Rapid Ride
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rapid Ride is the name of a bus rapid transit service operated by ABQ RIDE in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Inaugurated on December 21, 2004, Rapid Ride was intended to provide a faster and more efficient means of public transit in Albuquerque and serve as a pilot project for a potential light rail line.
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[edit] Service
Rapid Ride serves an 11-mile route (766) which runs along Central Avenue from Unser to Wyoming, then north to the Uptown Transit Center. It runs from 6:00 AM to 8:43 PM on weekdays and Saturdays. Stops are about a mile apart at specially designated Rapid Ride stations rather than the normal city bus stops, which are about two blocks apart. The average wait between two Rapid Ride buses is 11 minutes. A special "Rapid After Dark" service runs in the summer with service every 20 minutes until 3:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights.
[edit] Fleet
The Rapid Ride fleet currently consists of 18 New Flyer DE60LF articulated 60-foot low floor buses, which are painted in ABQ RIDE's new red and gold color scheme. The buses are powered by hybrid diesel-electric engines and utilize a signal priority system which can manipulate traffic lights to further shorten travel times. All Rapid Ride buses have free wireless internet access and are wheelchair accessible, using a ramp (rather than a lift) that can be deployed automatically or manually. All Rapid Ride buses are also equipped with Digital Recorders automated stop announcment systems.
| Number | Year | Model | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6401-6412 | 2004 | New Flyer DE60LF | Original Rapid Ride fleet |
| 6601-6606 | 2007 | New Flyer DE60LF | Similar to 6400-series, with updated windows and air circulation system. Features the new GFI Odyssey fareboxes. |
[edit] Expansion
In April 17, 2006, a second Rapid Ride route, the West Side Rapid Ride (156) started service. It runs as a commuter with four (two northbound and two southbound) runs in the morning and three (two northbound and one southbound) runs in the evening on weekdays. The route runs on Coors Blvd from Cottonwood Mall to the Alamosa Community Center.
On August 20, 2006, Rapid Ride (route 766) started Sunday service with 22-minute frequency from 6:43 AM to 6:41 PM.
ABQ RIDE placed an order for six additional Rapid Ride buses on July 20, 2006. The six buses will once again be the New Flyer DE60LF, and are were delivered in Februrary 2007. Where these new buses will be put to use is unknown at the moment, but there are a few proposals being looked at. Currently, they are used in conjunction with the 6400-series buses on the 766 and 156 routes.
[edit] List of Rapid Ride Stops
ROUTE 766 From west to east:
- Central at Unser
- Central at Coors (transfer with Rapid Ride 156)
- Central at Atrisco
- Central at Tingley
- Central at Rio Grande
- Gold at Sixth (Eastbound) / Copper at Fifth (Westbound)
- Alvarado Transportation Center / Central at First
- Central at Cedar (Presbyterian Center Station)
- Central at Yale (Westbound) (University of New Mexico Station) / Central at Cornell (Eastbound) (Frontier/UNM Station)
- Central at Carlisle (Eastbound - KKOB-FM Station / Westbound - Crosswinds Weekly Station)
- Central at San Mateo (Eastbound - KABQ-FM and KTEG Radio Station / Westbound - Magic Bus Station)
- Central at Louisiana (Eastbound - KRST Radio Station)
- Central at Wyoming
- Wyoming at Lomas (Southbound - Zangara Dodge Station)
- No Stops on Interstate 40 between Wyoming and Louisiana
- Louisiana at America's Parkway
- Uptown Transit Center
ROUTE 156 From north to south:
- Cottonwood Mall
- Target Store
- Coors at Montano Plaza
- Coors at St. Josephs
- Coors at Sequoia
- Coors at Fortuna
- Coors at Central (transfer to Rapid Ride 766)
- Alamosa Community Center
