The City of Albuquerque will be receiving $11.3 million in federal stimulus funds to be used for improvements at ABQ RIDE. The funds will be used to buy new bus shelters and new self-serve ticket kiosks, and to upgrade bus fare boxes.
The City proposes to use some of the stimulus funds to purchase new bus stop shelters like this one.
Mayor Chávez announced on Monday that the City has received over $11 million in federal stimulus funds through the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The money is intended for mass transit improvements.
Bus Stop Shelters and Improvements
The City is proposing that approximately $9.8 million be used to buy at least 500 new, solar-powered bus stop shelters and to make needed bus stop improvements.
The exact locations of the new shelters will be determined at a later date based on ridership and necessity, but several will likely be installed on Albuquerque's west side, where some money will be used to install sidewalks, curbs and gutters prior to shelter installation.
ABQ RIDE currently has 2,750 bus stops and 200 bus shelters. As the service grows, so does the need for comfortable, safe stops and shelters.
The shelter project is expected to go out to bid by June 2009. The City of Albuquerque holds open and competitive bid processes, and encourages local contractors to bid in an effort to stimulate the local economy.
Self-Serve Ticket Kiosks
The City is proposing to use another $225,000 of the stimulus funds to purchase at least three new electronic, self-serve ticket kiosks to make purchasing bus passes easier and more accessible in all areas of Albuquerque. The money would also be used to purchase lights and surveillance cameras to ensure that ticket areas are secure.
These kiosks will be placed at high transit-use areas around town like the Northwest Transit Center and the Uptown Transfer Center.
The kiosks will sell bus passes and accept major credit cards and the Q Card.
Fare Box Upgrades
Finally, the City is proposing to use approximately $1.3 million to make upgrades to bus fare boxes. This project will provide fare boxes for the existing fleet so that both existing and the new buses will have the same fare boxes with the capability to issue passes.
New fare box technology will make buying bus passes more convenient for our passengers.
