Albuquerque Rapid Transit

Albuquerque Rapid Transit
Overview
System ABQ RIDE
Operator ABQ RIDE
Routes
Routes

ART 766 Red line

ART 777 Green Line
Locale Albuquerque, New Mexico
Start Central and Unser Transit Center
End Route 777 - Tramway Boulevard (NM 556)
Route 766 - Uptown Transit Center
Stations 19
Service
Daily ridership 15,750 (projected) [1]
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Albuquerque Rapid Transit, also known as ART, is a bus rapid transit (BRT) line serving the Central Avenue corridor in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. The line runs between Tramway Boulevard (NM 556) and the Central and Unser Transit Center (CUTC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[2][3] It began partial operation in November 2017, after a year of construction.[4] Full service was expected to commence in early 2018, but in January 2018, mayor Tim Keller announced that the system wouldn't open for "many months" due to station design issues and severe construction flaws of the buses supplied by Chinese manufacturer Build Your Dreams.[5]

History

Background

in 2004, the City of Albuquerque began operations of its first Rapid Ride line, as a precursor to a light rail system along Central Avenue. The plans for light rail were disbanded, and the Rapid Ride became a permanent system, expanding to three different lines in 2006 and 2009. Studies to build a rapid transit system using either buses or streetcars also took place in 2006, but no action was taken.[6] Although the Rapid Ride is a limited stop express bus service, it lacks several key features of BRT, such as dedicated travel lanes and off-bus fare payment. The first line opened, and ran from Unser to Wyoming, then going to the Uptown Transit Center. A second Rapid Ride opened in 2006 to the northwest side, and the Rapid Rides were given color designations, the 766 Red Line and the 790 Blue Line. In 2009, the third Rapid Ride, the 777 Green Line, started service from Downtown to Tramway Boulevard. The Red and Green Line Rapid Rides were designed to supplement the heavily traveled 66 bus which travels from Tramway Boulevard to Unser Boulevard, as well as transport passengers to popular destinations.

In 2011, the City of Albuquerque began a feasibility study of creating a true BRT system along Central Avenue.[6] The Plan calls for the elimination of the current Rapid Ride routes, and the placement of a new system utilizing new buses, dedicated travel lanes, transit signal priority, and off-board fare collection. Central Avenue, also known as Historic US Route 66, is not only a popular tourist destination, but a major surface artery through Albuquerque. This street made the plans for starting a transit oriented development scheme a good starting point.

In February 2014, the city filed for federal funding to construct the proposed BRT system,[7][8] and the federal government approved the filing in March.[9] Later that month, the City presented a demonstration bus to the public to generate interest in the project.[10] In October, The City presented its final draft and alternative analysis to the public in a series of meetings.[11] The current design calls for both mixed-use lanes and dedicated Bus lanes, depending on the location. Except for a few stations near downtown, stations will board in the median, and the buses will have doors on both sides to accommodate the platforms. East of Louisiana Boulevard and west of Coors Boulevard, ART will share travel lanes and use existing Rapid Ride stops. The path will follow the existing 66 bus route to Unser Boulevard.[12][13][14]

The proposed route includes several variations on bus priority lanes, including dedicated lanes, bi-directional lanes, and reversible lanes. Lane configuration is based on street width and location. Areas such as the neighborhoods adjacent to downtown have little room for road expansion, so single lanes will be used. Early materials depicted ART making a stop at the Unser Transit Center (CUTC) before continuing to 98th St., but has since been amended to depict the CUTC as the western terminus. According to the BRT standard, published by the Institute for Transportation Development Policy, ART will achieve a gold rating upon completion, the highest offered. ABQ RIDE is expected to complete its preliminary design by March 2015, with construction to begin in May 2016. ART is expected to cost $119 million, with federal funds covering $100.6 million (about 84%) of the project.[15] As of March 2016, the city has also promised to consider a 20th stop within the International district, but have not yet announced where that stop will be put or how it will be paid for.[16] In April 2017, it was decided that the 20th stop in the International District will be located at San Pedro and Central, with funding provided by the city councilor of that district.[17]

There are plans to create other BRT systems throughout the Albuquerque metro, by various organizations such as ABQ RIDE and the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG). Studies being conducted include an intersecting BRT system on University Boulevard from Menaul Boulevard to the airport,[18][19] and another BRT system on Paseo Del Norte.[20][21]

