Trump Administration Attempts to Cancel Money for Rail Trail

The City of Albuquerque will fight to keep federal money promised for one leg of the Rail Trail. The U.S. Department of Transportation is backtracking on promises it made to fund a portion of the Rail Trail and is trying to cancel an $11.5 million grant because the Trump DOT wants to focus on cars, rather than people or bicyclists.

“We are going to stand up for Albuquerque and prevent the Trump Administration from pulling money from a project the people of Albuquerque want,” said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. “We will see you in court.”

The City will continue construction on the Sawmill and Central Crossing portions of the Rail Trail, which are all part of a 7-mile loop trail planned for the city’s core. The Sawmill section is expected to be finished later this fall, and the new Central Crossing section is on track for a 2026 opening.

In 2022 the City of Albuquerque was awarded federal funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant to help build the transformative project. But on Tuesday, 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.

The City began planning and construction on the Trail, including the at-grade crossing for pedestrians on Central, the Sawmill neighborhood portion of the trail, and other parts currently under design and nearly ready for ground breaking.

“We were promised this money to build one of the best trail systems in the nation. We’ve made real progress building the trail, and anybody who has been Downtown or to Sawmill can see the transformative work we are doing,” said Jennifer Turner, Director of the Department of Municipal Development.

The Rail Trail will be an iconic and artistic pedestrian parkway that reflects Albuquerque’s vibrant history and cultural diversity. This 7-mile bike and walking loop will be our "Trail of Enchantment." It will not only connect Downtown, Old Town, and the Rail Yards, it will tell the story of this place our families call home. The overall vision for the trail is to literally tell “our” story, of who we are as a people, of this land we love and our history through time. The City enlisted the help of one of the world's top architects and Albuquerque legend, Antoine Predock, to create the artistic vision for the trail.

Overall, the city worked to secure $39.5 million from a variety of sources to design and build the 7-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.

The funds include:

• $14.4M for a Downtown section between Rail Yards (Hazeldine) and Lomas 
• $11.5M (80%) in USDOT Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant
• $2.9M (20%) in local match from the City 
• $12.1M in City Council
• $10M grant awarded by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham 
• $3M for Wells Park section between Lomas and Aspen (Federal Earmark from Senators Ben Ray Lujan and Martin Heinrich)

“Despite this setback, the Rail Trail is becoming a reality,” said Terry Brunner, Director of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency. “Later this fall, the Sawmill section will open to the public, giving people a first glimpse of how this project will connect neighborhoods, honor our history, and strengthen our community. We remain committed to completing the full trail and will continue to fight for the resources Albuquerque deserves.”

Albuquerque is the largest urban center for 1,000 square miles, a place where people come for the promise of a better life for their families. From the first indigenous trade routes, through the colonial era, from the bustle of Route 66, to the modern era, Albuquerque has always been a city at the crossroads. That story transcends space and time, and will be honored through the Rail Trail. This project will bring visitors downtown, to the heart of Albuquerque.