El Paso County advances plan to limit overnight commercial truck parking in Mission Ridge

EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — For more than a year, residents in the Mission Ridge area of unincorporated El Paso County have been pushing for restrictions on commercial semi-truck parking, saying large trucks have been lining neighborhood streets and creating safety hazards.

Along Stamfordham Street, residents said semi-trucks have been parked on the residential street and have blocked visibility for drivers trying to turn or see oncoming traffic.

One resident called it “a pain and it’s a hazard as far as I’m concerned,” saying that when making a turn, “there’s a truck there that you just can’t see the traffic.”

The resident also said, “It’s just blocking the way and backing up is a pain,” describing a recent close call: “Some car just about hit me because the semis were in the way about a month and a half ago.”

Another resident said the trucks have been a long-running issue and that attempts to get help have been unsuccessful.

Emily Schmalz reports on El Paso County advances plan to limit overnight commercial truck parking in Mission Ridge (Credit: KFOX14)

“It’s just in the way,” the resident said.

“I did try to get the police involved, but they said they can’t do anything because the street is for everybody.”

The resident added, “It’s just been there for more than two years, and they move it back and forth, and it’s just been there for a long time and it’s a struggle for other cars to actually pass by on the other side of the street.”

At an El Paso County commissioners meeting on Monday, officials discussed commercial semi-truck parking in the Painted Desert neighborhood.

County documents show dozens of residents signed a petition in the last year asking for signs to be posted at neighborhood entrances.

Proposed sign locations include Stamfordham Street and Paseo del Este Boulevard, Kilvington Street and Paseo del Este, and Harbottle Street and Darrington Road. The signs would read: “No commercial parking from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.”

County officials estimated each sign would cost about $1,100, but public works officials said the department does not currently have enough money in its budget to pay for them.

County Commissioner Iliana Holguin, who represents the area, said commissioners approved moving forward with the signage, but funding still needs to be identified.

“So, the Public Works Department is going to be looking for that funding, with assistance from my office,” Holguin said.

We definitely don’t want the residents to be responsible for the cost.

Holguin said enforcement would begin once the signs are installed.

“So once the signs are up, then the sheriff’s department has the authority to enforce the signs,” she said.

So, there will be fines.

County officials said they do not yet know when the signs will be installed because full funding has not been secured.

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