There have been no public announcements on what will happen to the existing 24 Rapid Ride buses. Some indications include starting Rapid Ride service on San Mateo Blvd. The path used by the 766 Red Line from Central & Louisiana to the Uptown Transit Center will remain as it is now with buses using the existing stops. This will also remain the case for Central east of Louisiana and west of Coors Blvd.[22]

Presently, only the 66 bus travels the length of Central Avenue, except from Unser to 98th street, which is served by route 198. The 777 Green line only travels from Downtown east to Tramway, and the 766 Red Line starts at Unser and travels east, but turns north on Louisiana to Coronado Mall. The 790 Blue Line serves passengers from the northwest side to UNM.

ART received a recommendation for $69 million in federal funding as part of the proposed FY 17 budget and anticipates the start of construction in May 2016 pending FTA approval to spend local funds.[23]

Construction

Opponents of the ART project filed suit in April 2016 to stop construction from going forward, but both the U.S. District Court and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to grant a temporary injunction against the project, allowing the city to proceed while the case was pending.[24][25][26] In September 2016, local contractor Bradbury Stamm was awarded an $82.6 million contract to build the ART system. Construction was scheduled to last 16 months, with a completion date near the end of 2017.[27] Work began in October 2016, starting with the removal of medians and landscaping to make room for the new bus lanes.[28] In December, the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the city, finding no legal grounds to stop the project.[29] The suit against the city was subsequently dropped, ending a nearly year-long legal battle.[30]

During construction, businesses near the ART route complained that the project was impacting their business, and some were forced to close or cut back on staff.[31][32] In April 2017, the city announced a short-term loan program aimed at helping small businesses survive the construction.[33]

Launch

ART went into limited service on November 25, 2017, providing free trips to and from the Albuquerque BioPark for the River of Lights event.[4][34] However, major problems with the system became apparent after incoming mayor Tim Keller took office on December 1. In particular, there were numerous issues with the electric buses and charging equipment supplied by BYD Auto—the buses were found to have manufacturing inconsistencies and mechanical problems, as well as a shorter range than claimed, and the chargers were inoperable. The River of Lights service was suspended after Keller's administration learned that the stopgap solution of charging the buses using portable generators could potentially void the warranty. Design and construction issues with some of the stations were also identified, including inconsistent height and positioning of platforms as well as potential traffic hazards at some intersections. In a statement on January 9, Keller called ART "a bit of a lemon" and said he was not sure when it would be operational.[5]

On January 22, crews began work to resolve some of the issues with the ART stations.[35]

Design

Buses used on the ART line bear similarities in design and operation to light rail trains. ART buses have doors on both sides to accommodate different platform locations.

ART stations often feature passenger amenities such as shelters, benches, lighting, new landscaping, and potentially, local art work.[21] On a standard bus route, passengers have to climb steps or a wheelchair ramp must be folded out. ART stations are similar to train platforms in that when a bus arrives, the floor of bus is the same height as the station platform. This reduces wait time for passengers and makes the buses more handicap accessible.

Some platforms, however, were found to have inconsistent platform heights as well as gaps between platform and buses, potentially creating significant accessibility issues. Also, the stations' clearance is incompatible with the current design of the buses supplied by Build Your Dreams, as evidenced by bus mirrors hitting the station structure.[5]

Accolades

Shortly after service began, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), which ranks BRT corridors based on design, efficiency, and operation, awarded the ART corridor a Gold ranking, scoring 88.5 out of 100 possible points for its copious use of BRT technology, such as dedicated bus guideways, off-board fare collection, bus-level boarding platforms, frequency of service, and the use of an all-electric bus fleet. ART is the first BRT system in the United States to receive a Gold rating from the ITDP.[36]

In December 2017, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) jointly awarded their annual "Chairman's Award" to the ART project and to former mayor Richard J. Berry, stating in the award announcement, "Berry’s strong advocacy of the project was also seen as pivotal to its implementation".[37]

Incidents

On November 25, 2017, the opening day for limited service on the route, a passenger vehicle attempted to make an illegal U-turn across the guideway to escape a long traffic queue due to the annual River of Lights festival, and was struck by an ART vehicle traveling westbound in the guideway. There were no injuries reported, and the driver of the passenger vehicle admitted fault at the scene.[38]

