Council Approves Accommodations For Re-Routed Pedestrians

EL PASO, TX – City Council approved a resolution that will address the needs of pedestrians who will soon be re-routed upon crossing the Paso Del Norte Bridge into the city.

Beginning in mid to late September, pedestrians who enter the city through the bridge will be diverted one block to 6th and Oregon streets. Pedestrians will be diverted in anticipation of a construction project at the port of entry. The federal government will spend more than $25-million dollars to add nine new pedestrian lanes and two new vehicle lanes at the bridge.

The resolution approved by the city council on Tuesday will provide for the construction of a shade canopy along Oregon street using poles from parking meters and the installation of four new flood lights. The cost of the accommodations is expected to be $50,000, said city officials. They will ask members of the Central Business Administration (CBA) to help with the cost.

However, some members of the CBA are expressing concerns about the re-routing of pedestrians away from El Paso street. They tell ABC-7 the move will affect their businesses economically because pedestrians will be diverted away from their shops. “How many people are going to subject themselves, after they’ve gone half a mile over the bridge, to walk another quarter mile just to get where civilization is,” said one member.

About 20,000 pedestrians cross the bridge and pass through El Paso street every day, city officials say.

Daryl Cole, director of the City Streets Department, said the city council is confident re-routing pedestrians down a residential street instead of El Paso street will not affect businesses. “That is why you see council vote on the idea of putting some shade out there and making those accommodations by putting up necessary signs and making the experience as tolerable as possible during this construction period,” he said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Tanny Berg, Chairman of the International Bridge Commission, asked the city council to consider not raising bridge fees until the construction is complete. “My suggestion and the commission’s suggestion is to wait and consider these increases after the improvements have been made so people see the result of what it’s costing them to come over,” she said.

Mayor John Cook stated that not raising the fees for pedestrians during that period, which is expected to last more than 500 days, would cost the city $500,000 in lost revenues.

The City Council agreed to take up the topic in the budget hearings.