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ABQ RIDE celebrates over 250 drivers

ABQ RIDE encourages passengers to take part in thanking drivers for their service

Friday, March 18, 2022

ABQ RIDE is celebrating International Transit Driver Appreciation Day by thanking all Albuquerque transit drivers for the essential service they provide to the community.

“We applaud our drivers for their incredibly hard work each and every day,” Interim Transit Director Stephanie Dominguez said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to provide service to the millions of passengers who rely on ABQ RIDE for transportation. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to oversee such a hardworking group of people, all of whom were crucial in maintaining service in the face of the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic.”

ABQ RIDE currently has 193 bus drivers on staff, who provide service seven-days a week, clocking more than 1,200 hours daily and more than 36,000 miles a week— that’s nearly one and half trips around the earth in a single week. So far this year, they’ve provided transportation to more than 3.2 million passengers. They man 120 ART and ABQ RIDE buses during the week, with 100 on the road at any given time. ART makes up 13 of those, with drivers providing service to nearly 1 million ART passengers so far this year.  

ABQ RIDE also employs 59 Sun Van Chauffeurs. Sun Van, ABQ RIDE's paratransit service, provides accessible transportation to persons residing in or visiting the metro area whose impairment makes it impossible to ride the fixed route service. Sun Van chauffeurs currently provide a critical service to qualifying passengers. So far this year, they’ve driven more than 87,000 passengers to doctor’s appointments, shopping, work, school and more.

ABQ RIDE will be thanking these drivers during private celebrations at both the Yale and Daytona transit facilities, today.

March 18 is internationally recognized as Transit Driver Appreciation Day. It commemorates the first bus line established in 1662 in Paris.

For more information about ABQ RIDE, visit abqride.com.

Start planning your next trip with ABQ RIDE by downloading Transit App from the Apple App Store or Google Play, and upgrade free to Transit Royale for more custom features.