City to Create TIRZ to Aid MCA Improvements

The City is poised to create a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) around University Medical Center which may help spur development in the area that will become the Medical Center of the Americas (MCA). City Council will vote on an ordinance creating TIRZ #6 on its May 29, 2012 meeting, which would encompass around 67 non-contiguous acres owned in part by the City of El Paso, University Medical Center, Texas Tech University, and MCA Americas Realty Inc.

A TIRZ is created to capture additional tax collections per year in a defined area and dedicate the additional tax to capital/public works improvements within the zone. For example, if the tax at the beginning is $1M, and the tax after year one is $1.5M, the the TIRZ would receive $0.5M for the year.

According to the TIRZ documentation, "The proposed Medical Center of the Americas (MCA) Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone is intended to stimulate private investment in the El Paso MCA area and facilitate the creation of an integrated campus of facilities that will position  the MCA as the premier regional center of health delivery, education, and research. The full  implementation of the proposed Zone is expected to yield significant increases in tax revenues for all MCA area taxing authorities, providing substantial economic benefits and opportunities to the region."


The preliminary study indicates the TIRZ will be in place for 30 years and has identified three projects so far totaling $5.78 Million. In addition, the study identifies $176 Million in non-TIRZ projects within its boundaries. If approved, the City may immediately name a board of directors that would choose projects to bring to City Council for a final vote.


City Council Agenda item (PDF): http://www.elpasotexas.gov/muni_clerk/agenda/05-22-12/05221210A.pdf
MCA Master Plan Details: http://elpasodevnews.blogspot.com/p/master-plans.html

Trolley Project Could Get $90M in TxDOT Funds

Latest Update: City Council has approved $1.2 Million for the environmental study, which must be completed by the end of September.

Previous Update: El Paso Inc. is also reporting on this story. El Pasoan Ted Houghton, chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, cannot speak in detail about the project until the environmental project is complete, but states that he is a fan of the idea. The story also indicates that El Paso's trolley system had 63 miles of tracks, 100 streetcars, and 17 routes at its peak many decades ago.

El Paso Inc. article: http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/local_news/article_7a035396-9af2-11e1-a30c-001a4bcf6878.html

Original Post:
According to an upcoming City Council agenda item, the Texas Department of Transportation could give the city $90 Million in state funds to complete the Downtown to UTEP trolley project that City officials have been wishing for for years. The funding is contingent upon the City approving $4 Million for the environmental study and design process for the rail line, which is set for a vote at the May 15, 2012 City Council meeting. Details first came to light in a story at KVIA.com.

This study route uses both Stanton and Mesa Streets.

The environmental study must be completed by September 31, 2012, and the design must be completed by February of 2013. The trolley route the city is focusing on would utilize Stanton and Kansas Streets, and would travel from the Santa Fe bridge to the UTEP/Cincinnati district. A Bus-Rapid-Transit route is already planned for the Oregon Street corridor and may be why the City is looking to Stanton for the streetcar project.

Oregon Corridor concept in Plan El Paso.

A study funded by the City a few years back has shown that a trolley could show up to a 11 to 1 return on investment, despite the high cost per mile for construction and maintenance. Streetcar systems in other cities have shown to increase positive perception from tourists and can easily transform the corridors they serve.

Previously: Push for Trolley System Re-Emerges

City Council Agenda item to approve environmental study (PDF): http://www.elpasotexas.gov/muni_clerk/agenda/05-15-12/05151210.pdf
KVIA Story: http://www.kvia.com/news/31045299/detail.html
Cambridge Systematics Study: http://50.22.88.223/~epmpo/Rail/RailTransitStudy.pdf

Sun Metro Readying for Move

The City is getting ready to approve a rezoning application in order to build a new Sun Metro operations and maintenance facility on airport property which should move major operations away from the Union Depot area. The new facility will be located at 10151 Montana Ave, just west of Global Reach/Yarbrough Dr.

Future Location of Sun Metro Operations facility.

The move has been in the planning stages for years and should allow Sun Metro growing space for a future enlarged fleet which will include Bus Rapid Transit units. The current downtown location is landlocked and surrounded by railroad tracks, Paisano Drive, and Union Depot.

Current Location

It is unknown what the City plans to do with the Union Depot facility. City Council will vote on May 15, 2012, on the rezoning application.

City Council Agenda Item (PDF): http://www.elpasotexas.gov/muni_clerk/agenda/05-15-12/05151205B.PDF

Union Plaza Pros Plan Montecillo Presence

Montecillo is about to get its first restaurant tenants in a new plan by three entrepreneurs who are better known for their Union Plaza endeavors 1914 and The Garden, and for the wildly popular Crave Kitchen on the east side and by UTEP. In a story in this week's El Paso Inc., Nick Salgado, Octavio Gomez, and Rudy Valdes discuss their plan to occupy a smart code compliant building with an informal incubator-type "center" that will assist local investors in developing restaurant/retail brands by helping them with space, advice, and clientele.

The new center could be situated in the large blank area at the corner of Montecillo Blvd and Mesa Street.

Construction should begin in June on an 11,000 square foot building that will be nestled among the four current buildings that make up The Venue at Montecillo. They hope to have their first restaurants open by January. The trio would not disclose the amount of investment they are making, but did say that it's the largest investment they have made to date.

The Venue at Montecillo Conceptual Image

El Paso Inc. article: http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/top_story/article_c7be2ca2-97d0-11e1-ab6c-0019bb30f31a.html

Americas Interchange Takes Shape

Constructions crews continue to work at a breakneck pace to meet a January 2013 deadline for completion of the Americas Interchange at Interstate 10 and Loop 375. Progress can clearly be seen on a week to week basis as workers continuously work on columns and bridge structures.

According to the project's May newsletter 105 out of 114 drill shafts have been constructed, 76 out of 93 columns have been completed, 43 out of 78 bent caps have been constructed, 136 out of 363 concrete beams have been placed, and  6,444 square feet out of 70,165 square feet of retaining walls have been constructed. The majority of the beam work has been concentrated to the westbound ramps.



May Newsletter from Project website (PDF): http://www.crrma.org/americas/_documents/Americas%20Interchange%20Project%20Newsletter%20(May%202012).pdf#view=fitH