On January 9, 2018, Albuquerque mayor Tim Keller held a press conference where it was revealed numerous issues existed with the ART corridor as currently designed, as well as with the quality and quantity of the buses delivered by Build Your Dreams. Issues raised included inconsistent platform heights, ADA violations, faulty batteries and leaking axles on the buses, and at least one intersection whose geometry is unable to accommodate a 60-foot bus safely.[39] Both the contractor and the bus manufacturer said they would work to fix the issues at no additional cost to the city.[40][41]

References

  1. ↑ "Rapid transit debate heads to City Council on Monday night". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Bus Rapid Transit plan moves forward". KRQE News 13. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "Map-Albuquerque Rapid Transit".
  4. 1 2 Jaceks, Emily (November 25, 2017). "After 13 months, ART opens its doors to riders". KOB4. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Writer, Martin Salazar | Journal Staff. "ART project 'a bit of a lemon,' mayor says as problems mount". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  6. 1 2 "CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE CENTRAL AVENUE CORRIDOR BRT FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT : Final Report" (PDF). Cabq.gov. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "City seeks federal funds to advance bus rapid transit". Albuquerque Business First. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Central Avenue Corridor BRT Project" (PDF). Federal Transit Administration. Federal Transit Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "Feds give ABQ OK on bus rapid transit idea". Albuquerque Business First. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "'Train-like bus' on display in ABQ". KRQE News 13. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Bus rapid transit initiative moves into public meeting phase - Albuquerque Business First". Albuquerque Business First. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "Map | Albuquerque Rapid Transit". www.brtabq.com. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
  13. ↑ "2040 MTP Long Range Transportation Systems" (PDF).
  14. ↑ "ABQ RIDE System Map".
  15. ↑ "ART's price tag rises $19 million". ABQ Journal. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  16. ↑ "Councilor supports ART on conditions". ABQ Journal. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  17. ↑ Writer, Martin Salazar | Journal Staff. "Compromise reached for wider Nob Hill sidewalks". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
  18. ↑ "Meetings Scheduled To Discuss Transportation in UNM/CNM Area". Abqjournal.com. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "CNM/UNM/Sunport Traffic Topic of Meeting Tonight". Abqjournal.com. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  20. ↑ "Paseo del Norte Study - www.mrcog-nm.gov". Mrcog-nm.gov. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  21. 1 2 "About Art". www.brtabq.com. ABQ Ride. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  22. ↑ "ART Categorical Exclusion" (PDF). Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  23. ↑ http://www.cabq.gov/transit/news/albuquerque-rapid-transit-receives-recommendation-of-federal-funding
  24. ↑ McKay, Dan (July 29, 2016). "ART can start". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  25. ↑ McKay, Dan (August 29, 2016). "First phase of work on ART starts". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  26. ↑ McKay, Dan (October 25, 2016). "Federal court refuses again to stop ART construction work". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  27. ↑ McKay, Dan (September 7, 2016). "ART project is now on the clock to finish in 16 months". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  28. ↑ McKay, Dan (October 18, 2016). "Heavy work begins on Central for ART". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  29. ↑ McKay, Dan (December 13, 2016). "ART project clears major legal hurdle". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  30. ↑ Boetel, Ryan (February 21, 2017). "Opponents drop lawsuit against ART project". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  31. ↑ Dyer, Jessica (February 20, 2017). "Central Ave. businesses feel effects of ART work". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  32. ↑ Del Aguila, Andres (April 2, 2017). "Several businesses suffering from ART". Daily Lobo. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  33. ↑ Salazar, Martin (April 21, 2017). "ART loan program for businesses ready to go". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  34. ↑ Hayden, Maddy; Reisen, Matthew (November 26, 2017). "ART's a hit at the start". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  35. ↑ James, Caleb (January 22, 2018). "Work to correct ART issues begins this week". KOB. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  36. ↑ "ART System Receives Rare Gold Standard from ITDP". globenewswire.com. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  37. ↑ "Awarding excellence: ART, Berry top NAIOP awards". abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  38. ↑ "Video Shows Albuquerque Driver Cross Into Bus-Lane Causing Crash". krqe.com. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
  39. ↑ "Mayor Keller: New problems could delay ART bus service for another year". KRQE.com. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Councilors Pursue Answers on ART". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  41. ↑ "ART Bus Company Working to Correct Issues". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
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