Northgate Transfer Center
An intermodal facility that will incorporate a new bus transfer center with shops, restaurants, apartments and a park.
Client
City of El Paso, Sun Metro
Project Size
6.5 acres
67,700 sf parking
17,028 sf retail
8,625 sf transfer center
181 parking spaces
Sustainable Design
Designed to LEED Silver
Professional Services
Architecture
Lighting Design
Master Planning
Urban Design/Planning
This project will be a signature project for the City of El Paso and for Sun Metro’s new RTS program. The $10.6 million dollar, 93,353 sf mixed-use project is set to make El Paso one of the first cities in the nation to create robust transit oriented development (TOD) around a bus rapid transit system.
The Northgate Transfer Center will be the northeast regional focal point for transit services that will serve as the terminus to the Dyer RTS. This project will not only drastically improve Sun Metro’s presence in the northeast, but also revitalize the area, the former site of the abandoned Northgate Mall. The station itself will include enclosed waiting areas, canopies at bus bays with electronic on-street message boards, Wi-Fi throughout the entire transfer center, and ticketing and information offices.
The intermodal facility will be Phase 1 and Town Center of a larger transit-centered community to be developed by a national mixed-use developer. Vertical development is organized around a central urban court featuring custom shade structures, public art and a flexible programming space. The adjacent parking structure features storefront retail facing high quality streetscape. Bus loading occurs to the rear of both buildings, and includes separated exclusive bus access for both inter- and intra-city routes as well as bus rapid transit (BRT).
“This unique transit-oriented development will give our economy a boost by creating jobs and will expand transportation options while revitalizing this key neighborhood in Northeast El Paso."
Meet the team

Rich
von Luhrte
Emeritus Board Member
In service to community and profession, Richard L. von Luhrte has made our communities better places to live, work and visit. You would be hard-pressed to find someone more passionate about placemaking or more committed to advancing the craft of Architecture, and we are proud to have him as a Senior Principal and Emeritus Board Member at RNL.
Steve
Wilensky
Director of Urban and Transit Planning
Steve Wilensky leads RNL’s Urban and Transit Planning Group, bringing more than 40 years of experience in the design of multimodal, urban design, landscape architecture, bridge architecture and public process to the role.
Barbara
Berastegui
Project Designer/Architect
Barbara Berastegui brings more than 20 years of experience, including 16 years with RNL, to her role as Project Designer and Architect. Today, she applies her expertise to the design and coordination of transit and civic projects across RNL’s geographies.
Merlin
Maley
Western Region Transit Director
Driven by a deep interest in creating more sustainable communities through improved mobility, Merlin Maley has dedicated more than a decade of his career to the transportation and public sector industry. Through his transit systems work, Merlin is helping to create 21st century cities and communities while decreasing the dependence on single-occupancy vehicles for mobility.