Deck Plaza RAISE 2021 Application Website

The City of El Paso is requesting $1,440,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete the I-10 Deck Plaza Planning Study. This project will assess the approach in which the City of El Paso can positively impact safety, equity, economic development, and transportation challenges within its downtown area with the construction of an upper deck plaza over Interstate 10. The planning study aligns with the transportation project currently in the schematic design phase with the Texas Department of Transportation – El Paso District (TxDOT), “ ReImagine I-10 ”.

Since 1987, more than 20 North American cities have chosen to remove urban highway segments from downtown cores, neighborhoods, and waterfronts in order to promote safety, racial equity, and economic competitiveness. This trend is continuing, with an additional 10 highways planned for removal in the United States, as reported in  April 2020 by Visual Capitalist . The transportation challenge that El Paso experiences is our geography, I-10 is limited to the north by the Franklin Mountain range and the Rio Grande river to the south. Removal of the City’s main highway is not a possibility, so the Deck Plaza is even more critical to remediate issues created by I-10 bisecting the heart of the city.

The adjacent roadways (frontage roads) to the Deck Plaza as proposed by TxDOT has three lanes east and westbound serving as gateways for I-10. To supplement the proposed TxDOT project, the City of El Paso will evaluate, through the Planning Study, implementing multi-modal infrastructure along the gateways to provide connectivity to multiple existing and proposed bicycle lanes in the vicinity. In addition, the Planning Study will evaluate modifications to the intersections, and potential reconfiguration of existing lanes with the intent of providing an improved traffic flow. The Planning Study will review solutions to making the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists crossing over this portion of I-10 and providing additional access to a newly created green space. To create safe pedestrian access, on-street parking along the Deck Plaza perimeter can be an alternative to mitigate traffic speeds. The proposed deck over I-10 would consist of six blocks of a developed plaza and green space intended to attract residents and locals to the downtown area. 

Decades before Interstate 10 was constructed through downtown, its eventual location was the racial dividing line between two population groups in the City. Writing in 1922 in his Surveys of the City Schools of El Paso, Texas, author Paul Horn noted that:

"The city is divided by the tracks of the Southern Pacific and Texas Pacific railroads into two general districts, approximately equal in area and not widely different in population. 'North of the tracks' is the district inhabited chiefly though not exclusively by native born Americans. 'South of the tracks' on the other hand is the district inhabited almost exclusively by people of Mexican birth or extraction."

His sentiments of two separate populations living in one City were reflected quite vividly by the 1930 Census which demonstrates the clear racial divide in the City with the Interstate-10/Railroad being the spatial divide.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, the racial divide was reinforced by the Homeownership Loan Corporation's (HOLC) Residential Security Maps, which identified the entire neighborhoods "south of the tracks" as redlined while those to the north were not.

It was through these redlined neighborhoods that Interstate-10 was eventually built to reinforce patterns of racial and economic segregation which persist today. The images below demonstrate how Interstate-10 continues to represent the dividing line between income, poverty and race.

In addition to racial and socioeconomic considerations, the purpose of this project is to enhance mobility and physically reconnect our Downtown and Uptown. Mobility is of extreme importance for these neighborhoods as more than one-quarter of all residents living in this area make their daily trips by foot.

This makes the reconnection of neighborhoods north and south of the interstate necessary to be accessible to all modes of travel, especially to pedestrians. It is through this Planning grant that we seek to determine the feasibility of such a project and other considerations that will make the project's goals come to fruition.

Below, demonstration of compliance with each of the primary and secondary criteria are detailed as well as information related to project financials, schedule and letters of support.

The Planning Study will evaluate the Deck Plaza’s potential to increase safety in a number of critical ways. The current project site has a high concentration of traffic collisions. A primary goal of this project will be to reduce accidents, serious injuries, and/or fatalities by significantly improving vehicular safety and pedestrian safety as well as accessibility. Specifically, the Deck Plaza will create a new gathering space around the downtown El Paso area, and allow multi-modal access to outdoor space while maintaining traffic flows at safe speeds of 30 mph. Above this speed, risk increases rapidly, between 3.5 and 5.5 times from 30mph to 40mph, provided by the Department of Transport: London. Speeding while driving puts nearby pedestrians and cyclists at greater risk. According to the  Governors Highway Safety Association in 2019 , there was an increase of 5% pedestrians killed and an increase of 6.3% cyclist killed, which speed (among other factors) played a role in this increase.

