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ABQ RIDE

(Redirected from ABQ Ride)
Not to be confused with SunTran, the public transit bus service in Washington County, Utah.

ABQ RIDE (City of Albuquerque Transit Department) is the local transit agency serving Albuquerque, New Mexico. ABQ RIDE operates a variety of city bus routes including two Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) bus rapid transit lines and an ARTx express bus line. It is the largest public transportation system in the state,[3] serving 6,907,500 passengers in 2023, or about 24,600 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.

ABQ RIDE
Founded1928
HeadquartersAlbuquerque, New Mexico
Service areaAlbuquerque, Bernalillo County, and southeastern Sandoval County, New Mexico
Service typePublic transportation
Routes40
HubsAlvarado Transportation Center
Uptown Transit Center
Northwest Transit Center
Central and Unser Transit Center
Fleet156
Daily ridership24,600 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[1]
Annual ridership6,907,500 (2023)[2]
Fuel typeGasoline, CNG, Diesel-electric hybrid
OperatorCity of Albuquerque
Chief executiveLeslie Keener
Websitecabq.gov/transit

The name "ABQ RIDE" and a new logo depicting the Alvarado Transportation Center clock tower were chosen in a contest, replacing the previous name SunTran in September 2004. The current ABQ RIDE color scheme is yellow-green, white, and turquoise, though most of the existing fleet wears the previous maroon, white, and gold livery.

History

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What is now ABQ RIDE began in 1928 as the Albuquerque Bus Company. Before this, transit in the city was provided by an electric streetcar system, but it was forced out of business by declining ridership and expensive paving bills charged by the city government. City leader Clyde Tingley was a strong opponent of the streetcar system and led the effort to have it replaced with buses.[4] The streetcar stopped running at midnight on December 31, 1927, and the bus company began operation the next morning.[5] The company started with five White Motor Company buses and had four routes: Central Avenue, Fourth Street, Sawmill-Edith Street, and East Silver Avenue.[6][7] ABQ RIDE still owns one of the original buses and uses it for special occasions.[8]

 
ABQ RIDE TMC Rapid Transit Series bus, in service from 1989 to 2008

By 1944, the company had 32 buses, 65 employees, and 37 miles (60 km) of routes. Nine years later, in 1953, the route network had grown to 167 miles (269 km) and there were 51 buses and 120 employees.[9] But the company was not able to maintain profitability as private car ownership increased in the 1950s and 1960s,[10] and in 1963, the Albuquerque Bus Company notified the city it planned to cease operation within a few months.[11] In order to maintain service for bus riders, the city ultimately bought out the assets of the bus company and turned it into the city Transit Department. The official handover took place on February 1, 1965, with the city retaining all existing routes and equipment and most of the personnel.[12]

The bus system operated under the name Albuquerque Transit System,[13] and then Sun Tran starting in the 1970s. It adopted the current name, ABQ RIDE, in 2004, the same year the first Rapid Ride route began operating.[14] In 2019, two of the three Rapid Ride routes were replaced with the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) bus rapid transit system. The remaining Rapid Ride route was rebranded as ARTx in 2020.

In January 2022, ABQ RIDE launched a pilot program, eliminating fares on all of the agency's transit services for the year.[15] The program, supported by a federal grant, was later extended to June 2023, and later September 2023.[16] On November 9, 2023, fares were permanently eliminated on all ABQ Ride services.[17]

In August 2022, ABQ RIDE launched their ABQ Ride Forward [1], starting with the Phase 1, which included the Existing Conditions Report and later in February 2023, the release of the outreach summary for Phase 1.[18][19] During the same month, Phase 2 launched, which included two draft plan concepts, one which prioritized frequency and one which prioritized coverage.[20] In August 2023, the outreach summary for phase 2 had also released.[21] In May 2024, Phase 3 launched, which had replaced both draft networks with a Recovery Network, which combined concepts of both the Ridership and Coverage draft networks.[22]

Service

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ABQ RIDE logo currently in use on older buses

The ABQ RIDE system includes regular service routes on most of the city's major streets as well as commuter routes that ferry workers between residential areas and the city center. Many routes terminate at the Alvarado Transportation Center downtown, where riders can connect to the New Mexico Rail Runner Express and other intercity modes of transportation. ABQ RIDE also operates the Rapid Ride and ART services.

