City of Albuquerque Officially Launches "Cruisers for Route 66" Program to Empower Community Care for Historic Central Avenue

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Today, the City of Albuquerque officially launched the Cruisers for Route 66 Program, at Atrisco and Central, a landmark community stewardship and streetscape beautification designed to honor the Route 66 Centennial and preserve the Mother Road for generations to come. 

Codified through Council Resolution R-26-22—sponsored by City Councilors Klarissa J. Peña, Renée Grout, and Stephanie W. Telles—the initiative establishes a two-year pilot program that connects local car clubs, civic organizations, and neighborhood groups with direct maintenance and stewardship of Central Avenue. The effort is an interdepartmental collaboration between the Albuquerque City Council, the Solid Waste Management Department, the Transit Department (ABQ RIDE), the Department of Municipal Development (DMD), the Parks and Recreation Department, the Department of Arts & Culture, and the Office of Civic Engagement via the One Albuquerque Volunteer Portal.

 As the home of the longest continuous urban stretch of Route 66 in the nation—and the only place where Route 66 crosses itself—Albuquerque holds a unique place in cruising and transportation history. Cruisers for Route 66 directly integrate lowriding and cruising culture into the civic fabric, recognizing lowriding as a vital part of Albuquerque’s cultural heritage.

Statements from the bill sponsors and Mayor Keller:

“Nearly a decade ago, we started this work with Vehicles for Change and the Cruising Task Force, and today we’re seeing that vision come to life along the Mother Road,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Our local car clubs are putting in the time and elbow grease to keep these spaces looking great, and that kind of pride is contagious.”

"Cruising and lowriding have been the cultural heartbeat of Central Avenue for decades," said Councilor Klarissa J. Peña (District 3). "Through the Cruisers for Route 66 initiative and our broader Vehicle for Change network, we are weaving our passion into culturally lasting civic pride and responsibility. Our local car clubs have stepped up, becoming the premier stewards of our stretch of the ‘Mother Road,’ ensuring our historic corridor is clean, vibrant, and welcoming for the Route 66 Centennial and well into the future."

"Route 66 is a defining economic, historic, and tourism backbone across Albuquerque, extending through the foothills and East Gateway," said Councilor Renée Grout (District 9). "This program builds a true cross-city partnership. By utilizing Council Set-Aside funds to recognize the civic pride of participating clubs with dedicated signage, we are creating a cleaner, safer corridor that honors our community's shared history."

"True community beautification happens when local government and residents work hand-in-hand, and it's easy when the canvas is Route 66 and the brushes are rolling works of art," said Councilor Stephanie W. Telles. "Every lowrider is a masterpiece, with intricate murals, candy and flake paint, custom interiors, gleaming chrome, and wire-spoke wheels, each built by hand with love and pride. For too long, this culture was unfairly stigmatized, and cruising was even banned in cities across the country. The families and car clubs behind these cars were treated as a problem instead of what they truly are: artists, craftspeople, and keepers of our heritage. Cruisers for Route 66 sets that right. It gives our car clubs and cultural organizations a real, structured role in caring for the Central Avenue they helped make famous. Local government and community go together like low and slow, bajito y suavecito. That's how we'll move forward, together, celebrating Albuquerque's heritage."

A Grassroots Model Co-Created with the Community

The program originated from direct community collaboration. On April 1, 2026, City departments, Councilor Peña’s office, and local lowrider car clubs gathered at the Alamosa Community Center. During the event, car club representatives voted to rename the initiative from "Adopt-A-Streetscape" to the community-driven title: Cruisers for Route 66.

The program is also amplified nationally by the Vehicle for Change National Network, established by Councilor Peña in 2021 to foster collaboration between lowrider clubs, youth, educators, and local government.

Cruisers Program Framework & How It Works

Modeled after the City’s Adopt-A-Median and Adopt-A-Stop programs, Cruisers for Route 66 operates across distinct public rights-of-way along Central Avenue (excluding active travel and parking lanes): 

Streetscape Adoptions: Eligible organizations adopt streetscape segments—including medians, transit stops, sidewalks, curbs, and parkways—on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Interdepartmental Support:
• Transit (ABQ RIDE): Manages bus stop adoptions. 

• Solid Waste Management: Coordinates median adoptions, cleanup supplies, safety equipment, and trash collection. 

• Office of Civic Engagement: Facilitates background checks, waivers, and volunteer management via One Albuquerque Volunteers. 

• Core Volunteer Activities: Participating groups engage in litter abatement, streetscape beautification, graffiti reporting, infrastructure maintenance tracking, and coordinated citywide cleanup days. 

• Recognition Signage: Participating clubs receive custom-branded Route 66 Centennial recognition signs along their adopted stretches, funded through City Council Set-Aside funds.

 Eligibility and How to Get Involved

Participation is open to local car clubs, civic groups, neighborhood associations, cultural organizations, and local businesses.

• Participants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Volunteers must complete safety orientations, including Safe Chemical Handling and liability waivers (minimum 6-hour training commitment).
• Organizations must abide by City and ABQ RIDE volunteer conduct codes.

To learn more or apply to adopt a stretch of Central Avenue, visit the City of Albuquerque Volunteer Portal or contact the Albuquerque City Council constituent services office at (505) 768-3100.