Earlier this week, Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART), the City of Albuquerque’s “bus rapid transit” system, hit 10 million rides. ART delivers over 2 million rides to the community annually, accounting for about 30% of ABQ RIDE’s total ridership.

ART primarily runs along historic Central Avenue and is distinct from other ABQ RIDE services due to its high capacity, longer articulated or “‘accordion” buses, dedicated lanes that make it faster, signal priority, and distinctive stations. However, the buses continue beyond the ART infrastructure to the eastern end of Central Avenue (Green Line route 777) and to Uptown on Louisiana (Red Line route 766).

With a new service plan nearing completion, ABQ RIDE will make similar extensions in the next several years without any new construction to the Cottonwood Mall area and along 98th Street, looping back to the shopping center at Coors and Rio Bravo, which provides an essential connection from the Westside to the rest of Albuquerque.

ART Line Rolls On with Upgrades and Ridership Gains

Although the system was controversial due to significant disruption to local businesses and traffic during construction, according to an agency statement, ART is considered a successful fixture on one of the nation’s most famous roads.

The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy recognized ART at its completion as a Gold Standard BRT system, the highest international ranking. Despite service reductions due to staffing shortages like the rest of ABQ RIDE’s system, ART continues to be the most productive service, with almost twice as many riders as the rest of the system per hour of bus service operated.

“ART has become a permanent part of Central, moving millions of people across our city,” saidMayor Tim Keller. “We’ve worked hard to make it a productive system, even after early challenges that began before I took office. Today, it connects neighborhoods, supports businesses and jobs, and has some of the strongest ridership in the country.”

The most recent improvements have been adding easy-to-clean epoxy flooring to ART stations, painting ART lanes red for caution, and improving safety by adding pinned curbs.

How Albuquerque’s System Became a Model for Urban Transit

Bus rapid transit (BRT) systems boomed nationally in the early 2000s and, in less than two decades, progressed as one of the fastest-growing modes of transportation as magnets for construction and development.

In Albuquerque, building permits for over $800 million in renovations and new construction have been issued through fall 2023 within about ½ mile of the ART corridor, almost three times the value of construction per square mile as the rest of the city outside the ART corridor.

“ART has been a transformative project for the city, carrying people to places throughout the Central corridor and beyond, and it has been exciting to see the development along the corridor that continues to grow,” said Transit Associate Director Chris Payton. “This is a wonderful milestone for Albuquerque, and achieving the 10 millionth rider is a great indicator of future success.”

“As a longtime ART champion and rider, I’ve seen firsthand the positive effect of this investment. Year after year, ridership has increased, and it is the gold standard for rapid transit in the United States. In my district, which lies in the heart of the ART corridor, we have experienced the beneficial ripple effects throughout the community,” said City Councilor Joaquin Baca.

“Looking back, ART was a major feat to pull off, and with the ordeal of construction well behind us, we can enjoy the success of the system now,” said Transit Principal Planner Andrew de Garmo. “On the road ahead, aside from routine maintenance and repairs, the only adjustment to ART will be when the ABQ RIDE Forward Plan is launched.

Meet ART’s 10 Millionth Rider

On June 24, ABQ RIDE celebrated ART’s 10 millionth rider, a local student and resource conservation professional, Rhett Sanders-Spencer, who has utilized ABQ RIDE services across his academic and professional career.

In 2010, he first used public transportation by taking the Rapid Ride from the Alvarado Transportation Center to the University of New Mexico (UNM). Now, 15 years later, he rides ART daily to commute to and from work and graduate school at UNM.

“I’ve come to rely on ART to facilitate the daily logistics of getting around after losing my car in an accident last year. I’ve grown to appreciate public transit because it deepened my sense of connection to the city and the community along my commute,” Sanders-Spencer said. "I’m grateful for the accessibility and affordability of public transit in Albuquerque, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it continues to improve!"

The winner received an ABQ RIDE-branded gift bag featuring:

• Two Family Passes to enjoy the ABQ BioPark Zoo and Aquarium / Botanic Garden, Albuquerque Museum, and Balloon Museum courtesy of the city’s Department of Arts & Culture.

• A bag of “All Sick Blend” ethically sourced, specialty-grade coffee beans courtesy of Little Bear Coffee.

• New Mexico United and Albuquerque Isotopes tickets.

• ABQ RIDE swag, including a squeezy bus, ChapStick, a coloring book, and more.

“ART is one of the best and most accessible Bus Rapid Transit lines in the entire country, and we are so proud to be right next to the stop in Nob Hill,” said Little Bear Coffee Co-Founder and Owner Jacob Fox. “Hopefully, with continued increases in ridership, we can help connect Albuquerque’s downtown and Nob Hill in a meaningful way.”