ABQ RIDE fixed bus service operates four types of routes: Rapid Ride, regular, commuter, and BRT. Service times on each route may vary from every 15 minutes to every hour, but the system generally runs from 5:30 am until 6 pm, with some routes running later. A notable exception is route #66 which runs from 5:30 am until 12:30 am weekdays and Saturdays. Commuter routes only have a few run times during weekdays, usually towards Downtown Albuquerque or Kirtland AFB during the mornings and away from during the evenings. D-Ride service ended on May 12, 2018, and was replaced by various local routes, such as 12th Street/Rio Grande (routes #36 and #37) and Menaul (route #8). All inbound routes to the Alvarado Transportation Center, except route #66 and Rapid Ride routes, have a fare-free zone.[23]

Routes 96, 155, 222, 250, 251, 551, and 790 are either partially or fully funded by the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG), and either service areas outside of Albuquerque's city limits, create connections to its Rail Runner Express stations, or supplement service on the expanding west side. Routes 10, 51, 53, and 54 are either partially or fully funded by Bernalillo County, since these routes largely serve the county's unincorporated areas.

In addition to its fixed route services, ABQ RIDE also operates a paratransit service called SunVan (known as Mini Ride from 2003 to 2006) that runs curb-to-curb service.

Routes

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ABQ RIDE operates 21 regular fixed routes, 2 commuter routes, 2 Bus Rapid Transit routes.