This proposed project will address safety needs of all road users by encouraging the use of public transit and expanding on the existing services and linkage throughout El Paso. The TxDOT project for ReImagine I-10 includes the adaptive lanes and direct bus access to I-10 through new platforms, which would be supported and contained within the Deck Plaza. The Planning Study will include recommendations on how to incorporate the new transit features in an effort to make transit more attractive and easier to use for El Paso residents.

While the rate of vehicle crashes per million vehicle miles remained fairly constant between 2011 and 2014, there was a dramatic increase in crashes in 2015, the last year for which crash information was available. The 2015 crash rate was 35 percent higher than the rate for 2014 and 37 percent higher than the average rate for the previous four years. Fortunately, only 0.42 percent of the crashes between 2011 and 2015 resulted in a fatality, but this produced 344 traffic-related deaths. The rate of fatalities for the El Paso region for the five-year period was almost 10 percent higher than the statewide average for Texas

Over the analyzed five-year period, there were 1,536 crashes involving either a pedestrian (1,142) or a bicyclist (394). These crashes represent about 2 percent of all crashes. Safety was identified as one of the top priorities during the El Paso long-range plan visioning workshops. We believe that a single death is a tragedy and actively advocating the integration of safety into the project as well as multimodal improvements that could be a great benefit to the downtown area.

Safety is a high-priority for all of El Paso’s existing and planned transportation systems. The Planning Study will analyze addition of sidewalks, marked crosswalks, and other street design features that support safer, slower speeds. The Deck Plaza will offer pedestrian connectivity over the I-10 trench, creating foot traffic for an otherwise isolated area.

 “Older adults, people of color, and people walking in low-income communities are disproportionately represented in fatal crashes involving people walking – even after controlling for difference in population size and walking rates.” SmartGrowth America. Studies show that fatality rates in the lowest income neighborhood were nearly twice that of middle income and almost three times that of higher income neighborhoods. The Planning Study needs to evaluate why this is happening and whether we are placing a higher value on speed rather than safety.

Connectivity for pedestrians will reduce single-occupant vehicle traffic and create a safer environment for all road users. In addition, operational improvements at the frontage roads will keep high-speed traffic away from pedestrians and cyclists. Multimodal, transit and ease of access are critical components of the Deck Plaza, and through this Planning Study, El Paso will explore options to introduce traffic calming measures such as bulb outs, accentuated crosswalks, and complete streets. A significant benefit is the integration of on-street parking adjacent to the new deck that could also serve as an adaptive lane for traffic during peak hours.

A comprehensive planning study will allow the City to:

·       analyze all viable options for the Deck Plaza

·       model the scenarios to determine which option(s) has the most benefits and best-fitting solutions

·       determine the safest and most cost-efficient balance of maximizing pedestrian safety while mitigating vehicular congestion

The City of El Paso is committed to working in conjunction with the TxDOT-El Paso office to ensure the Deck Plaza improvements prioritize pedestrian safety, reduce vehicular traffic, and increase level of service regarding traffic flow to include vehicle speed and congestion. TxDOT has proposed the widening of the frontage road along I-10 and the consolidation of ramps in an effort to improve the level of service within the conceptual travel demand model for the Downtown: ReImagine I-10 project. Capitalizing on the timing of the State proposed project to improve I-10, will allow the City to introduce the Deck Plaza to improve circulation and encourage multimodal choices by changing the overall approach into the core of the city. With the proposed work schedule, TxDOT will be able to construct the buttress needed for structural support of the Deck Plaza.

El Paso is experiencing significant growth and development, but because of its unique geography, compressed between both the Franklin mountain range and the Rio Grande river the City is limited to alternative routing options, placing a high demand on I-10. Per TxDOT’s feasibility study, 36% of all crashes were attributed to speeding and 10% to unsafe lane changes. TxDOT’s design goals and objectives for I-10 are to “improve ramp and interchange design, address frontage road drainage issues, and improve pavement structural integrity” as presented during public meetings held January 2019. The proposed improvements that will provide accessibility to the downtown core from I-10, also need to address pedestrian safety, and take an equitable approach in considering the safe transit of all members of the community, in various modes. The goal of transportation investments, such as ReImagine I-10, cannot simply be to increase vehicle speeds.

