Plans to get the Wyler Aerial Tramway up and running may move forward soon, but the original tram will not be repaired and a new and improved tram will be built nearby in its place.
Many El Pasoans remember boarding the bright amber cable car, enjoying views of the Franklin Mountains, and ending with a stunning view of the tower atop Ranger Peak.
Local pride in the streetcar sparked a public backlash in 2018 when the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced it was closing the streetcar out of an abundance of caution and was no longer suitable for public use.
Now, six years and a feasibility study under way, some progress may be made.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in collaboration with the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA), is moving closer to restoring the streetcar, an estimated $36 million project.
According to its website, CRRMA is a Texas political division created by the El Paso City Council. The agency has led several transportation projects in the city, including aesthetic improvements to the El Paso streetcar and along Interstate 10 and Airway Boulevard.
Raymond Telles, the agency’s executive director, said CRRMA is leading the design and construction process.
“This project is real,” Telles said. “It’s not just an idea, it’s actually happening.”
He said the project consists of three phases.
First, improvements to the tram base, then a new visitor center, and finally improvements to the tram itself.
The design and financing for the first phase of the project is 100% complete, Telles said. Construction work could begin within just a few weeks. The first phase will include all of the groundwork for the streetcar and improvements to the road leading to the McKinley Avenue streetcar.
The shared renderings showcase several new features, including a proposed ring road, more parking, a shelter, a bus drop-off area for school tours, and even an amphitheater.
Now that the funding is complete, we can move forward with that part of the project.
“We have been to Congress three times so far,” Telles said. “To date, we have received just under $20 million from Congress.”
That means the streetcar will still require $16 million in state funds to complete, and the cost could change once construction begins.
On the funding side, Telles said state Rep. Lina Ortega has been a strong advocate for streetcar funding. However, Ortega does not intend to seek re-election in 2024. Despite his resignation, Telles remains confident that the Texas Legislature will approve the remaining funds needed to complete the project.
“The rest of the delegation has supported this,” he said. “Even if Congressman Ortega resigns, I know they will continue to push this issue.”
Ortega’s chief of staff responded to an email requesting additional details: “The Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority will soon release design plans for the first phase of the project in order to recruit contractors for the project.” said.
Contractor recruitment will likely be announced in the coming months, if not weeks, Telles said. The first phase of construction will be completed within 18 months from the start of work and will allow him to proceed with the visitor center and eventually the tramway.
Telles said the original Weiler Aerial Tramway will not be restored. Instead, through a feasibility study, Texas Parks and Wildlife chose to go back to the drawing board and build a public-only streetcar.
“Remember, the original streetcar was intended to serve the tower,” Telles said. “It was never meant for the public.”
Built in 1959, the Wyler Aerial Tramway, named for El Paso radio and television pioneer Carl O. Wyler, provided maintenance access to the television transmission tower until it was donated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1997. designed to provide.
The station reopened to the public in 2001 after renovations and operated the streetcar for about 20 years. The tram attracted about 45,000 tourists each year.
The design proposed by CRRMA depicts a new streetcar line running roughly parallel to the old streetcar. The plan also includes new base stations. Instead of connecting to the power tower, the tram will terminate at a new observation deck, where visitors will be able to take in stunning views of two countries and three states.
“Ranger Peak is not very friendly to the general public,” Telles said. “This is an operational tower that has been renovated for the public to hang out and take in the view, and there is even signage regarding radiation.”
Telles said the new streetcar will also include a large cable car. Although the design for the streetcar itself is not yet finalized, Telles said he envisions a vehicle large enough to carry 15 people at a time.
Asked about the likelihood of completion, Telles said it’s hard to say, especially given the lack of legislative funding.
“It’s still a few years away, but we’re 100% funded for the first phase, so this is a big step forward,” he said.
There are only a few companies building streetcars around the world, so the process is difficult, but the rewards are well worth it, Telles said.
“That’s one of the things that makes El Paso special,” Telles said. “So if you open up the streetcar and allow kids who might not be able to complete the full hike to the top of the mountain, you’re opening up that view to so many people.”
Proposed design rendering for streetcar roads: (Slide 10) Item 6 – Wyler PPT (crrma-production.s3.amazonaws.com)
Phased Proposed Design Renderings (Slide 5) Wyler Tramway Phase I Project – Construction Advertising Permit 02-14-2024 (crrma-production.s3.amazonaws.com)