The Feds Finally Come Through for Albuquerque Rapid Transit

The city of Albuquerque has finally received the $75 million it needed to complete an ambitious plan for electric bus rapid transit along Central Avenue.

1 minute read

August 24, 2018, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"The City of Albuquerque has been awarded $75 million from the federal government to fund the Albuquerque Rapid Transit project," reports KOB4.

Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) was one of the many public transit projects in the country waiting for the U.S. Department of Transportation to send funds promised by Congress in the omnibus spending bill singed by President Trump in March. 

"Mayor Tim Keller said Tuesday that funding is no longer an issue." Joy Kang, a reporter for KOB4 took to Twitter to say that Mayor Keller also said "a whole lot" would have been on the line if the finding hadn't come through.

"The city hopes to have the buses up and running sometime in the winter, more than two years after construction began," adds the article after detailing the major milestones for the project on its way to receiving thi final chunk of funding.

ART has been lauded as a gold standard for bus rapid transit systems in the United States since its initial phase opened in 2017.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018 in KOB4

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today