Light Rail in El Paso? Let’s Do it!!!

El Paso Mayor John Cook and City Representative Susie Byrd would like to see light rail systems come to El Paso for mass transit. I think a light rail system in town would be a great addition to El Paso’s public transit system.

I’ve actually used public transit fairly regularly throughout my time here in the Sun City. I know a lot of people complain about it, but I’ve seen much worse. Buses break down in the heat all the time in Phoenix. The Valley of the Sun is now moving to light rail (something they’ve talked about for YEARS!) and many of the rail stops are already being built and some are completed.

The difference is this is one of the first times, in a long time, that El Paso is moving ahead. Phoenix is a giant metropolis with a well-developed business community, attractions, resorts, stadiums, malls, and a massive freeway system. Phoenix’s Achille’s Heal has always been its mass transit system. Only now is the light rail system becoming reality there.

I’m glad to see a progressive move like that being done here in El Paso. A rail system, if it’s done right, will go a long way to easing traffic, encouraging mass transit as a viable option, and help out our air quality.

But be prepared for the headaches. It’s not going to please everyone. The traffic will get worse before the benefit is seen. Be patient folks and give it a chance to work.

Mayor Cook summed up the requirements of a good rapid transit system by saying it had to be three things, fast, clean, and comfortable. I would add two other adjectives to his list. Reliable & tech-friendly.

If you want more people to use the system, you have to give them a reason. Internet connectivity will encourage working people and young people to hop on the rail and get out of their one-occupant pick-up truck.