El Paso Streetcar extends operation hours to seven days a week starting in September

El Paso Streetcar Credit: (KFOX14/CBS4)

KFOX
by Jhovani Carrillo
Wed, August 2, 2023, 10:01 PM CDT

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — The El Paso Streetcar will be expanding its hours of operation starting Sunday, September 3.

Currently, the streetcars do not operate on Monday and Tuesday, but with the switch in schedules, the streetcar will be running seven days a week.

New service hours starting September 3:

• Sunday: noon - 6 p.m.
• Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.
• Saturday: noon - 11 p.m.

According to Sun Metro, the Streetcar will save money and extend service hours to accommodate earlier morning riders; and by modifying operations, the Streetcar will run fewer cars during nonpeak hours.

"We want to make sure they are not running empty. We want to make sure we are not wasting the taxpayers' money," said Mayor Oscar Leeser. "We were actually running four street cars at all times. And so they weren’t really being maximized. So now, at different times, we will only run two, we’ll run three when needed."

The city said the new operating schedule could save the Sun Metro operation fund over $300,000 per year.

“If we see that we only need one or two at that time that’s what we will run. But we gave them the flexibility to be able to look at that and adjust without having to come back to council," said Leeser.

Still, Leeser said it takes roughly $2.6 million to operate the trolley.

He said the city will continue to look at the usage to see where else they could save money.

“We can look at if there is going to be more savings, how can we become more efficient. Again, we gave them that flexibility," he added.

Meantime, businesses and people we spoke with on Wednesday, said they are glad the streetcar is adding extra hours.

“I think it’s great, I think it’s a good step forward. I think it provides convenience to the people who want to come downtown," said David Kelly, who is an avid rider.

“I think it’s great because I use it on the daily," said Luz Macias.

“It’s going to help us out a lot because it brings us a lot of customers. Including people that don’t have other forms of transportation," said Carmen Gonzales, who works at a clothing store downtown.