Sun Metro exploring ways to increase streetcar ridership

It has been nearly four months since El Paso’s trolley car system came online and the City’s public transportation department is exploring how to increase ridership.

The system was brought online during the city’s Winter Fest celebrations and was handling about 40,000 rides a month during that time.

However, there has been a considerable downturn in ridership since then.

“Now it is settling in at around 15,000 or so, which in my opinion, we have to build up that ridership,” said Sun Metro Director Jay Banasiak. “People have to understand how to use it and we have things that we are doing to make it even better and easier for the customer.”

The future of Sun Metro includes an app that will tell riders about nearby eateries, traffic alerts and arrival times.

The promise of an app has already interested a number of residents, especially students at UTEP.

“It will be really convenient for those of us who are constantly on our phones,” said UTEP freshman Abbie Velez. “It’ll be really easy for us to access the trolleys, rather than just waiting around to see when it will show up for us.”

And for the most part, the riding experience seems to be hitting the mark for many riders.

“It was really exciting,” said Velez. “Definitely a little cramped but I ended up really liking it. It was a really cool experience.”

Additionally, Sun Metro officials say they are planning to build 26 station shelters for riders and continue looking for other ways to make the system as user friendly as possible.