MENU
SEARCHA new citywide campaign highlights free fares, improved service, and major upgrades to Albuquerque’s bus system.
In December of 2025, ABQ RIDE launched the first phase of ABQ RIDE Forward, a generational update to city bus routes tailored to evolving rider needs and travel patterns.
Photo: City of Albuquerque
The City of Albuquerque’s transit services, ABQ RIDE, is promoting a new campaign that began on Jan. 26 and aims to get people back on buses.
The campaign, Come With Us & Ride the Bus!, invites the Albuquerque public to try the new ABQ RIDE, which has recently undergone upgrades. The campaign promotes improved service, safety, reliability, frequency, and sanitation, and will be promoted across multiple platforms.
“Our City’s public transit system is an amazing free resource,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “A lot has changed and improved, so I hope folks will give buses another try.”
ABQ RIDE’s data shows high demand for bus service: on average, 28 people served per operating hour, and from December 2024 through the end of November 2025, a total of 7,467,894 rides on fixed-route buses (regular buses and Albuquerque Rapid Transit).
“We are thrilled to be in a position to better serve Albuquerque, such as the 370 hours of service added in the first phase of the new route network,” said Transit Deputy Director Mike Davis. “We now have the capacity to meet the high demand for bus service and hope to see our ridership numbers grow in the new year.”
In December of 2025, ABQ RIDE launched the first phase of ABQ RIDE Forward, a generational update to city bus routes tailored to evolving rider needs and travel patterns.
ABQ RIDE Forward will “drive the city’s transit system back up to pre-2019 levels of bus service over a multiyear implementation.” Each phase will bring more flexible and frequent service to the community, including more weekend and evening buses.
“ABQ RIDE Forward is the future of our transit system,” said Transit Director Leslie Keener. “This implementation is modernizing the way Albuquerque moves. Between improved reliability through ABQ RIDE Forward and our huge strides in safety and cleanliness, this is a great time to encourage people to get back on the bus!”
“Our team has gained major ground on increasing staffing levels, which has allowed us to improve the overall system,” said Marketing Manager Raul de Lara. “The vision for this campaign is to remind the public what a great option the bus is for getting around town — at no cost. It’s easy in our car-centric world to forget about taking transit, so we hope to inspire folks to hop onboard.”
Construction on all four stations is beginning now and is anticipated to be completed by spring 2028.
Read More →
The beginning of the final BRT segment advances construction across all five segments, reflecting steady progress toward shorter travel times, improved accessibility, and a more dependable connection to jobs, businesses, and community destinations.
Read More →
The changes are designed to reduce overall travel time, shorten wait times, and get customers to their destinations more quickly.
Read More →
The visit is part of the SF Fed's ongoing engagement with major employers and industries across Southern California and, more broadly, the western U.S. to better understand regional economic conditions and business outlooks.
Read More →
Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.
Read More →
Today’s riders—and the communities you serve—expect more from public transit. While ADA compliance is required, leading transit agencies know that true accessibility also means delivering dignity, efficiency, and a better rider experience. This whitepaper reveals why forward thinking agencies nationwide choose the Low Floor Frontrunner as their first choice for ADA compliant vehicles—setting a new standard with passenger first design, faster boarding, improved safety, and unmatched operational performance.
Read More →
In Part 2 of a two-part conversation, AC Transit’s director of maintenance joins co-hosts Alex Roman and Mark Hollenbeck to discuss his maintenance team’s work with various types of vehicle, training, augmented reality, and more.
Read More →
Under this extension, Keolis will continue to manage and operate fixed-route bus service across the East Valley, serving communities including Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, the town of Gilbert, parts of Phoenix, and the Gila River Indian Community.
Read More →
The new network reflects extensive input from riders and the community through Reimagine DART on what matters most in public transit — and those priorities are reflected in the changes ahead.
Read More →
A new bus lane project aims to improve reliability on one of King County Metro’s busiest and most congestion-prone corridors.
Read More →