El Paso, TX — Construction Start Nears

June 2015

El Paso iin west Texas is moving forward with its planned PCC-operated heritage streetcar line with construction likely to start by the end of this year, the El Paso Inc site reports.

The El Paso project is supported by $97 million in state funding. The 4.8-mile streetcar line will provide service from the Paso del Norte Port of Entry in Downtown to the West El Paso neighborhood that is home to a campus of El Paso Community College, the University of Texas at El Paso and several hospitals.

The firm that will build the project is expected to be selected from a shortlist of four finalists in August .... El Paso transportation officials say they are working with Tucson officials to learn from their experience. Joe Chase, Tucson’s engineering project manager, is a member of El Paso’s bid evaluation committee. While the Tucson streetcar project used modern streetcars, the El Paso project will refurbish the city’s vintage PCC streetcars. Also in August, a firm will be chosen to rehab derelict ex-San Diego PCCs acquired secondhand by El Paso City Lines and not used since 1974.

“It’s going to change that whole area. It’s rail; it is not going anywhere. You can move a bus route. It is going to be an economic driver, no doubt about it,” said Daryl Cole, Tucson’s transportation director who previo8usly served as El Paso's transportation director for 25 years.