El Paso city council considers event-driven operation for streetcars: potential savings and impacts to be assessed
Published: Mon, 07/03/23
El Paso city council considers event-driven operation for streetcars: potential savings and impacts to be assessed
The El Paso Streetcar.
[Credit: KFOX14/CBS4]
KFOX14
by Ariana Parra
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — Changes could be coming to the operation of the downtown El Paso streetcars.
El Paso City Council will receive a full report about the streetcar services on Wednesday.
This comes after the council has been considering changing the operational schedule to be strictly event driven.
City representatives are scheduled to meet and receive a full report about the economic impact of the streetcars and the possible savings that could come with a new schedule.
Wednesdays presentation states that after analyzing the economic impact on land, retail, potential growth, ridership, and more city staff will propose an 'optimized service plan' that would double the service hours per week and allow the streetcar to run all days of the week.
The presentation explains that this proposed service optimization plan would save over $300,000 per year for the sun metro operation fund.
The streetcars current operation is five days per week.
- Wednesday -Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m.
- Sundays from 12 noon to 6 p.m.
The streetcar travels across almost five miles on two loops to service El Paso's downtown and uptown areas.
The rides are free and all cars are equipped with amenities such as free wifi, air conditioning and bike racks.
KFOX14 will bring you any decision the city makes, on air and online.