EMERGING RAIL-TRAILS
PHOTOS: Opposite page: (Top) Construction of the Albuquerque Rail Trail began in August 2024; local and state dignitaries gathered in Albuquerque’s Sawmill district for the groundbreaking of the Albuquerque Rail Trail. | Courtesy Adolphe Pierre- Louis (2). This page: The Albuquerque Rail Trail will connect to Albuquerque’s Old Town and other historic districts. | Courtesy New Mexico Tourism Department. raising funds for different phases along the way. But we’re hopeful we can get most of it online by 2027.” Learn more: rtc.li/abq-rail-trail * On. Sept. 11, the city of Albuquerque announced that it had received notice from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) that an $11.5 million RAISE grant for the Albuquerque Rail Trail had been canceled because the USDOT “wants to focus on cars, rather than people or bicyclists.” This is a developing story that Rails to Trails Conservancy will continue to cover on the TrailBlog (railstotrails.org/trailblog). But Turner and Brunner say work is progressing well on the first two phases, which include a four-block section of trail in the Sawmill area that is expected to be complete in October 2025 and will serve as the model for the rest of the project. The other piece in the works, the south- west ramp that will be a part of an at-grade crossing over the railroad tracks at Central Crossing, should be complete by spring 2026. Turner said future phases are set to go out for bid soon, with more construction starting in 2026. While the goal is to have the next phases complete by 2027, Brunner noted, “It’s a very large trail, and we’ll be constructing it in phases and “It’s going to be more than just a trail—more of a cultural history lesson of Albuquerque. We really want to tell the story of us, of Albuquerque.” — Terry Brunner, Chief of Staff for Mayor Tim Keller and Interim Director of Albuquerque’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency
PROPOSED TRAIL: Albuquerque Rail Trail
Currently, it can be difficult for cyclists to move safely between Al- buquerque’s districts, noted Patrick Martin, vice president of BikeABQ, who said the project ties in well with the organization’s goal of im- proving safety and transportation options in the city. The rail-trail will improve access to businesses and attractions by filling in some of the connectivity gaps, such as providing a dedicated way to get from the Bosque Trail to Old Town. To date, Brunner said the project has received about $40 million in non-city funds, including federal and state funding. Still, one of the project’s challenges is ensuring that the promised federal funding comes through.* “The biggest role we’ve had is making sure that the project doesn’t die,” Martin said. “This is a really big, really transformational project for downtown Albuquerque. It’s also very expensive, and so our role has been to show not only city councilors but also state legislators that this is something important, that it is worth the funding that the mayor is trying to rally around to get it built.” Another complexity is the sheer number of involved parties. Jennifer Turner, the city’s director of municipal development, noted that the project needs agreement from numerous stakeholders, including the city’s transit de- partment, NMDOT (New Mexico Department of Transportation), the NMDOT Rail Bureau, BNSF Railway and Rio Metro Regional Transit District.
LOCATION: The rail-trail will loop through the heart of Albuquerque, linking several historic districts, including Sawmill, Old Town, Downtown, Rail Yards and Route 66. USED RAILROAD CORRIDOR: The route was once part of the Santa Fe Railway system. LENGTH: The trail is planned to total 7 miles by 2027. The project’s first four-block section is scheduled for completion by October 2025.
SURFACE: Asphalt
Predock, who lived and worked in Albuquerque for decades, died in March 2024, and Brunner notes that the ABQ Rail Trail was the last project he designed. “He’s known for doing very creative designs, so there’s a lot in this trail that is going to make it one of the most interesting trails you’ll see in the country,” Brunner said. “It’s going to be more than just a trail. [It will be] more of a cultural history lesson of Albuquerque. We really want to tell the story of us, of Albuquerque.” Tania Armenta, president and CEO of Visit Albuquerque, said the rail-trail will be “a powerful opportunity to encourage economic development, generate additional business activity and bring more foot traffic to existing attractions, cultur - al landmarks and local businesses.” Ultimately, Armenta added, “the trail will serve as both a physical and cultural connector for the city.”
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