City council approves proposal to evaluate more safety measures on Transmountain
UPDATE (Oct. 27, 2026): City Representative for District 1, Alejandra Chavez, said she placed an agenda item to direct the city manager and city attorney to evaluate potential restrictions on heavy commercial truck traffic. Tuesday, city council approved the item.
The item directs the city manager and city attorney to coordinate with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to evaluate additional safety measures along Transmountain.
El Paso police will continue commercial vehicle inspections on the road. The El Paso Police Department shares enforcement and crash data with TxDOT and city staff to help inform the review of safety measures, Rep. Chavez said.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson and Police Chief Peter Pacillas said commercial vehicle inspections will start on both sides of Transmountain Road. The announcement came Tuesday after a series of "serious multi-vehicle crashes."
Monday, a deadly crash on Transmountain killed one person after a semi's brakes failed, according to El Paso police.
"I'll start with a simple question and that simple question is: how many more? Before I continue, I want to offer my deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one in yesterday's tragic crash on Transmountain Road," the mayor said at a press conference Monday.
Effective immediately, the El Paso Police Department's commercial vehicle inspectors will inspect commercial-sized vehicles going up on Transmountain Road. Pacillas said inspectors will ensure commercial vehicles are "safe" to travel on the road.
Pacillas and the mayor said the inspections could cause congestion in the Transmountain area, and asked drivers to give officers the space they need to work.
The police chief said inspections will happen on either side of the mountain.
EPPD has had commercial vehicle enforcement officers since December 2025. The department teamed up with members of the Texas Department of Safety to do joint inspections of commercial vehicles, like semis. The team reports any violations, including weight and brake violations.
The state of Texas owns the stretch of highway on Transmountain. Mayor Renard Johnson said he reached out with the Texas Department of Transportation about planning more safety improvements for the highway.
City Representative for District 1, Alejandra Chavez, said she placed an agenda item to direct the city manager and city attorney to evaluate potential restrictions on heavy commercial truck traffic. The city manager and attorney would have to evaluate with TxDOT.
The direction would include reviewing applicable state and federal regulations, evaluating road safety measures and identifying actions needed to implement restrictions. The city manager and attorney would have to report back to the city council within 30 days with a proposed action plan.
"The recent tragic crashes along Transmountain Road have raised serious safety concerns, and I share the urgency expressed by our community to find meaningful, long-term solutions," Chavez said in a social media post announcing the item.
The item was placed on the agenda for the next city council meeting on Oct. 27
Chavez is running for re-election as District 1 representative against three other candidates.
