City still to choose between classic or modern-looking trolleys

Should El Paso build a classic or a modern-looking trolley system?

Now that $97 million in funding has been secured, the only question left is whether the streetcars will provide a ride back in time or a look into the future.

The system, expected to break ground in coming months, will run from Downtown to UTEP and back.

It will include eight streetcars total.

And while City Council has indicated its preference is to refurbish old El Paso streetcars, advocates think modern streetcars could still be a possibility.

“I think keep it old, keep it historic, just keep it classic and vintage,” said El Pasoan Brandon Montes.

Added El Paso resident Rick Lopez: “El Paso will look a lot better with the new system, not the old system.”

Everybody has an opinion when it comes to El Paso’s new trolley. Should the old streetcars be refurbished at a cost of $1.6 million each? Or should new streetcars be purchased at a cost of $1.2 million each, saving more than $3 million.

“I think you get the bang for your buck for the street car line integrating the old Presidential Conference Cars (PCC),” said trolley activist Peter Svarzbein, who thinks it’s a no-brainer. “Not that there is anything wrong with a modern streetcar, but a modern streetcar doesn’t look like our Downtown.”

Svarzbein is convinced that having the older look PCC cars will be a much better fit for El Paso’s older look Downtown El Paso, not to mention the new classic-looking $75 million ballpark.

“While it has modern amenities, it also has the look and feel and presence of a classic baseball park,” Svarzbein said.

City Representative Cortney Niland pointed to a 6-2 vote by City Council two years ago stating their preference was the old cars.

“When we took action, we clearly stated the City Council’s preference is to use the PCC cars that we have in existence,” Niland said. “originally, we were concerned there might be some concern with cost and we wouldn’t get the full amount that we’d need to be able to do so. Given the fact we were given $97 million we felt pretty sure we would be able to refurbish all the existing ones we have.”

Svarzbein said he hopes to board the trolley and take a ride back in time.

“Let’s do this streetcar system right,” he said. “Lets follow council’s directive. Let’s bring back these PCC street cars that used to run, that would have a modern propulsion system, but also have the look and feel of historic streetcars. That’s doing it right.”