The intent of this Planning Study is to review developments along the roadway to create stimuli for the driver such as strong enclosures, reduced setbacks, situate front-facing parking lots, wide sidewalks for pedestrians, and mixed-use development causing the drivers to slow down and pay attention to their surroundings. Safety concerns have gained attention given the rise in fatality numbers.  Smart Growth America  reported on recent years (2016-2019) which are the most deadly years for pedestrian deaths, nationwide, since 1990. Specifically El Paso has reported 2.6 fatalities per 100,000 from 2010-2019 as compared to the national average of 1.6. The intent of this project is to evaluate successful alternatives that encourage cycling, walking, public transportation, equity, and affordability, through a design that prioritizes safety.

The proposed design for the Deck Plaza project will remove two bridges, and eliminate four intersections within this downtown area. The traditional diagram used by traffic engineers for an intersection shows no fewer than 56 conflict points for vehicles and pedestrians. Data indicates the need for smart design of intersections. A closer look at the design’s impact on connectivity and pedestrian safety will greatly inform the best path forward when dealing with intersections. The intent is the successful implementation of the complete streets model: walkable communities, prioritizing shared safe-space for pedestrians, while addressing transportation needs.

To the greatest extent possible, surface transportation performance should measure people—not vehicles. For instance, person throughput is more accurate and valuable measure of roadway productivity than vehicle counts or vehicle level of service. The result is increased roadway safety and productivity. Studies has shown that deaths caused by road traffic are structural, therefore can be avoided by implementing the right mix of precautions.

A strategy to reduce emissions is creating less automobile dependent developments, to create walkable neighborhoods around existing and planned transit. Per American Public Transportation Association (APTA), communities that invest in public transit reduce the nation’s carbon emissions by 63 million metric tons annually. The Planning Study will evaluate the needed steps in creating transit-ready transportation infrastructure, as a complement to the TxDOT project that provides a dedicated bus lane, as proposed by ReImagine I-10 design. The Deck Plaza will serve as a location that can offer more gathering space and direct connection to mass transit. In combination with the completed streetcar, this will provide alternative modes of transportation to drivers who commute from multiple regions of the city. The streetcar provides 100% emission-free transportation mode and will improve the overall air quality for our city. Within our study area, alternative modes of transportation are vital to those who work in the downtown area or students attending the University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College. APTA has recorded that nationally, of all the public transit riders, 71% are employed and 7% are students, aligning with the demographics and context of our downtown.

The proposed TxDOT ReImagine I-10 project provides an opportunity for improvement to our region’s air quality. Currently posted speed on I-10 is 60 MPH, although according to TxDOT it is estimated that with a no-build scenario, the average speed will be 27 MPH westbound and 16 MPH eastbound by 2042. In contrast, with the implementation of the proposed improvements, traffic would have an average speed of 60 MPH westbound and 56 MPH eastbound in the same year. This improvement in traffic flow would translate into reduction of congestion thereby reducing vehicle emissions.

Coordinating these improvements with the Planning Study will address unforeseen conflicts that may have adverse environmental impacts on the community, will focus especially on maintaining the historical value of our residential neighborhoods of Sunset Heights and San Francisco Heights. This model of development is one that El Paso has experienced before, the historic neighborhoods around downtown grew because of streetcars rather than automobile transit. Through this Planning Study, the City of El Paso intends to offer multiple modes of customer capture, by foot, transit, and automobile, and to increase the potential base of customers for existing retail services within walking distance of transit areas. Additionally, recent bike lane projects and those currently under design would facilitate connectivity for alternate modes of transportation not only for local residents but also for the pedestrians and vehicles that cross the Mexican border every day.

In looking at resiliency and sustainability, the Planning Study will examine planning more green space through the planting of additional trees within the Deck Plaza. This will help with the reduction of the heat-island effect by creating more shade and covering the nearly 12 acres of interstate and city streets. A study released by EPA in August 2015, found that trees could remove particulates by directly intercepting airborne particles. By having green spaces in urbanized areas, plants and greenery are providing higher-quality air. Healthy trees can remove significant amounts of air pollution in cities, where it is often concentrated.

The project will continue to expand the sustainability benefits that are at the core of our operations and mission. The City of El Paso is committed to raising the standard for sustainability in the city, state, and region. In December of 2014, El Paso joined leading cities around the world in hiring its first Chief Resilience Officer, to set forth change that will benefit all who live here. The Chief Resilience Officer is charged with stewardship of resilience practice as part of El Paso’s future, strategic planning, as well as systematic municipal operations. 100 Resilient Cities has recognized resilience as a critical part of the urban agenda, an opportunity for cities, particularly rapidly growing cities, to ensure that development can enhance rather than undermine resilience.

