EL PASO, TX -- Friday marks the second day this year that the thousands of people crossing the international bridges will not have to pay the toll taker.

The city is hoping to give a much-needed boost to businesses surrounding the bridges downtown.

The first day the city waived the $0.50 fee was on September 14. The city counted 15,425 pedestrians on all the bridges that day, which is 4,683 more people than who crossed the bridges in the city that same day in 2008.

"I'm sending out notification however we can to share the information with individuals who are crossing so they can anticipate that that is available," said Julie Baldwin-Munoz, the Public Affairs Specialist for the City's Development Services office. Baldwin-Munoz believes the increase in people crossing the bridge on Sept. 14 of this year was due to the no-fee day.

However, the city lost an estimated $7,000 in revenue that day.

But the city thinks the loss is worth it if it means bolstering the economy in the downtown shopping area.

Baldwin-Munoz told ABC-7 those involved in selecting the dates to waive fees try to pick days that would draw more people, such as holidays. Sept. 14 is the day on which Mexicans celebrate their nation's Independence Day. November 20 is the Anniversary of the Revolution.

"We are working closely with the downtown management district to look at the selection of the upcoming dates," Baldwin-Munoz said.

The next no-fee days are Friday, December 11, and Thursday, December 24.

 

Written for kvia.com by Anchor/Reporter Stephanie Valle