Streetcar launches Friday

After months of testing, the El Paso Streetcar is set to be open to the public Friday at 5 p.m.

Sun Metro will be having a launch event downtown at Cleveland Square at 11 a.m.

Sun Metro’s Director Jay Banasiak told ABC-7 about four or five streetcars will be running on friday.

The streetcar will be free to ride on the weekends starting Friday and lasting until January 6th.

Streetcar times will be:

Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m.- 7 p.m.

Friday: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m.- 1 a.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The cost to ride the streetcar will be the same as sun metro buses.In 2007, city council made route four free because there were no amenities for riders, but with the new transfer station downtown, sun metro is now charging for the route.

Route 9 has about the same route as the streetcar, so once the streetcar is ready, route 9 will be deactivated.