Dyer Rapid Transit System to start construction around late 2017

Residents in Northeast El Paso will have the chance to see what their area’s new rapid transit line will look like Wednesday night.

The City of El Paso’s Capital Improvement Department held a meeting on the final design plans for the Dyer Rapid Transit System (RTS) and the Northgate Transfer Center.

The rapid transit line, or Dyer RTS, will connect Northeast to Central and Downtown El Paso on a route about 10 miles in length.

“The idea of a light rail system is to get on it and go somewhere fast,” said Sun Metro Director Jay Banasiak. “We can go from this area of town and in 30-35 minutes be in Downtown or Five Points in 20 minutes, transfer to the airport or Mission Valley.”

Much like the Mesa RTS, the Dyer RTS has 60-foot buses that run every 10 minutes during peak times, and every 15 minutes during off-peak times. The buses have the ability to lengthen green traffic signals. The landscaped bus stops will be built a mile apart. The projects costs $35.8 million.

The Northgate Transfer Center costs $14.9 million, and will serve as the main feeder to the Dyer RTS. The center will be built for comfort, including canopies over the bus bays, electronic on-street message boards, ticking and information offices.

Once the design is finalized, it goes to City Council which will approve it before sending it to construction.

“I think finally we’re going to make it into a nice area,” Banasiak said.