ABQ RIDE
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ABQ RIDE is the local transit agency serving Albuquerque, New Mexico. ABQ RIDE operates a variety of city bus routes including the Rapid Ride BRT route. The name "ABQ RIDE" and a new logo depicting the Alvarado Transportation Center clock tower were chosen in a contest, replacing the previous name, "Sun Tran". The current ABQ RIDE color scheme is red, white, and gold, though most of the existing fleet wears the previous red, white, and turquoise livery.
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[edit] Service
The ABQ RIDE system includes routes on most of the city's major streets as well as commuter routes that ferry workers between residential areas and the city center. Most east-west routes and commuter 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 has a circulator route for downtown Albuquerque, the Downtown Get Around (dubbed the D-Ride), with service every seven minutes.
ABQ Ride service for most routes begins at 6 am and a few routes running along the main corridors of the city don't complete their service until around 10:30 pm. A notable exception is the Rapid Ride during the summer months which provides their 'Rapid After Dark' service that extends until 3 am on Friday and Saturday evenings.
ABQ RIDE also operates a paratransit service called the Mini Ride that runs curb-to-curb service.
[edit] Routes
[edit] Routes operating on weekdays and weekends
- 1 Juan Tabo Weekday and Weekend
- 2 Eubank Weekday Weekend
- 3 Louisiana Weekday Weekend
- 5 Montgomery-Carlisle Weekday Weekend
- 8 Menaul Weekday Weekend
- 10 North Fourth Street Weekday Weekend
- 11 Lomas Weekday Weekend
- 16/18 Broadway/University/Gibson Weekday Weekend
- 31 Wyoming Weekday Weekend
- 66 Central Weekday Saturday Sunday
- 141 San Mateo Weekday Weekend
- 155 Cottonwood/Coors Weekday Weekend
- 766 Rapid Ride Weekday and Saturday Sunday
[edit] Routes operating on weekdays and Saturdays
- 36 12th Street/Rio Grande Weekday Saturday
- 50 Airport/Downtown Weekday Saturday
- 51 Atrisco/Rio Bravo Weekday and Saturday
- 53 Isleta Weekday Saturday
- 54 Bridge/Westgate Weekday Saturday
- 157 Golf Course/Montano/Uptown Weekday Saturday
[edit] Routes operating on weekdays only
- 6 Indian School Commuter Weekday
- 7 Candelaria Commuter Weekday
- 12 Constitution Commuter Weekday
- 13 Comanche Commuter Weekday
- 34 San Pedro Commuter Weekday
- 40 Downtown Get Around "D-Ride" Weekday (free route)
- 91 Ventura Commuter Weekday
- 92 Taylor Ranch Express Weekday
- 93 Academy Commuter Weekday
- 94 Unser Commuter Weekday
- 96 Crosstown Commuter Weekday
- 97 Zuni Weekday
- 98 Wyoming Commuter Weekday
- 140 San Mateo Weekday
- 151 Albuquerque-Rio Rancho Rail Runner Shuttle Weekday
- 156 Rapid Ride Coors Commuter Weekday
- 162 Ventana Ranch Commuter Weekday
[edit] Fares
| Fare category | Standard Fare | 20 Fare Tokens | Monthly Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | US$1.00 | US$20.00 | US$28.00 |
| Student (Age 5 - High School) | US$0.35 | US$7.00 | US$12.00 |
| Senior (65+) & mobility impaired | US$0.35 | US$12.00 | |
| College Students | US$1.00 | US$12.00 |
In addition, there are other discounted pass options available, such as quarterly, semi annual, and annual passes. A single child under age 5 rides for free, but the fare for each additional child under age 5 is $0.35. The fare for ABQ RIDE's paratransit service is $2 One-Way, with 10 paratransit fares for $18.
A two to three hour transfer, which can be used on all bus routes, is included in the fare. Exact change is required when boarding buses.
[edit] Fleet
[edit] Current fleet
| Number | Year | Model | Length | Engine type | Destination signs | Enunciator | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101-110 | 1989 | TMC RTS T80206 |
40 ft | Diesel | Luminator flipdot | No | To be partially replaced by New Flyer DE40LFs, to be compeltely retired by 2009 |
| 201-248 | 1989 | TMC RTS T70206 |
35 ft | Diesel | Luminator flipdot | No | To be partially replaced by New Flyer DE40LFs, to be completely retired by 2009 |
| 301-340 | 1996 | Neoplan AN440A  |
40 ft | CNG | TwinVision LED * | Yes ** | First buses with wheelchair lifts * Formerly flipdots ** Added in 2004 |
| 401-435 | 2001 | Thomas Built SLF 200 |
32 ft | CNG | TwinVision LED | Yes | First low floor buses First buses to include enunciator system 402-404 used on D-Ride |
| 436 | 2001 | Thomas Built SLF 200 |
36 ft | Diesel | TwinVision LED | Yes | Diesel version of the SLF 200 Features a rear window |
| 6401-6412 | 2004 | New Flyer DE60LF |
60 ft | Diesel-Electric Hybrid |
Rear/Side: TwinVision LED Front: TwinVision Chroma I LED |
Yes | Used on Rapid Ride Low floor Features a signal-priority system |
| 6601-6606 | 2007 | New Flyer DE60LF |
60 ft | Diesel-Electric Hybrid |
Rear/Side: TwinVision LED Front: TwinVision Chroma I LED |
Yes | Similar to the 6400-series, but with modified windows, emergency exits, and air recirculation systems Features new validating fareboxes |
[edit] On order
| Model | Length | Month/year ordered | Number ordered | Engine type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Flyer DE40LF |
40 ft | 2007 | 35 | Diesel-Electric Hybrid |
To replace most 100 and 200 series |
The 35 New Flyer DE40LF buses will be used to replace most of the aging TMC RTS (100 and 200 series) buses, which lack wheelchair lifts. Currently, the transit fleet is approximately 61% wheelchair accessible. Once the 35 new buses enter service by the end of 2007, the fleet will be approximately 86% wheelchair accessible. By 2009, ABQ RIDE intends on having a 100% wheelchair accessible fleet [1]. ABQ RIDE is currently seeking input on routes for the six additional New Flyer DE60LF Rapid Ride buses. [2]
In addition, the fleet comprises numerous smaller vehicles like the Mini Ride paratransit vans and Old Town trolleys. Most of the 300- and 400- series buses (except for bus #436) operate out of the Yale Transit Facility on 601 Yale Blvd. SE, while most of the 100-, 200-, 6400-, and 6600-series as well as bus #436 operate out of the West Side Transit Facility at Unser Blvd. and I-40.
[edit] Future Plans
The city currently has plans to add a streetcar connecting Old Town, Nob Hill, UNM and eventually the city's airport.[3] However, after the project received heavy criticism due to its costs and alleged poor planning, the city announced that it would conduct a new study examining the city's transportation needs. This study may take at least a year to complete.[4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Some city buses not accessible - Albuquerque Tribune
- ^ Popular Rapid Ride bus route to be expanded - Albuquerque Tribune
- ^ Albuquerque Official City Website. Modern Streetcar Project. Retrieved on December 9, 2006.
- ^ Gisick, Micheal. "Council: Streetcar project rushed", Albuquerque Tribune, December 4, 2006. Retrieved on December 13, 2006. (in English)
[edit] External links
- ABQRide (Official Site)
