of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers and the jacket is operable to substantially retain the tension members 24 in a desired position and orientation relative to each other the phrase u201c substantially retain u201d means that the jacket 26 sufficiently engages the tension members 24 as enhanced by the plurality of fibers so that the tension members 24 do not pull out of the jacket 26 and remain substantially stationary relative to the jacket 26 under normal operating conditions in the embodiments illustrated in fig2 and 3 the traction surface 28 of the belt 22 engages the traction sheave 20 of the elevator system 10 during use and may additionally engage other sheaves of the elevator system e g an idler sheave a deflector sheave during use in the embodiments illustrated in fig2 and 3 each tension member 24 is constructed from a plurality of wires e g steel wires formed into strands the strands then formed into cords and the cords then formed into the tension member 24 the tension members 24 may be constructed from a variety of different materials and or a combination of materials including for example carbon steel iron alloys nickel alloys aluminum alloys or other ductile drawn metals which can be formed into wire the tension members 24 may also be constructed.