Route Name Terminal 1 Terminal 2 via Length Notes
1 Juan Tabo Academy Hills Park
Eubank @ Academy 		Singing Arrow
Wenonah @ Tramway 		Juan Tabo Boulevard 9.3 miles (15.0 km)
2 Eubank Manzano Mesa
Eubank @ Gibson 		Eubank Boulevard 8.0 miles (12.9 km)
5 Montgomery/Carlisle/Lomas Downtown
Alvarado Transportation Center 		Glenwood Hills
Spanish Bit @ Montgomery 		Lomas Boulevard, Carlisle Boulevard, Montgomery Boulevard 13.0 miles (20.9 km)
8 Menaul Menaul Boulevard 15.1 miles (24.3 km) Weekend service bypasses Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
10 North Fourth Street Los Alamos
Montano @ 4th 		North 4th Street 4.8 miles (7.7 km) Alternate trips, all evening trips and all Sunday trips
North Valley
Raymond G Sanchez Community Center P&R 		8.4 miles (13.5 km)
11 Lomas Chelwood Vista
Copper @ Chelwood Park 		Lomas Boulevard 11.2 miles (18.0 km) No Sunday service east of Tramway Boulevard
16 Broadway/University/Gibson San Jose
San Jose @ Broadway 		Elder Homestead
Kentucky @ Gibson 		Broadway Boulevard, University Avenue, Gibson Boulevard 14.2 miles (22.9 km)
31 Wyoming Arroyo Del Oso North
Wyoming @ Academy 		Trumbull Village
Wyoming @ Susan 		Wyoming Boulevard 5.5 miles (8.9 km) Sunday service
Nor Este
La Cueva High School 		8.3 miles (13.4 km) Monday-Saturday service
36 12th Street/Rio Grande Downtown
Alvarado Transportation Center 		12th Street, Rio Grande Boulevard 10.8 miles (17.4 km) Operates in a counterclockwise loop
No Sunday service
50 Airport/Downtown Downtown
Alvarado Transportation Center 		Sunport
Albuquerque International Sunport 		M.L. King Boulevard, Yale Boulevard 4.2 miles (6.8 km) Nonstop service via I-25 between the Airport and Downtown provided by Route 250
51 Atrisco/Rio Bravo Atrisco
Atrisco @ Central 		South Valley
Prosperity @ Williams 		Atrisco Drive, Rio Bravo Boulevard 8.3 miles (13.4 km) No Sunday service
53 Isleta Downtown
Alvarado Transportation Center 		South Valley
Isleta @ Malpais 		Isleta Boulevard 11.3 miles (18.2 km)
54 Bridge/Westgate Sundance
Central & Unser Transit Center 		Bridge Boulevard, 98th Street 11.7 miles (18.8 km)
66 Central Avenue Singing Arrow
Wenonah @ Tramway 		Central Avenue 14.2 miles (22.9 km) Limited-stop service provided by 766 Red Line and 777 Green Line
97 Zuni Downtown
Alvarado Transportation Center 		Trumbull Village
Zuni @ Wyoming 		Lead Avenue (WB), Coal Avenue (EB), Zuni Road 6.8 miles (10.9 km) No weekend service
140 San Mateo/CNM Work Force Siesta Hills
VA Hospital Kirtland 		Wildflower Area
Eagle Rock @ CNM Workforce Training Center 		San Mateo Boulevard, Jefferson Street 12.5 miles (20.1 km) No off-peak service
141 San Mateo Alamedan Valley
Jefferson @ Osuna 		San Mateo Boulevard 7.4 miles (11.9 km)
155 Coors Seven Bar Ranch
Northwest Transit Center P&R 		Valley Gardens
Gun Club @ Isleta Drain 		Coors Boulevard 16.2 miles (26.1 km) Limited stop service north of I-40 provided by 790
157 Montano/Uptown/Kirtland Siesta Hills
San Pedro @ Gibson 		Golf Course Road, Montano Road (Montgomery Boulevard), Louisiana Boulevard 19.4 miles (31.2 km) All Sunday and select Monday-Saturday service
Kirtland AFB
5th @ G 		20.3 miles (32.7 km) Other times
198 98th St/Dennis Chavez Sundance
Central & Unser Transit Center 		Southwest Mesa
Dennis Chavez @ 118th (Atrisco Heritage Academy High School) 		98th Street 5.7 miles (9.2 km) Select school hour trips
Southwest Albuquerque
Lamonica @ Loris 		6.7 miles (10.8 km)
222 Rio Bravo/Sunport Southwest Albuquerque
Coors @ Rio Bravo 		Kirtland AFB
11th @ V 		Rio Bravo Boulevard, University Boulevard, Gibson Boulevard 15.0 miles (24.1 km) Weekday peak direction only
251 ABQ-Rio Rancho/Rail Runner Connection (limited service) Rio Rancho
Unser @ Southern 		Group Nine Industrial Park
Office @ Pan-American 		Southern Boulevard, Rio Rancho Boulevard, Paseo Del Norte Boulevard, Jefferson Street 16.4 miles (26.4 km) Weekday peak direction only
766 ART Red Line Sundance
Central & Unser Transit Center 		Uptown
Uptown Transit Center 		Central Avenue, Louisiana Boulevard 12.3 miles (19.8 km) Local service provided by Route 66
Concurrent with 777 Green Line west of Louisiana Boulevard
777 ART Green Line Singing Arrow
Tramway @ Wenonah 		Central Avenue 14.0 miles (22.5 km) Local service provided by Route 66
Concurrent with 766 Red Line west of Louisiana Boulevard
790 Coors/University Clayton Heights-Lomas Del Cielo
Basehart @ University at Central New Mexico Community College 		Seven Bar Ranch
Northwest Transit Center P&R 		Lomas Boulevard, I-40, Coors Boulevard, University Boulevard 15.5 miles (24.9 km) Local service north of I-40 provided by Route 155
No weekend service