The Planning Study will consider general aspects of the urban planning process. Within the realm of creating the space, what are its main functions and objective of green space planning? How to create a long-term vision of green space infrastructure needs, to plan and design in a flexible way, to allow adjustments to adapt to changing future demands. There is also consideration of the potential investment in health, well-being and creating places for relaxation, recreation and social interaction. Another component is how to best utilize the area for community organizations to host cultural or recreational events.

According to the Trust for Public Land, the nation as a whole needs more city parks, only 54% of the country lives within a 10 minute walk of a park. El Paso is only slightly better than the national average, with 56% of residents meeting the minimum distance.

By creating pockets of green space, higher foot traffic is encouraged as the distances are shaded and circulation spaces are combined with spaces of rest or leisure. An important aspect of a high-quality urban center is the safe and inviting pedestrian environment. The proposed Deck Plaza contributes in various ways to help create a sustainable pedestrian environment circulating in the downtown area.

Thoughtful design with better access for pedestrians and the addition of a large green space provide a more comfortable environment. The temperatures in El Paso can reach record highs during the summer months, making it difficult and even unsafe for pedestrians to be exposed to the heat for prolonged periods. More activity time walking in the shade, of the proposed trees, to connect to public transit contributes to overall health.

Public places offer free, open forums for people to encounter art, to enjoy performances, and to participate in other cultural activities. From "Shakespeare in the Park" festivals to string quartets at a downtown plaza, this project has the potential to foster and enhance cultural life in El Paso. A sense of place can have an impressive cultural and economic impact, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to our downtown. This gathering place will be a symbol of our city's renaissance, bringing people and events to a central urban area that had been typically deserted after office hours.

The sub-level trench of I-10 bisects the city’s historic central district dividing the current Uptown and Downtown areas. These two areas have developed independently of each other since the completion of the I-10 in El Paso back in 1970. Connectivity is limited to the eight arterials that span across the sub-level trench as bridges, promoting a vehicular-centric environment. The proposed Deck Plaza would provide a physical reunification of these areas, including much needed connectivity, alternate modes of transit, and circulation through the areas. The Planning Study will study how to re-invigorate a sense of place and identity for our historic central districts.

The Uptown area lies north of the I-10 corridor, and contains the University of Texas at El Paso campus, the main El Paso Community College campus, as well as some of the oldest established residential areas: the Kern and Rim neighborhoods, and the Sunset Heights historic neighborhood. The Downtown area, which also includes the historic San Francisco Heights, Segundo Barrio and Chihuahuita neighborhoods, lie south of the freeway and extends to the border with Mexico. All of these neighborhoods contribute to the rich and varied urban fabric of the downtown area, and when connected through safe pedestrian routes and a central green space, an appreciable urban revitalization would be made possible. In tandem with transit corridor plans for the area, communication between the mixed income-level neighborhoods would foster greater social equity, as all fragments of the central district become readily accessible to area residents and visitors. Through the Planning Study, the Deck Plaza can become the unifying factor not only through the physical connectivity it represents, but also as a shared amenity for the region.

The proposed Deck Plaza offers endless opportunities in programming this reclaimed urban space into public open space, also injecting mixed uses to successfully host events, and invite local and regional development to the newly invigorated area. Bringing cultural and family events contributes to the overall quality of life of the city. Well-planned urban space will become the unifying fabric that brings various communities together and has the powerful potential to transcend and redefine the standard for quality of life in the El Paso Downtown area.

El Paso is the largest metro area along the Texas-Mexico border which boasts a best-in-class, business friendly, operating environment while also offering a great living experience. Our region represents one of the largest manufacturing centers in North America and is recognized as globally competitive, commerce hub. This is largely due to El Paso's unique quality of possessing the largest bilingual and bi-cultural workforce in the Western Hemisphere. As the sixth-largest city in Texas, El Paso is a top 20% U.S. performing economy and continues to experience positive economic growth by attracting new businesses and helping existing companies to grow. The City's focus is to create new employment opportunities in 21st century industries, maintain a great quality of life, and facilitate business growth at the local and international levels. El Paso has an opportunity to drive the direction of economic growth and expansion by defining its identity as an environmentally aware, creatively diverse, binational community.

