street will close for approximately one week between Yandell Drive and Wyoming Avenue. This closure is anticipated in early September, but an exact date has not been announced.

The closure is necessary to allow crews from Paso del Norte Trackworks to place the final sealant on specially formulated concrete recently used to adjust the driving surface of the bridges to match the height of the newly installed rail.

Crews from Paso del Norte Trackworks continue stringing wire for the Overhead Catenary System (OCS) at various locations throughout the 4.8 mile route of the El Paso Streetcar Project.

This work is done with a police escort. Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists should use extra caution around this work.

But for a section about 25 feet long, all rail for the El Paso Streetcar Project has been placed along the entire 4.8 mile route stretching from South El Paso to Downtown to the Kern Place/UTEP area.

On Thursday, August 10, 2017, El Pasoans are invited to take a few moments out of their day to stop-in and sign what will be the very last piece of rail which will be placed as part of the El Paso Streetcar Project.

“In the coming weeks, crews from Paso del Norte Trackworks will weld that final piece of rail into place signifying the end of major construction work for this project,” said Raymond Telles, executive director of the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority.

“However, that doesn’t mean the streetcars are ready to roll just yet — crews must continue work on the overhead system which will power the streetcars which are still being renovated in Brookville, Penn. When those streetcars return later this year, we’ll begin a 6-12 month testing phase which must be completed before the City of El Paso is able to begin streetcar service,” Telles added.

The CRRMA will have special markers and commemorative giveaways available in the 500 Block of North Stanton Street in Downtown El Paso between 10am and 1pm.

Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists should anticipate new temporary traffic patterns in the coming days as rail work related to the El Paso Streetcar Projects continues to advance toward its conclusion, according to the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority.

The changes, and the associated work, may shift a bit due to weather.

Beginning on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, a lane shift will be in place on Franklin Avenue between Stanton Street and Mesa Street. This will last approximately 2 weeks.

Father Rahm will be closed between Santa Fe and El Paso Street for one day on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 for paving. The street will reopen on Thursday, August 3, 2017.

Beginning the week of August 7, 2017, two-way traffic on Stanton Street between Yandell Drive and Schuster Avenue will shift from the east side of the street to the west side of the street. All cross streets are open at Stanton.

Also during this time, crews will begin preliminary striping work on North Stanton Street in advance of final striping related to the El Paso Streetcar Project, which is scheduled to begin the week of August 7, 2017.

On Sunday, August 6, 2017, 4^th between Santa Fe and El Paso will be closed for one day.

Beginning the week of August 14, 2017, crews will take up four parking spaces on Franklin Avenue at Oregon to create bump outs. Sidewalk access will be maintained during this time, ADA ramp will be open in one week. Work in that area will take approximately two weeks. Franklin Avenue will remain open to traffic during this time.

The following traffic impacts will remain in place during the week of July 31, 2017:

Complete Closures

• Baltimore Drive between Stanton Street and Mesa Street
• Glory Road between Oregon Street and Mesa Street
• Nevada Street immediately west of Oregon Street
• Rio Grande Avenue immediately east of Oregon Street
• Oregon Street between Wyoming Avenue to Franklin Avenue
• Stanton Street between Wyoming Avenue to Franklin Avenue

Lane Restrictions

• Yandell Drive between Kansas Street and Santa Fe Street
• Wyoming Avenue between Kansas Street and Santa Fe Street
• Oregon Street between Yandell Drive and Wyoming Avenue
• Santa Fe Street between Father Rahm Avenue and 4^th Avenue
• Missouri Avenue at Oregon Street
• Franklin Avenue between Stanton Street and Mesa Street
• Missouri Avenue at Stanton Street
• Mesa Street at Glory Road/Baltimore Drive

After months of rail work at locations from South El Paso to Downtown to the UTEP area, crews from Paso del Norte Trackworks will begin their final wave of rail work in the coming weeks in the following three areas:

AREA 1 — Mesa Street at Glory Road/Baltimore Drive

Beginning on Monday, June 19, 2017, crews will begin work to lay rail across Mesa Street at Glory Road/Baltimore Drive. To keep traffic moving, the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority has announced the following three phases of work to build rail across Mesa Street at the intersection of Glory Road/Baltimore Drive:

• Phase I will run through the week of July 5, 2017: Glory Road will be closed between Oregon Street and Mesa Street; Baltimore Drive will be closed to between Mesa Street and Stanton Street. Crews will complete rail approaching Mesa Street on both Glory and Baltimore. Turn lanes from Mesa onto both of those streets will be closed.

• Phase II will begin the week of July 5, 2017 and last approximately three weeks: Mesa Street will be reduced to a single inside lane in each direction as crews begin laying rail toward the center of the intersection.

• Phase III will begin immediately after Phase II is completed and last approximately four weeks: Mesa Street will be reduced to a single outside lane in each direction as crews join the two sections of rail placed in Phase II. Baltimore will be open to local traffic only from Stanton Street.

These plans have been developed in coordination with the City of El Paso, Sun Metro, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the University of Texas at El Paso. While traffic will be allowed to flow in both directions on Mesa Street, motorists are encouraged to consider alternate routes such as Stanton Street and Sun Bowl Drive.

Motorists will be able to access the Glory Road Transfer Center parking garage from Glory Road via Oregon Street. Pedestrian who usually cross Mesa at Baltimore/Glory, should consider alternate crossing locations.

AREA 2 — Oregon Street between Wyoming Avenue and Franklin Avenue

Beginning on Monday, June 19, 2017, Oregon Street will close to thru traffic between Franklin Avenue and Wyoming Avenue to accommodate track work. Cross streets will remain open but will be subject to lane restrictions. Work is scheduled to take approximately eight to ten weeks to complete.

AREA 3 — Stanton Street between Wyoming Avenue and Franklin Avenue

Beginning on Monday, June 26, 2017, Stanton Street will close to thru traffic between Franklin Avenue and Wyoming Avenue to accommodate trackwork. Cross streets will remain open but will be subject to lane restrictions. Work is scheduled to take approximately eight to ten weeks to complete.

When rail work is completed, crews from Paso del Norte Trackworks will continue other work along the route including sidewalk repairs, pole placement for the overhead cantenary system which will power the streetcars, and striping operations.

Traffic Impacts at Other Locations

The following traffic impacts will remain in place during the week of June 19, 2017:

Complete Closures

• Santa Fe Street between Father Rahm Avenue and 3^rd Avenue
• Santa Fe Street between 3^rd Avenue and Paisano Drive (open to northbound traffic only)
• 4^th Avenue between El Paso Street and Santa Fe Street
• Stanton Street between Wyoming Avenue and Yandell Drive
• Oregon Street between Wyoming Avenue and Yandell Drive
• Stanton Street between Yandell Drive and Schuster Avenue (open to northbound traffic only)

Lane Restrictions

• El Paso Street at 4^th Avenue
• Oregon Street between Nevada Avenue and Yandell Drive
• Yandell Drive between Kansas Street and Santa Fe Street
• Oregon Street between Kansas Street and Santa Fe Street

In the coming weeks, crews will be working intermittently at locations throughout the downtown loop — which comprises Kansas Street, Father Rahm Avenue, Santa Fe Street and Franklin Avenue — to finalize some paving work and signal work.

That work will require short-term lane restrictions to complete. Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are asked to use extra caution and obey all posted signs and barricades.