Former Routes

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  • 3 Louisiana (replaced by Route 157; service on Louisiana, north of Montgomery discontinued due to low ridership)
  • 4 San Mateo (replaced by 140/141 San Mateo)
  • 9 Coors/Gibson
  • 14 Airport/UNM Loop
  • 15
  • 17 Rio Grande
  • 18 Broadway/University/Gibson (replaced by Route 16)
  • 21 Old Town Trolley (formerly the 25)
  • 21/22 Nob Hill / Biopark
  • 23 Nob Hill Express
  • 24 Sun Trolley
  • 25 Copper/Chico Sundial
  • 26 Los Volcanes Circulator
  • 27 Montaño & Coors
  • 32
  • 33 Uptown/Central
  • 35
  • 37 12th Street
  • 40 D-RIDE/Free Downtown Shuttle (replaced by fare free zones on most inbound routes to Alvarado Transportation Center on May 12, 2018)
  • 52 Sunset/South Coors
  • 55 Southwest Heights
  • 90 Coors (replaced by 155/158 Coors)
  • 91 Ventura Commuter
  • 95 Montaño/Jefferson Commuter
  • 156 West Side Rapid Ride (Coors) (upgraded and changed to 790 Rapid Ride Blue Line)
  • 158 Coors/Golf Course (Replaced by New Route 157)
  • 163 Taylor Ranch Commuter
  • 456 West Mesa Shuttle
  • 766 R.A.D. Rapid After Dark (Red Line Only)

Rates

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Since 9 November 2023, fares were permanently eliminated on all ABQ Ride services. All rides are free.[24]

Fleet

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Current fleet

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Numbers Year Manufacturer Model Image Length Powertrain Fuel type Garage
701–746

748–758

2007 New Flyer
DE40LFR 		  40 feet (12 m) Diesel-electric hybrid
  • Southside & Westside
950–983 2009  
601–621 2014 New Flyer
XN40 		  40 feet (12 m) CNG Southside
622-641 2016  
1901–1920 2019 New Flyer
XD60 		  60 feet (18 m) Diesel Westside
1921-1930 2020
4101-4105 2021 Proterra
ZX5 		35 feet (11 m)
350-402
  • 35 delivered
  • 18 on order
 2024 Gillig
Low Floor 		40 feet (12 m) CNG Westside

All buses feature TwinVision LED destination signs. The front destination signs on the New Flyer buses are able to display route numbers in different colors (as the Rapid Ride buses do for the three Rapid Ride routes, the Red Line, Blue Line, and Green Line). All other signs, including the front destination signs on all 300 and 400 series buses, display in orange only. The 300 series buses formerly featured flip-dot destination signs, however, they were retrofitted with the orange TwinVision LED signs in 2004 alongside the automated voice annunciator system. ABQ RIDE did not order the color LED destination signs for the 600 series buses, citing ongoing reliability issues, opting instead to go with orange LED signs.

All buses are also all equipped with a Clever Devices automated voice annunciator system, which announces the major intersections (or on the Rapid Ride buses, the stops). The system was first introduced in 2001 on the 400 series buses. The 300 series buses were retrofitted with the system in 2004 (alongside the TwinVision LED destination signs), and all deliveries since then has had the system factory-installed.

On October 4, 2010, the Federal Transit Administration approved a $3 million grant request from ABQ RIDE to provide money for bus replacement. On February 7, 2014, ABQ RIDE placed an order for 21 New Flyer Xcelsior XN40 CNG Buses, with deliveries starting in the middle of March. 17 of these buses will replace 17 of the 300 series buses, while the remaining 4 have been used to replace the last of the 400 series buses. 300 Series now operate the routes the 400 Series once did.