The El Paso region has the 3rd busiest truck port in the US and has approximately $72 billion worth of border trade activities. Export growth has increased by 162%, thus ranking the El Paso region to be the 10th largest exporter in the US. The I-10 corridor in El Paso, over which the Deck Plaza is proposed, is a critical piece to the entire region’s trade and economy. Close to 200,000 annual average daily traffic (AADT) by the downtown area; therefore, the goal of this RAISE Planning Study is to assess ways to efficiently move people and goods, while bridging the gap between these two disparate neighborhoods.

The Deck Plaza will bridge the two areas of activity, Downtown and the Uptown/University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) area, providing a physical connection to encourage development and business growth. The Planning Study will also examine case studies from other cities over the last decade that have undertaken similar efforts towards revitalizing their downtown, such as Portland, Denver, and San Diego, a border city like El Paso. There are currently many vacant lots in this area, encompassing entire blocks in some cases. According to Brookings, “[a] purely suburban, car-dominated metropolitan area is at a competitive disadvantage for economic growth.” The appeal of traditional downtowns is largely based on walkable urbanism; therefore, the focus of the Planning Study will be to merge the tenets of congestion mitigation and the pedestrian connection in order to create a safe, walkable, aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally conscious infrastructure asset in a vulnerable section of the City.

Providing more access and amenities along this corridor will spur development on the vacant lots, and attract more businesses, offices, and residents to the area. More activity will attract more people, thereby creating more business opportunities and increasing property values for current residents. As more businesses and investors engage in this increased work activity, more opportunity becomes available for new tenants.

The Deck Plaza has the potential to introduce an entirely new best-in-class area of entertainment and retail development that will be first of its kind in El Paso, and will be one of the best places to live, work, visit, eat, shop, and spend money in the region. This outdoor amenity will also create the opportunity for numerous patio cafes and restaurants, food truck courts, and open-air markets which in turn supports local artisans and farmers, and seasonal events and attractions such as music and arts festivals. Currently, there are a number of small-scale weekly and annual events in the downtown area that could shift closer to these existing neighborhoods, thereby reducing the burden of commuting. This Planning Study will also include a robust community engagement strategy to include significant input from the public and local/regional business owners, to ensure the final plan and design has wide consensus and community/regional support.

Efforts to expand El Paso’s public transportation system are already underway, including the 20 current routes that serve downtown and the completion of four Brio corridors. There are two routes, the Mesa Brio and the Streetcar loop operating within the proposed location of the upper deck plaza. The Dyer Brio runs from the northeast portion of the City into the heart of downtown El Paso. Both rapid transit lines have stops within ¼-mile of the proposed upper deck plaza project. The addition of the Brio routes will contribute to more residents and visitors coming to the downtown area. The Deck Plaza has the potential to influence more people to take advantage of mass transit and experience the walkability of downtown. 

Through recent development for this area, the possibility to make new policy recommendations to facilitate and incentivize the growth in addition to reinvestment is possible. Within the past 3 years, the City of El Paso has invested $38.6M in chapter 380 downtown agreements, with a total investment from the community totaling $80.1M. Often with new infill development, especially on vacant lots, there may be a need to update new standards, this will also be explored. During development, policy changes can make it possible to design and construct pedestrian friendly environments, creating an area that is walkable and livable, in addition to an increase in density. The City is currently in the process of developing an Uptown/Downtown area plan to help facilitate change in this area, as well as along the El Paso streetcar corridor.

In conjunction with policy recommendations that come along with the streetcar corridor plan, efforts will be aided with new controlled growth development aimed at increasing urban density. Currently, there is a large gap in density, where much of the existing development in the Uptown/UTEP area is single-family residential. As well as in the Downtown area, there are limited apartment uses.

As an amenity to this location, the Deck Plaza could attract higher density uses as well as a park space available to residents. As more people make their way to this area, multi-modal infrastructure to support increase in density is also necessary. There are proposed bike routes in and around this location, as well a newly constructed cycle-track on Stanton Avenue that is only one block away, with plans in the future to extend to downtown. The City of El Paso will soon begin design of bicycle treatments along seven streets within the Downtown area, specifically one along West Missouri Avenue that will be located one block south of the proposed Deck Plaza. The project is estimated to install approximately $2.1M of additional bicycle facilities to include buffered bicycle lanes, bicycle boulevards, shared lane markings, and protected bicycle lanes.

