While in Washington, D.C. Mayor Richard J. Berry received the news that the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) has received recommendation of a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Small Starts Capital Grant to construct ART from Coors Boulevard to Louisiana Boulevard along the Central Avenue Corridor. When approved through the congressional budget process, the grant, along with money set aside by the City, gives the project more than $100 million for construction and beautification with anticipated completion in the fall of 2017.
“Over the past three years, Albuquerque has undergone a very intentional process to study and garner feedback from the community on this revolutionary project,” said Mayor Richard J. Berry. “I am extremely pleased that the President has recognized this effort and the importance of this project by including Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) in his budget. I believe ART will set the standard for the nation for the most effective and state-of-the-art Bus Rapid Transit system.”
Also announced, the ART construction consultant Bradbury Stamm, will be the contractor at risk.
“Bradbury Stamm has been building New Mexico since 1923,” said Bradbury Stamm’s CEO, Cynthia Schultz. “Our company is putting all our resources behind this project to make this a life changing project for Albuquerque and future generations. We are proud that as a true local contractor, the construction of this project will be an economic driver for the community which will lead to funds being reinvested back into the community.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in late May at Coors Boulevard and Central Avenue.
Art Receives Recommendation of Federal Funding Page Two
Construction updates will be available on the ART website, BRTABQ.com, and via a 24-hour hotline at 764-6180. An APP is being developed and will be available when construction begins. The APP will give people immediate updates on construction, detours, and discounts for businesses along the Central Avenue corridor, bus schedules and special ART events.
The ART team has developed a variety of programs to keep businesses updated and minimize disruption.
- ART Outreach Coordinators will be in the corridor daily to update impacted businesses in advance of construction. All businesses will receive a Construction Mitigation package with marketing materials that can be disseminated to vendors, customers and employees;
- Signage directing people will be placed during construction;
- Businesses will receive parking maps to disseminate to customers, vendors and employees;
- A small business collaborative made up of business assistance specialists from the SBDC, WESST, ACCION, The Loan Fund, NM Community Capital and SCORE will be available to provide consulting and loan packages for impacted businesses;
- Transit Tuesdays will be held to promote businesses along the Central Corridor. These will be widely promoted by the ART team and designed to drive business to businesses in the construction zones;
- ART Discount Cards offering discounts to participating businesses in the construction zones.