In January 2015, bus 617 and bus 747 were involved in separate accidents, resulting in the complete write-off of 747. 617 was repaired at the Yale Transit Yard, and returned to active service in early 2016. No one was seriously harmed in either accident, and both accidents were caused by other vehicles failing to stop at a red light.[25][26]

The 600-series buses purchased in 2015 (622–641) all have open WiFi networks available for public use. In addition, they have a screen installed behind the driver that displays the current security camera feed from the camera looking down the aisle from the front of the bus.

Retired fleet (since 1965)

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Numbers (Quantity)[27] Year introduced Year retired Model Image Engine type   Comments
404–424
(21 buses) 		1966 1980 GMC "Old Look" TDH-3501 Diesel  
101–109
(9 buses) 		1973/1974 1980 Flxible Flxette
501–506
(6 buses) 		1975 1997 GMC New Look T8H-5308A
601–652
(52 buses) 		1976 1997 GMC New Look T6H-4523A
701–724
(24 buses) 		1978 1997 Flxible/Grumman 870 45096–8–1  
801–815
(15 buses) 		1982 2002 GMC RTS T80204  
101–110
(10 buses) 		1989 2008 TMC RTS T80206
201–248
(48 buses) 		1989 2008 TMC RTS T70206  
301–340
(40 buses) 		1997 2014/2016 Neoplan AN440A   CNG  
401–435
(35 buses) 		2001 2009/2014 Thomas Built SLF232G  
436
(1 bus) 		2002 2014 Thomas Built SLF235   Diesel
6901–6906
(6 buses) 		2009 March 16, 2020 New Flyer DE60LFR   Diesel-electric hybrid
6401–6412
(12 buses) 		2004 2020 New Flyer DE60LF  
6601–6606
(6 buses) 		2006 2020 New Flyer DE60LF  

Other vehicles

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One of ABQ RIDE's paratransit vehicles.

In addition, the fleet comprises numerous smaller vehicles like the SunVan paratransit vans, and formerly, the Old Town trolley. CNG buses (300- and 600-series buses) and the 900-series buses operate out of the Yale Transit Department on 601 Yale Blvd. SE, while the 700-series buses, Rapid Ride buses (6400-series, 6600-series, and 6900-series), and the paratransit fleet operate out of the Daytona Transit Facility on Daytona Rd near Unser Blvd. and I-40. Daytona operates seven days a week except on city-observed holidays. Yale operates on weekdays only. On May 1, 2015, the 900-series buses were moved temporarily to Daytona due to renovations at Yale; however, they went back to operating out of the Yale facility beginning October 19, 2015. The Yale Transit Department is now equipped with unleaded fuel to fuel shuttle cars.

Plans

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Bus rapid transit service along Central

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Main article: Albuquerque Rapid Transit

In November 2011, ABQ RIDE announced plans for true bus rapid transit service along Central Avenue.[28] The service differs from the Rapid Ride based on the fact that it would be considered a true BRT service based on adding more aspects of BRT service such as a dedicated travel lane or queue jumps, platforms level with the bus floor, and off-board ticketing so that passengers can load at any door.

On March 24, 2014, ABQ RIDE demonstrated a New Flyer XN60, which was built for RTC in Las Vegas, NV, and was en route for delivery. This type of bus is one of the designs being explored for BRT service, and is the longer 60 foot version of the current XN40 buses being delivered to ABQ RIDE.[29][30]

On May 15, 2014, ABQ RIDE introduced a new logo and paint scheme for the organization.[29]

In October 2014, the City of Albuquerque unveiled conceptual designs for construction of Albuquerque Rapid Transit, a true BRT system including dedicated lanes, traffic signal priority, level boarding, and off-bus fare payment. Public input from meetings will allow engineering of the BRT system and redesign of the roads it will travel on.

Following delays from equipment problems, BRT service started in November 2019.

