Albuquerque Rail Trail

The Rail Trail is imagined both as a celebration of Albuquerque’s cultural history and a bright vision for our shared future.

At the intersection of historic transportation routes such as El Camino Real, Route 66, and the AT&SF Rail Line, the Rail Trail envisions the creation of a localized and convenient multi-modal connection across Downtown.

Through public-private partnerships, the City of Albuquerque seeks to reinvigorate the local economy by providing unique activities along the trail that will draw people to Downtown. The project will link the Downtown core to:

• Nearby neighborhoods
• Mass transportation options
• The Rail Yards redevelopment site
• Employment opportunities
• Activity centers

The 7-mile Rail Trail Loop will connect key destinations in the greater downtown area like the National Hispanic Cultural Center, BioPark, Old Town, Sawmill District, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Convention Center, Rail Yards, and more.

Funding for the Rail Trail Loop includes $15M from the City, $10M from the State of New Mexico, and $11.5M from the Federal RAISE Grant, totaling $36.5M for the full loop. 

Albuquerque Rail Trail in the News 

Press Release: Governor announces $10 million infrastructure investment in Albuquerque Rail Trail

Press Release: N.M. Congressional Democrats, Mayor Keller Welcome Almost $11.5 Million In Federal Investments For Albuquerque Downtown Trail Project

Press Release: On Nationwide Building a Better America Tour, DOT Under Secretary Carlos Monje Jr. Highlights Funding from President Biden’s Infrastructure Law for the Albuquerque Rail Trail

Albuquerque Rail Trail Framework Plan

The City of Albuquerque's Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency, MRWM Landscape Architects, and Wilson & Company Engineers are pleased to release the Albuquerque Rail Trail Framework Plan as of March 15, 2022.

VISION: The Albuquerque Rail Trail will transform Downtown’s rail corridor into a vibrant and artistic urban trail that creates opportunities for economic development, healthy recreation, and cultural expression. The Trail will connect the diverse communities it travels through and build bridges across those that have been disconnected. Following an ancient path created by footsteps and expanded over centuries by the wheel, the Rail Trail is the next expression of this essential trade route, embracing a resilient future for Downtown Albuquerque.

Part I - Executive Summary

Part II - Existing Conditions

Part III - Outreach

Part IV - Technical Analysis

Part V - Art + Cultural Programming

Part VI - Design Recommendations

Part VII - Appendix (Survey Results)

Community Engagement

Rail Trail Public Meeting

In June 2021, the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency hosted a public engagement meeting at the Rail Yards. With over 100 attendees, valuable feedback was collected from the community, which will be incorporated into the final Rail Trail design.

2021 Rail Trail Survey

In August 2021, the City created a survey to collect public input on the design of the Rail Trail. The survey link was mailed to over 4000 residents and businesses directly surrounding the Rail Trail. The survey was also distributed broadly on social media and email list serves. Respondents were asked their preferences on materials, amenities, and programming. The survey was available in English and Spanish. A total of 455 responses were received. Based on survey results, the most popular elements are highlighted here.

Public Comments and 2022 Survey on the Draft Plan

After releasing the initial Framework Plan Draft for public review, we asked community members for input. MRA staff attended several neighborhood association meetings to present the plan and gather feedback. The Public Comment period was open from 12/6/21 to 1/31/2022, and a follow-up survey was open from 1/8/2022 to 1/31/2022. We received 228 responses to the survey and 114 public comments. Feedback on the Draft Plan was incorporated into the final Albuquerque Rail Trail Framework Plan. You can view the latest survey results by clicking here.

Rail Trail Steering Committee: Friends of the Rail Trail