TxDOT’s Courtesy Patrol In El Paso To End This Summer

EL PASO, Texas – The El Paso district of the Texas Department of Transportation will put its courtesy patrol on holdthis summer as the agency re-evaluates its limited number of personnel, according to TxDOT officials.

TheHighway Emergency Response Operators, or HEROS program provides roadside assistance to motorists.

“This was a difficult decision,” said Chuck Berry, TxDOT El Paso district engineer. “The HEROS have provided roadside assistance to thousands of motorists through the years. We are looking at other avenues to continue this program. TxDOT works for the citizens of Texas. Right now our resources need to be put on the pavement. I will work with our transportation partners to keep the program going using alternative sources of funding.”

El Paso’s HEROS program has helped more than 100,000 motorists since its inception in 1993. Since that date, the HEROS have arrived on accident scenes and provided law enforcement with incident management traffic control.

“It’s a valuable program,” Berry said. “There are options such as working with other government agencies and the possibility of federal funding. TxDOT will work with its transportation partners to find alternative solutions that will keep this great program going.”