A large number of residents and visitors pass through the downtown area, some of those arrive directly from our neighbor to the south - Juarez, Mexico. There are five ports of entry near the study limits for both vehicles and pedestrians. The busiest entry point for pedestrians is on South Santa Fe Street, which is a short distance from the downtown mass transit transfer terminal. On average, over 200,000 visitors walk through this port of entry. The El Paso port of entry is a key part of Texas’ port network, the total value of trade through the El Paso bridges from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports on average $74.8 billion. In 2018 ports of entry at El Paso observed a monthly average of 601,852 pedestrian crossings, 67,572 cargo crossings, and 1,089,500 vehicle crossings.

During the feasibility assessment for the ReImagine I-10 project, TxDOT reviewed the existing state of I-10 as well as all the bridge structures crossing I-10. Interstate highways through Texas must meet the freight/trade height clearance standards. The El Paso bridges, within the downtown area, provide clearance ranging from 13-17.92 feet. Currently, none of the existing bridges identified meet the 18.5 feet clearance standard. The TxDOT Statewide Planning map lists the construction of the bridges during 1968 and 1969. In July 2019, in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards, the bridges were identified with a sufficiency rating of 6 – Satisfactory Condition (minor deterioration). Replacing the bridges requires major reconstruction, while it also affords the City the opportunity to construct a civic landmark and destination, the Deck Plaza.

As TxDOT moves forward in upgrading the bridges structures, it is during this time that the City of El Paso intends on utilizing the Planning Study to determine the correct footprint for the plaza amenity. There is a potential only construct the deck from Oregon Street to Stanton Street as the first phase in construction. The Planning Study will be structured to determine whether the city can sustain the complete build out from Santa Fe Street to Campbell Street, as the full Deck Plaza. If the Planning Study indicates that the complete build out would be sustained by the developed economy through new property investments, increased revenue via additional property tax, and supported by our local demographics then there would be the potential to remove the El Paso Street and Kansas Street bridges from the highway state inventory.

In addition to the bridge structures, TxDOT determined that the estimated pavement conditions have less than 10 years of remaining structural life; hence, it is imperative to reconstruct and plan for the next 100 years. Throughout the highway corridor visible evidence of patch-repairs are noted along the paving on the highway. There is also video evidence from TxDOT showing after a rain event, as the cars drive along the highway water squirts up through the patch repairs, due to the weight of the vehicle and the delamination of the pavement from the subgrade. The estimated construction cost within this downtown segment, for pavement alone is anticipated near $200M.

To design the best alternate scenario for I-10, TxDOT also reviewed traffic projections. TxDOT has evaluated the capacity needs by utilizing the traffic demand model forecasting to build/no-build scenario to 2045. Vehicles per day by 2042, will reach over 300,000 resulting in an average travel speed along the highway of 28 miles per hour. This will increase daily commute by nearly 81% during afternoon peak hours. Simply stated, the projected traffic will nearly double by the year 2045. The anticipated population and employment growth along I-10 is expected to introduce a 27% increase in vehicle miles traveled on I-10. Transportation Demand Models (TDMs) with a no-build scenario indicate that even with alternative routes and major improvements to other roads/intersections, the I-10 segment within the El Paso area will have a failing level of service. This no-build scenario also shows significant bottlenecks near downtown, hence the need for analyzing the service to this area is of paramount importance.

TxDOT’s upcoming ReImagine project of I-10 in the downtown area provides a unique opportunity for the City of El Paso to construct an urban amenity and infrastructure that will serve our community and for generations to come. Maintaining the Deck Plaza in a state of good repair is part of the City‘s commitment for planning for facility needs and priorities, one that ensures that assets operate at their full level of performance. TxDOT – El Paso will continue to maintain the I-10 freeway, while the City of El Paso will own and maintain the Deck Plaza. The City plans to use this grant opportunity to develop a resilient design that will withstand flash flooding, strong winds, and other weather conditions that can affect structures over time.

The City uses its strategic Capital Plan to do a needs-based assessment of the anticipated capital needs for the upcoming 10 years. The plan keeps track of assets, the condition, as well as what the City’s needs and priorities are to ensure that we can maintain assets at their full level of performance. With the slow down due to COVID-19, the City of El Paso is completing the construction and implementation of the 2020 capital plan that focused on delivering programmed infrastructure projects, further implementing the Bike Plan and a comprehensive street reconstruction project plan. The City’s capital budget requires the allocation of available funding for both state of good repair needs as well as operating, enhancement, and expansion projects. The budget accounts for scheduled maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement of assets.  VisioNEXT 25 in 2025  is the next strategic plan to include top priorities supporting a continuation of key investment in public safety, quality of life and infrastructure with a focus on financial stability to create new sources of revenue.

