Are El Paso's streetcars a thing of the past?
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — El Paso's streetcars are not only nostalgic, they are a conversation starter, a character statement, and maybe a nod of respect for times past.
As eye-catching as they are, it appears nobody is really riding them anymore.
Unfortunately, the rollout of the glossy refurbished electric streetcars in 2018 lost momentum during the pandemic because no one was going anywhere much less on anything that required people to sit together.
So when things started getting back to normal the streetcar project seems to have lost traction and in turn is costing the city because ridership is down.
Mayor Oscar Leeser said its hard to justify the expense of running the streetcars and is having the city study the financial options.
So while the desire may exist for streetcars to roll around daily, does the dire reality supersede the desire?
The mayor has suggested maybe we cut back the use of the streetcars to mostly just special events in the four-point-eight mile area the streetcars service downtown and near the University of Texas at El Paso.
The streetcar’s annual operating budget is about three million and is funded by sales tax revenue, which is part of the city’s mass transit department budget.
What are your thoughts on this? Have you been on the El Paso streetcar since they were reintroduced?
Should the city take larger measures to encourage ridership or is the mayor on the right track?
Let me know what you think.
Email me at erika.castillo@kfox tv.com or post your comments on our Twitter and Facebook posts.
I will share comments on Carpe Diem with you on Thursday and remember to seize the day every day.
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