Ridership app planned for streetcar system

El Paso transportation officials are excited about an app being developed for customers of the city’s new streetcar system.

The app essentially operates as a GPS tracker, telling riders where the streetcars in relation to them to cut down on ridership wait times.

Transportation officials are optimistic that the app will raise ridership, as will warmer weather and the arrival of more popular downtown events.

“It’ll entice people downtown to be able to use our streetcar service because now you’ll know when that car is going to be there,” said Sun Metro Director Jay Banasiak. “You don’t have to wait, you do not have to guess when it is going to be there. You can do things and schedule to exactly when that car is going to be there so I think that is going to be a no brainer then.”

During the winter months, ridership had hung at about 15,000 riders per months but the system is capable of handling 40,000.

The plan is also for the app to include various cross promotions with downtown sports teams and opportunities for local businesses to help create more foot traffic in the area.

The app is now entering will its beta testing stage and is expected to be ready for public usage by early July, if not sooner.