In developing the strategic plan for the city, there is a need for identifying regional priorities. In working together, we have realized that without the unity of one voice the needs of El Paso will be lost in conversation. Through collaboration with the local Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organization and the El Paso Mobility Coalition, we have identified regional transportation priorities for the City of El Paso. City Council has approved the incentive to support the regional projects identified as priorities for our City, naming ReImagine I-10 Deck Plaza as  one of the identified projects .

Deck Plaza brings together a multi-jurisdictional partnership of regional and state transportation agencies, local small businesses, and MPO-El Paso who have a long and successful history of collaborating in the planning. Most recently, this partnership collaborated on the inclusion of the ReImagine I-10: Segment 2 project within the 2022 Unified Transportation Plan. Through the TxDOT feasibility study it was determined that the infrastructure improvements were structurally, operationally, and financially feasible through the partnership of state funding. This planning effort will examine the feasibility and need for a Deck Plaza and build upon the extensive public engagement that has been initiated through the ReImagine I-10 project. The City of El Paso has received resounding support for a Deck Plaza.

The agencies have been working cooperatively for many years to improve and extend the reach and reliability of public transit and multi- modal mobility options across the El Paso region. Planning the future for transit and economic development with close involvement and collaboration to establish a shared vision for the future of an enhanced Uptown/Downtown, as well as other multiple efforts to improve mobility and development opportunities.

In order for exciting and innovative programs to enter the urban fabric of our downtown area, the Deck Plaza will need the support of innovative policy in planning and zoning to lead the conversation on how land uses and targeted development can reshape the area.

The proposed Deck Plaza brings innovative strategies together to introduce a new mass transit platform, located on both levels, for optimal safety for transit patrons. Advanced design is key to the success of all new infrastructure to ensure maximum longevity of the investment. The project along the corridor is introducing innovative interchanges in its lane design, to employ Active Traffic Management (ATM). ATM is the introduction of adaptive lane design, which are lanes situated so that they can be altered to accommodate changing patterns of traffic, including automated vehicles, connected vehicles, and the first proposed use for a dedicated lane for mass transit. Through use of the adaptive lane along I-10, the transit line can now provide maximum efficiency in route times. The Deck Plaza becomes a multi-purpose public space of leisure, as well as a hub for transportation, for the local routes at the sub-level trench of I-10 and streetcar at the Deck Plaza level. The Planning Study will explore how the adaptive lane meets the objectives of moving people safety, efficiently, and across all modes.

TxDOT’s Reimagine I-10 project is introducing the latest data collecting and automation technology. Connected vehicles, or vehicle platooning, uses sensor technology along with automation to reduce fuel consumption, increase safety and efficiency. The City would like to compliment this design by exploring the mass transit platforms to be located below the deck. The platforms can be designed to feed into the adaptive lanes; this will provide for maximum safety of the patrons and other drivers.

The creation of the Deck Plaza also offers the opportunity to explore the latest technologies in green urban planning, which for El Paso could translate into a sustainable desert flora selection, coupled with efficient water resources, to minimize maintenance costs. A resilient design could also help with storm water management, and mitigating any potential flood risks as a buffer to the rainwater sheet flow that travels down from the Franklin Mountains to Downtown.

With nearly 12 acres of potential programmable space, some of the designated green space could explore social engagement through the form of community gardens accessible to the diverse neighborhoods of the area. Urban community gardens are becoming more innovative than the traditional soil and plant model, and can take the form of aquaponics and vertical farming. Introducing urban farming as a potential program for the area includes training and educational programming that could have a transformative effect on the way the community develops in the new consolidated downtown, and the deck plaza can be a facilitator for this bold and innovative shift in the local farming paradigm.

The City, in partnership with the Paso Del Norte Health Foundation, plans to make a combined $360,000 contribution as a match to the $1,440,000 being requested through the RAISE application process. A breakdown of the funding structure can be found below:

The City of El Paso is experienced in planning, designing, constructing, and managing large infrastructure projects. This experience is reflected in the diligence of our planning process and schedule, both of which were developed to take advantage of the opportunity that presents itself with the TxDOT ReImagine I-10 project. The project team is familiar with the federal environmental review process, and has worked previously with FHWA to prepare and document environmental impacts and mitigation.