$6.72 Million to Help Construct New
Albuquerque
ABQ RIDE/ Rail Runner Station
Mayor Richard J. Berry today
announced that the City of Albuquerque
has been awarded $6.72 million from the U.S. Department of
Transportation to build the
Montaņo
Intermodal
Center. The center will provide a new
connection between ABQ Ride buses and the New Mexico Rail Runner
Express commuter train near the intersection of Montaņo and 2nd St.
“This is a huge win for Albuquerque,”
said Mayor
Berry. “We are
paving the way for 21st century transportation needs with this
project. Every time we add to our public transportation
infrastructure, hundreds of thousands of people benefit every single
year.”
Through a grant application submitted jointly by the City of
Albuquerque Transit Department and the Rio Metro District,
$6,722,800 was requested for land acquisition, environmental and
engineering services, and related costs. Through the legislative
efforts of City Councilor Debbie O’Malley, the City of Albuquerque was able to
match $1,927,120.
“The award of this grant is notable not just due
to the vital project it will bring to the city, but because of the
purpose of the granting”, said Dewey
Cave, Interim Executive Director for the
Mid-Region Council of Governments. “Grants requests from across the
nation were evaluated on their ability to not just provide
transportation, but also by how they would promote affordable
housing, support economic competitiveness, and support existing
communities and neighborhoods.”
“This new station will help relieve commuter
traffic on Montaņo bridge,” Councilor O’Malley said. “This will
improve the area and quality of life for North
Valley
and Westside residents.”
The facility will encompass about 4 acres with a bus island and
priority bus drop off area adjacent to a Rail Runner platform.
Riders coming off of the train can expect eight ABQ Ride buses and
other shuttles to take them to various locations around the metro
area.
“This funding is an important investment in Albuquerque’s public transit system,” U.S
Senator Jeff Bingaman said. “The new Rail Runner station will help
increase bus and rail access to city residents.”
Through the efforts of key legislators, State funds will assist in
property acquisition.
“I am so glad that we are supplementing the money that the
legislature put into this important project,” State Senator Dede
Feldman said. “I believe that this location will be the busiest
station in New Mexico,
with people coming from the east and the west parts of town.”
Contacts:
- Augusta Meyers, MRCOG Communications Mgr. 505-239-8612, ameyers@mrcog-nm.gov
- , Transit Marketing,
505-724-3652
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