TxDOT Suspending Road Service Program

Kick your tires and check your engine!

Starting June 1st, TXDOT is suspending its popular Highway Emergency Response OperatorS, or HEROS program, due to budget cuts.

Bob Jacquemotte is one of more than 100,000 motorists El Paso’s HEROS program has helped out since it began patrolling the driveways in 1993.

“I tend to drive a lot of older cars and so I have experiences and the courtesy patrol is just fantastic. They’ve come to my aid more than a couple of times,” he says.

But crews don’t just offer highway help to stranded drivers. “Whether it was running out of gas or changing out a tire, we knew we could call the courtesy patrol,” says John Concha of the El Paso Fire Department.

Emergency crews also depend on them to block off traffic, especially when the roads get crowded.

“Breaking down anytime is not convenient, but especially in rush hour…it gets a lot more dangerous when it’s rush hour traffic,” says Jacquemotte.

The four-man, two-truck crew operates on a staggered schedule Monday through Friday from 6 to 8pm. TXDOT officials say no one will lose their job when they suspend service June 1st.

Instead, employees will be reassigned to other departments.

TXDOT officials say they can’t afford to hire more employees, especially with budget cuts to their $500,000 a year operating budget.

“We do have a lotta great people in El Paso and you always tend to get someone that will stop and help and give you a ride somewhere, but having the courtesy patrol was just that added extra coverage and it’s gonna be sad to see them go,” says Jacquemotte.

TXDOT officials say they are looking at other options, such as working on the possibility of additional funding or having the police or sheriff’s office step in and help out.