City could see new Rapid Ride routes

Posted at: 10/15/2009 10:39 PM
By: Eric Kahnert, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

The commute for bus riders in the Northeast Heights could soon get a lot easier and quicker as the city considers expanding Rapid Ride service from the Westside and Central to a new part of town.

The buses that currently service the area make stops about every 500 feet�which can make for a very long commute.

Passengers say they are thrilled to hear the city might make San Mateo a Rapid Ride route.

Westside commuters using the Rapid Ride have been a bit spoiled.

Eastsider Charlotte Wesley is a bus rider, and is a bit jealous of their faster commute.

Wesley said, "I live at Carlisle and Menaul. It takes me an hour to get from there to here, and all the way to Osuna."

Wesley goes to school at ITT. We told her the city is considering adding San Mateo to the Rapid Ride route.

She says that would cut her 2-hour daily bus routine drastically.

"It's a great idea so I can get to school faster; it's a real good idea," Wesley said.

Albuquerque Ride Transit Director Greg Payne said, "That's one of the concerns or complaints we've had is that we don't have the Rapid Ride up in the Northeast Heights."

Payne said thanks to voters, the city will be able to add Rapid Ride routes and put up more fancy bus shelters.

"We went from 20% to 36% in terms of our share of the 1/4 cent tax," Payne said. "It means an extra $4 to 5 million a year to us."

For riders, that means better bus service.

Besides the north/south San Mateo route, other Rapid Ride proposals include Montgomery west from Tramway, which would head south on Carlisle, and on Montano from Coors, jotting east to 4th Street and down.

"We're going to have to get input from all the stake-holders, from the city council to the mayor, to the public and our passengers," Payne said.

The city will also be adding 16 new Rapid Ride bus shelters, and will be looking at expanding traditional bus hours.

Payne said, "With the continuation of the 1/4 cent transportation program, we're able to move forward and build on what we've done over the past few years."

The city will be getting input from the public between now and next summer. That's when the new Rapid Ride routes are expected to begin.

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