ABQ RIDE
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 service. 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.
Contents |
[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 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 Avenue Weekday Saturday Sunday
- 141 San Mateo Weekday Weekend
- 155 Cottonwood/Coors Weekday Weekend
- 766/767 Rapid Ride (Red Line) 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/Kirtland AFB Weekday Saturday (Service to Kirtland AFB on weekdays only)
- 790 Rapid Ride (Blue Line) 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)
- 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
- 162 Ventana Ranch Commuter Weekday
- 222 Rio Bravo/Sunport Weekday
- 317 Kirtland AFB Limited 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 |
| UNM/CNM Students | Free** | N/A | Free** |
*Middle school and high school students must have a valid school ID. A class schedule is also required for CNM students.
**Requires valid UNM/CNM ID with ABQ RIDE sticker. Class schedule must be shown to obtain sticker. ABQ RIDE sticker valid for one year.
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.
On August 13, 2007, all bus routes are now free for University of New Mexico students. In October 2007, free ridership was extended to Central New Mexico Community College students as well.
[edit] Fleet
[edit] Current fleet
| Number | Year | Model | Image | Length | Engine model | Engine type | Farebox | Enunciator | Garage |  |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301-340 | 1996 | Neoplan AN440A |
 |
40 ft | Cummins L10G | CNG | GFI CENTSaBILL |
 ** |
Southside (Yale Blvd) |
|
First buses with wheelchair lifts ** Added in 2004 |
| 401-435 | 2001 | Thomas Built SLF 200 |
  |
32 ft | Cummins B-Gas Plus |
CNG | GFI CENTSaBILL |
|
Southside (Yale Blvd) |
|
First low floor buses First buses to include enunciator system 402-404 used on D-Ride |
| 436 | 2001 | Thomas Built SLF 200 |
Not available | 36 ft | Cummins ISB | Diesel | GFI CENTSaBILL |
|
Westside (Unser/I-40) |
|
Diesel version of the SLF 200 Features a rear window and roof-mounted HVAC |
| 6401-6412 | 2004 | New Flyer DE60LF |
 |
60 ft | Caterpillar C9 / Allison Hybrid |
Diesel-electric hybrid |
GFI CENTSaBILL |
|
Westside (Unser/I-40) |
|
Used on Rapid Ride Low floor Features a signal-priority system |
| 6601-6606 | 2007 | New Flyer DE60LF |
 |
60 ft | Caterpillar C9 / Allison Hybrid |
Diesel-electric hybrid |
GFI Odyssey | |
Westside (Unser/I-40) |
|
Similar to the 6400-series, but with modified windows, emergency exits, and air recirculation systems Features a signal-priority system |
| 701-758 | 2007 | New Flyer DE40LFR |
 |
40 ft | Cummins ISL / Allison Hybrid |
Diesel-Electric hybrid |
GFI Odyssey | |
Westside (Unser/I-40) |
|
Features restyled front end, frameless windows, and video screens Features a signal-priority system |
[edit] Future
According to an audit posted on May 14, 2008, ABQ RIDE is in the process of purchasing 30-35 additional new buses [1]. A supplier for these additional buses has not yet been selected, and the audit makes no mention of the lengths of the buses. It is currently unknown on whether these additional buses will be used to replace the 300 or 400 series buses, or will simply be used for service expansion.
[edit] Retired fleet
| Number | Year introduced | Year retired | Model | Replacement | Image | Length | Engine model | Engine type | Enunciator | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101-110 | 1989 | 2008 | TMC RTS T80206 |
700 series (New Flyer DE40LFR) |
Not available | 40 ft | Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA |
Diesel |  |
|
| 201-248 | 1989 | 2008 | TMC RTS T70206 |
700 series (New Flyer DE40LFR) |
 |
35 ft | Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA |
Diesel | |
|
ABQ RIDE intends on replacing the GFI CENTSaBILL fareboxes with the newer GFI Odyssey vailidating fareboxes on all 300-, 400-, and 6400-series buses.
In addition, the fleet comprises numerous smaller vehicles like the Mini Ride paratransit vans and Old Town trolleys. CNG buses (300-series and buses 401-435) operate out of the Yale Transit Facility on 601 Yale Blvd. SE, while most 700-series, Rapid Ride buses (6400-series and 6600-series) and bus 436 operate out of the West Side Transit Facility near 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.[2] 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.[3]
In addition, a new park and ride in northwestern Albuquerque across from Cibola High School is scheduled to open in August of 2008. [4] It will replace the park and ride at Cottonwood Mall.
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.cabq.gov/audit/pdf/MicrosoftWord-07-04-104FFinal051308vmd.pdf
- ^ Albuquerque Official City Website. Modern Streetcar Project. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
- ^ Gisick, Micheal. "Council: Streetcar project rushed", Albuquerque Tribune, December 4, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-13. (English)
- ^ Albuquerque Journal
[edit] External links
- ABQRide (Official Site)