Uptown Transit Center

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In October 2014, ABQ Ride also revealed plans for a transit-oriented development (TOD) on the site of the Uptown Transit Center.[31] The land for the transit center was originally purchased with a grant from the FTA with the intent of someday building a TOD on the site. The plans call for a parking garage above the island where buses stop and will continue to stop, a building with retail on the ground floor and several levels of living units above that, and the possibility of a multi-generational center above the parking garage. These plans were created with the help of a public meeting earlier in 2014. ABQ Ride intends, with FTA approval, to enter into a partnership with a private developer for the actual construction and operation of the building.

Notes

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  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "13 Million Passengers use ABQ RIDE in 2012". City of Albuquerque. 2013-01-11. Archived from the original on 2013-02-10.
  4. ^ "City Commission Moves To Get Bus Lines Here". Albuquerque Journal. December 9, 1926. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Doleful Clanging of Gong as George Roslington Drives Car on Last Trip—Into Oblivion". Albuquerque Journal. January 1, 1928. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "New Bus Line to Hire Local Men for Drivers". Albuquerque Journal. January 1, 1928. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Permanent Schedules". Albuquerque Journal. February 4, 1928. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Our Department". City of Albuquerque Transit Department. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  9. ^ "Bus Company's Larger Fleet and Longer Routes Reflect Albuquerque's Growth". Albuquerque Progress. 20 (12): 3. December 1953.
  10. ^ McAlpin, Dick (October 23, 1963). "Lecher Says Bus Must Meet Car's Challenge". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ McAlpin, Dick (November 20, 1963). "City Plans Bus Company Study; Firm to Quit". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Albuquerque Now Running Public Buses". Albuquerque Journal. February 2, 1965. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Official City Seal". Albuquerque Journal. February 14, 1965. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "ABQ RIDE Celebrates Golden Anniversary". City of Albuquerque. Archived from the original on 2022-04-21. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "ABQ Ride, Art and Sun Van will be zero fare as part of pilot project starting Jan. 1". Mass Transit. 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  16. ^ "Editorial: ABQ's free bus fares show promise; more security is needed". Albuquerque Journal. 2022-08-02. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  17. ^ "Zero Fares is Here to Stay; Albuquerque City Council passes permanent Zero Fare program". City of Albuquerque. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  18. ^ "Transit Existing Conditions Report, August 2022" (PDF). ABQ Ride. August 9, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "February 2023 ABQ RIDE FORWARD NETWORK PLAN: Phase I Engagement Summary" (PDF). ABQ Ride. February 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  20. ^ "Volume 2: Concepts Report February 2023" (PDF). ABQ Ride. March 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "August 2023 ABQ RIDE FORWARD NETWORK PLAN: Phase II Engagement Summary" (PDF). ABQ Ride. August 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  22. ^ "Volume 3: Recovery Network Report May 2024" (PDF). ABQ Ride. May 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  23. ^ "ABQ RIDE Implementing Route and Schedule Changes on May 12". City of Albuquerque. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  24. ^ "Zero Fares is Here to Stay; Albuquerque City Council passes permanent Zero Fare program". City of Albuquerque. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  25. ^ Ayres, Kayla; Mitri, Lysee (2015-01-08). "City bus crashes into Albuquerque home". KRQE. Archived from the original on 2015-01-11.
  26. ^ "Bus crash video shows driver go through windshield". KRQE. 2015-01-08. Archived from the original on 2015-08-16.
  27. ^ Nicholls, Alan (2008-08-13). "ABQ Bus Riders". Duke City Fix. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19.
  28. ^ "Mayor Richard Berry and ABQ RIDE Announce Study to Improve Bus Service". City of Albuquerque. Archived from the original on 2011-11-10. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  29. ^ a b Garate, Jessica (2014-03-24). "'Train-like bus' on display in ABQ". KRQE. LIN Media. Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  30. ^ "ABQ RIDE Gets a Taste of Future BRT". City of Albuquerque. Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  31. ^ Scott, Damon (2014-10-17). "Uptown Transit's mixed-use development moves forward". Albuquerque Business First. Retrieved 2014-10-20.
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