El Paso transit agency wraps up streetcar construction

The Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority in Texas has finished construction on the El Paso Streetcar project, the agency announced last week.

The announcement follows two years of work along the 4.8-mile system, which could open as soon as Friday, local media reported.

Construction activity included building a maintenance and storage facility, track, traction power substations and an overhead contact system, authority officials said in a press release. The work also included various street reconstructions.

The authority managed the construction work, which was performed by Paso Del Norte Trackworks, a joint venture of Granite Construction Co. 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, the authority's executive director.
 
The service will be serviced by Presidents' Conference Committee (PCC) streetcars, the same vehicles that ran on El Paso streets until 1974, authority officials said. Brookville Equipment Corp. is restoring six PCC cars for El Paso's streetcar system.

The two-loop route connects international bridges, retail areas, government buildings, colleges, a downtown ballpark and historic neighborhoods.

El Paso's Sun Metro Mass Transit Department will manage streetcar operations and maintenance activities.

Last month, the El Paso Streetcar began pre-revenue service.