The El Paso City Council is set to consider a proposal from West Side city Rep. Alejandra Chavez that could limit or even ban semitrailer traffic on Transmountain Road following a deadly multi-vehicle collision.
A semitrailer with reported brake failure was heading downhill on Transmountain Road on Oct. 19 when it hit several vehicles at the intersection with North Desert Boulevard. One man was killed, nine other people were injured.
The proposal calls for the city manager and city attorney to collaborate with the Texas Department of Transportation to evaluate and pursue measures to restrict heavy truck traffic on Transmountain Road, including "the feasibility of establishing alternative designated truck routes," according to an agenda documentfor
council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
"Serious crashes along Trans Mountain Road (Loop 375), including incidents in May 2025 and October 2026, have heightened concerns regarding roadway safety and heavy commercial truck traffic," the document states. "These crashes underscore the need for greater coordination between the City of El Paso and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to evaluate potential restrictions on heavy commercial vehicles, alternative designated truck routes, and other long-term safety measures aimed at preventing future crashes."
Transmountain Road, which crosses the Franklin Mountains, is a state roadway.
Any future plan will include reviewing applicable state and federal regulations, initiating coordination with TxDOT, evaluating roadway safety measures, and identifying any ordinances or other actions necessary to implement restrictions.
A formal proposal is set to be presented to the City Council within 30 days.
Transmountain truck inspections, traffic crackdown
The El Paso Police Department and other law enforcement agencies have increased traffic enforcement — including inspections of commercial vehicles — on Transmountain Road following the fatal wreck.
On the first day of the crackdown on Wednesday, Oct. 21, EPPD Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers conducted 11 semitrailer safety inspections, found 23 violations and seven out-of-service violations, which required the vehicle to be fixed on site or towed, police Sgt. Robert Gomez said in a news release.
In addition, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office has increased general traffic enforcement. The Texas Department of Public Safety is also doing commercial vehicle inspections and patrols. And El Paso County Constable Office Precinct 6 is running intermittent traffic enforcement funded by a STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) state grant, Gomez said.
El Paso City Council weighs closure of ICE Camp East Montana
The El Paso City Council could move to call for the closure of Camp East Montana, the largest immigrant detention facility in the United States.
During its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 27, the City Council will mull a proposal from city Reps. Josh Acevedo and Lily Limón urging the city manager and city attorney to draft a resolution calling for the facility's closure after a series of health and safety issues that have plagued the center since its opening in August 2025.
It's unclear what power the City Council has regarding the closure of federal facilities. The detention center is on Fort Bliss land.
"Community members from throughout El Paso, the state of Texas, and the United States of America have called into question the civil and human rights conditions for people detained at Camp East Montana, many complaining of maltreatment and unlivable conditions at this facility," a document accompanying Tuesday's agenda states. "Since this facility has become operational, three people have died and a riot has been incited."
The proposal calls for a draft resolution to be presented within 30 days that includes information about how Camp East Montana has been accused of denying basic human and civil rights to detainees, how the facility presents a public health risk to the city of El Paso, and how operations at the facility lack transparency while utilizing taxpayer dollars.
"It is long past time to close this draconian facility that has been proven to bring harm to people housed there,” Acevedo said in a news release. "Attorneys, civil rights organizations, and members of Congress have issued alarming concerns about the maltreatment and unlivable conditions at Camp East Montana, raising further concerns after three people have died while in custody."
Transparency on City Council travel expenses
Also on Tuesday's agenda is a proposal from South-West city Rep. Chris Canales that would require City Council members to publicly disclose any taxpayer-funded travel expenses on each regular meeting.
The proposal comes after a news report by Channel 7-KVIA found that members of the El Paso County Commissioners Court, along with County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, spent nearly $234,000 of taxpayer dollars on travel between fiscal year 2022 and May 2026. The most common destination was Austin but other trips were made to Las Vegas, Denver, Washington, D.C., Hawaii and Taiwan.
"Given recent public scrutiny of travel expenditures in other local government entities," a document accompanying Tuesday's agenda states, "this item seeks to transparently and regularly provide proactive information to the public about travel expenses incurred by the City Council and mayor."
If approved, a resolution enforcing the disclosure requirement will be presented to the City Council at its next regular meeting on Nov. 10.
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso City Council eyes ICE camp closure, Transmountain truck ban
