B737-500
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 198
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
Clearing Runway 22 after landing; I thought the Controller stated; 'Exit the runway at Hotel.  Remain this frequency and taxi to the gate.'  I thought; 'Cool;' and changed pages on the EFB IPad to the airport page to reconfirm the location of our gate. Next thing I know the Controller says; 'Company Flight Number; STOP!' I hit the brakes and saw that another aircraft was lifting off on Runway 26. The Controller intervention had prevented what would have been a runway incursion. I looked at the First Officer and asked; 'I thought he said taxi to the gate?' The First Officer replied; 'No; he said to hold short of the approach end of 8.'  The Tower Controller then cleared us to the gate.Beyond the obvious failure to communicate intentions and verify; the lack of signage and standard hold short runway markings at that end of the airport has always been a problem.
After exiting Runway 22 on Taxiway H in ELP; a B737-500 Captain believed he had been cleared 'to the gate.'  Instead; as they approached the lengthy overrun of Runway 8/26; Ground Control alerted they had been cleared to '...hold short of [the approach end] of runway eight.