Change Also Coming to the #766 Rapid Ride Red Line through Uptown Area
12/13/12
Up to now, it was known as Route #3/157 on the ABQ RIDE schedule; two bus routes that basically shared the same route when they came together on Louisiana. Starting Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, ABQ RIDE will merge the two routes into a single Route #157 that will operate on a higher frequency than is currently available.
Route #157 serves Golf Course, Montaño, and Montgomery; Route #3 serves Louisiana from Osuna to Gibson joining the #157 on an alternating basis to serve Louisiana as well. ABQ RIDE is combining the routes to provide more timely service, especially to stops along Albuquerque’s Westside. Route #157 will now operate on both weekend days, too (until the switch, Route #157 ran only on Saturdays, while Rt. #3 ran only on Sundays). The merger also means bus service will no longer extend to three, underutilized stops on Louisiana north of Montgomery.
“Those three stops had consistently low ridership, while we saw growth in Westside ridership along Route #157,” said Bruce Rizzieri, Director of ABQ RIDE. “We need to allocate our resources to provide more efficient service.”
The combined Route #157 will now offer twice as frequent service across the Montaño Bridge. It will also feature one of the highest frequency routes on Albuquerque’s Westside. And, once the Montaño Intermodal Station at Montaño and the railroad tracks is completed, the new Route #157 will connect Rail Runner passengers from that station to other buses around the city.
Starting Dec. 15, ABQ RIDE is also making a change in the route of the #766-Rapid Ride Red Line through the Uptown area. The new route will have the #766 going north out of the Uptown Transit Center, turning right on Louisiana, then left (eastbound) onto Indian School NE. The route will then turn right onto Uptown Loop to link up again with southbound Louisiana. ABQ RIDE made the change to take advantage of a new Rapid Ride stop planned for the new Target store near Winrock Mall. The stop isn’t expected to open until the end of January, 2013.
“ABQ RIDE needs to direct its resources to where riders want to go,” said Rizzieri. “The new Target store and the new development in Winrock are examples of these destinations.”
For more information about the new Route #157, click here.
