Take The El Paso Wyler Aerial Tramway Feasability Study Poll
The Wyler Aerial Tramway is an El Paso icon that could reopen, but the possibility of it reopening is a long way off. The tramway had been in operation for almost sixty years and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department had operated the tram for the past 19 years. Officials say a recent engineering analysis that was part of a planned deferred maintenance project that was scheduled for the fall prompted the decision to close.
The tramway passed annual inspections but the most recent analysis showed that the tram was past its life expectancy and should no longer be used by the public. The Wyler Aerial Tramway was not open to the public when it first opened. It was used to maintain television transmission towers. After extensive renovations, the tramway was re-opened to the public in 2001. Tramways built after the Wyler tramway follow national tramway standards.
The Wyler tramway should be completely overhauled and updated to today's standards, according to an engineering review conducted this summer. The cost of replacing the tram would cost millions of dollars, and earlier this year, the Texas Legislature came up with $5 million to reopen it.
Now, officials want to know what you want to see in a rebuilt tramway. There is an online survey that you can take right now to let officials know a number of your opinions on the tramway such as how often you used the tramway, what amenities you would like to see in a revamped tramway, and if you even want the money to be spent to rebuild it. You can take the English language version of the survey by clicking here. You can also take the survey in Spanish by clicking here.