City Files Lawsuit for Rail Trail funding
Mayor Keller fighting to keep $11.5 million federal grant.
The City of Albuquerque filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration demanding the release of $11.5 million that was previously approved for the Rail Trail.
The lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration in the District of New Mexico. It challenges the government’s withdrawal and cancellation of the City’s RAISE Grant award for the Rail Trail, which the city was approved in 2022.
In September, the DOT announced it was withholding the money that was pledged for a portion of the 7.5-mile trail that will connect Sawmill, Downtown and the Railyards.
“We are standing up for Albuquerque to prevent the Trump Administration from pulling money from a project the people of Albuquerque want,” said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. “This trail reflects our values and the community’s desire to invest in innovative, quality-of-life projects.”
On Saturday, October 25, Mayor Keller and other local dignitaries, joined by bicycle safety and neighborhood groups, cut the ribbon to open the first section of the trail that now connects Sawmill with Old Town.
The City will continue construction on the Central Crossing portion of the Rail Trail, which is part of a 7.5-mile loop trail planned for the city’s core. The new Central Crossing section is on track for a 2026 opening.
In 2022 the City of Albuquerque was awarded federal funding through a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant to help build the transformative project. But on Sept. 11, the US Department of Transportation backtracked on that promise and withdrew the funding in a short letter with little justification.
The letter said the DOT is focusing on car-based projects, not people-based projects like the Rail Trail.
Overall, the city worked to secure $39.5 million from a variety of sources to design and build the 7.5-mile loop trail with renowned local architect Antoine Predock. The Rail Trail is estimated to have an annual economic impact of $1 million to $3.2 million and increase property values, but also provide a fun and safe way to navigate the city center on foot or bicycle.Read the City's filing.